AFP : NCGUB says junta worse than c

[euburma@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: AFP : NCGUB says junta worse than colonial rule

Exiled Myanmar government says junta worse than colonial rule

BANGKOK, Jan 3 (AFP) - The exiled "government" of Myanmar said Monday
colonial rule by Britain had been preferable to that of the military in a
message marking the 52nd anniversary of independence. The National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) said the country had
been in a state of "civil war" since independence on January 4, 1948, and
called for talks with the military. "For the cessation of the civil war and
resolution of severe political, economic, social and health crises ... we
must hold a dialogue without delay to address the problems politically," a
statement said. "The deprivation of freedom under the State Peace and
Development Council is much worse than the deprivation of liberty under the
rule of the foreign power." The NCGUB lamented the military's takeover of
power in 1962 saying it did nothing to restore peace and stability and
urged people to rise up against the junta. "On the occasion of the 52nd
anniversary of independence, we would like to earnestly urge the entire
nation to unitedly join hands with us in the struggle for liberation from
the military serfdom and for the second independence." In 1962 General Ne
Win led a military coup against an elected government and formed his own
secretive and idiosyncratic regime which sealed Myanmar off from the rest
of the world. He was toppled when outrage over both a currency shake-up
which demonitized small bills and the impoverishment of the country through
26 years of isolation led to nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations in
1988. A new junta subsequently brutally suppressed the uprising and
organised national elections in 1990, which were won overwhelmingly by the
National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta however
refused to hand over power and is blamed for widespread human rights
violations. Many of the opposition members elected were imprisoned or fled
abroad.


Thida                                                  Tel: + 47 22 691699
WEB Editor                                             Fax: + 47 22 694676
Democratic Voice of Burma                     http://www.communique.no/dvb/ 
          P.O Box 6720, ST.Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway