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Statement on Anniversary of the sei



Subject: Statement on Anniversary of the seizure of state power

 

NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

On March 2, 1962, the army led by General Ne Win seized state power by
overthrowing, with force of arms, the civilian government elected
democratically by the people. Since that time, the military dictatorship
has taken root and has been ruling Burma with an iron fist for 37 years, up
to this day. Today is the anniversary of the day of infamy in the history
of Burma, as it was the day on which a democratic country was transformed,
by force, into a country of military dictatorship. 

1. In order to minimize and whitewash their act of high treason committed
imprudently, Ne Win and his clique designated the day of March 2 as Farmers
Day. Before the seizure of state power by Ne Win and his clique, January 1
had been observed as Farmers Day.
2. The designation of March 2 as the Farmers Day by Ne Win and his clique,
after blatantly tearing up the 1947 Constitution, which they had promised
frequently to respect before the seizure of power, was a great insult to
our benefactors, the farmers. 
3. On March 2, 1962, the reason given by Ne win and his clique was that
they had to take over state power in order to prevent the slide further of
the country into greater crisis. However, after their seizure of power, the
situation has sled into deeper and deeper crisis, up to this day. The SPDC
military dictatorship has affirmed that the seizure of state power in 1988,
was a sequel to the one in 1962. The two events are not separate, but a
process that has existed together continuously. In other words, we believe
that the various problems of the country today are the effect of the cause,
the seizure of power by Ne Win in 1962. 
4. The organization of the army is based on the obedience of order from
above. The system of democracy is based on the will of the majority,
together with respect for the position of the minority. It would be totally
impossible for the military, which is based on issuing orders and taking
orders, to develop a system of democracy. So long as the military is in
domination, there can not be the emergence of a democratic system desired
by the people. 
5. Therefore, we affirm that as the day of March 2, on which the seed of
destruction of the country in all respects was sown, was the day the
military committed high treason against the country, it cannot be regarded
as the Farmers Day. It can be regarded only as the day on which the country
was forcibly reduced to subjection.

March 2, 1999