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Wednesday, January 5 2:34 AM SGT
Myanmar Party: End Military Rule
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The opposition party led by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi marked the 52nd anniversary Tuesday of Myanmar's independence from Britain by urging people to unite against harsh military rule. Suu Kyi, whose political activities are limited by the government, attended a celebration at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy. She was joined by about 400 supporters, diplomats and journalists. ``Though Myanmar has gained freedom from colonial rule, citizens are still deprived of human rights under the military rulers,'' the party said in an 11-page statement. ``We urge the people to join hands with the NLD for the establishment of a modern and democratic nation that guarantees human rights.'' Still, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling council of generals, signaled that the military government has not softened its view of the opposition, which it considers lackeys of Western powers bent on recolonizing Myanmar, also known as Burma. ``It is imperative to oppose and eradicate with people's might the destructive danger of the terrorist and destructive group heading for utter devastation,'' said Than Shwe in a message read out by Yangon's military commander in a simple flag-raising ceremony. Myanmar has had only a brief experience with civilian government since Britain's 120-year rule ended Jan. 4, 1948. The military seized power in 1962 and impoverished the country in a quarter-century of isolated, socialist rule. Widespread street protests against the military government in 1988 and were bloodily repressed but resulted in a new, market-oriented regime. The National League for Democracy won overwhelminginly in 1990 elections, but the military refused to allow parliament to convene. Veteran politicians who played a key role in the independence struggle on Tuesday reiterated a call for dialogue between the regime and Suu Kyi's party. The National Coalition of the Union of Burma, an umbrella of opposition exile and resistance groups, held an Independence Day celebration along Myanmar's border with Thailand. ``The army's failure to solve political problems by negotiations means civil war in Burma has not stopped,'' said Maung Aye, information minister of a self-proclaimed government-in-exile. |