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| Burma marks independence day | Burma marks independence day |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Burma has held a series of low-key events to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from British rule. | Burma has held a series of low-key events to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from British rule. |
| Military ruler Gen Than Shwe used the occasion to reiterate the government's determination to continue with its seven-stage roadmap to democracy. | Military ruler Gen Than Shwe used the occasion to reiterate the government's determination to continue with its seven-stage roadmap to democracy. |
| But critics say the plan is just a way to perpetuate the military's control. They used the anniversary to call for the release of political prisoners. | But critics say the plan is just a way to perpetuate the military's control. They used the anniversary to call for the release of political prisoners. |
| The British ruled Burma for 63 years, until shortly after World War II. | The British ruled Burma for 63 years, until shortly after World War II. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, reporting from neighbouring Thailand, said there was little sign of any celebration in Burma, 60 years on from independence. | The BBC's Jonathan Head, reporting from neighbouring Thailand, said there was little sign of any celebration in Burma, 60 years on from independence. |
| The national flag was raised in Rangoon and in the new capital, Naypyidaw, at the exact moment that the British flag was lowered in 1948. | The national flag was raised in Rangoon and in the new capital, Naypyidaw, at the exact moment that the British flag was lowered in 1948. |
| It's like America celebrating the Fourth of July without mentioning Washington Sean Turnell, Burma analyst class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7171361.stm">Bittersweet independence | |
| Than Shwe did not attend either event, but a statement was read out in which he called for national unity and discipline. | Than Shwe did not attend either event, but a statement was read out in which he called for national unity and discipline. |
| He said the people of Burma were working towards "the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic state". | He said the people of Burma were working towards "the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic state". |
| He stressed his commitment to the democracy roadmap - a process which critics say is entirely controlled by the military and excludes the high-profile opposition figure Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). | He stressed his commitment to the democracy roadmap - a process which critics say is entirely controlled by the military and excludes the high-profile opposition figure Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). |
| 'Pretence' | 'Pretence' |
| The statement suggests the military leadership does not appear to have softened its stance since September's violent crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners, which resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people. | The statement suggests the military leadership does not appear to have softened its stance since September's violent crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners, which resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people. |
| No mention was made of the protests, nor to Aung San, Ms Suu Kyi's father and the leader of Burma's independence struggle. | No mention was made of the protests, nor to Aung San, Ms Suu Kyi's father and the leader of Burma's independence struggle. |
| Sean Turnell, an expert on Burma at Australia's Macquarie University, said this was because "if he glorified the role of Aung San, in a sense, he was also glorifying Aung San Suu Kyi". | Sean Turnell, an expert on Burma at Australia's Macquarie University, said this was because "if he glorified the role of Aung San, in a sense, he was also glorifying Aung San Suu Kyi". |
| "It's like America celebrating the Fourth of July without mentioning Washington," he told the French news agency AFP, referring to the first US president. | "It's like America celebrating the Fourth of July without mentioning Washington," he told the French news agency AFP, referring to the first US president. |
| Following September's protests, the military junta appointed an official, Aung Kyi, to liaise with Ms Suu Kyi and her NLD party, prompting hope that there could be a genuine dialogue between the two sides. | Following September's protests, the military junta appointed an official, Aung Kyi, to liaise with Ms Suu Kyi and her NLD party, prompting hope that there could be a genuine dialogue between the two sides. |
| But NLD spokesman Nyman Win said the talks were a "pretence" and had made little progress since Aung Kyi and Ms Suu Kyi met in November, their only meeting so far. | But NLD spokesman Nyman Win said the talks were a "pretence" and had made little progress since Aung Kyi and Ms Suu Kyi met in November, their only meeting so far. |
| "We don't know when they are going to meet again," he told AFP. | "We don't know when they are going to meet again," he told AFP. |