Agence France Presse

Yangon, March 27:

Myanmar’s junta leader Senior General Than Shwe vowed today to work toward a democracy with “discipline” despite Western criticism, as the military staged a show of force to mark Armed Forces Day. In his annual speech, 72-year-old Than Shwe vowed to prepare for a democracy with “institutionalised discipline. “The transition process constitutes a subtle and delicate but epoch-making revolution making a new order,” he said, referring to the junta’s “road map” to democracy. “The nation needs reforms in all sectors — political, economic, social and others — to be well prepared for a democratic system with fully institutionalised discipline.”

The junta’s latest round of constitutional talks, the first step on its road map, resumed in February to a chorus of criticism from Western countries and the UN. They condemned the proceedings for failing to include Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, which is the main opposition party. The holiday marks the day in 1945 when General Aung San — the leader of Burma’s independence movement and Aung San Suu Kyi’s father — called on resistance fighters to expel Japanese occupying forces. Than Shwe also insisted that “our political reform has gained acceptance... among all positive-thinking countries.” Than Shwe’s speech yielded no surprises but warned of “challenges from abroad that come from all directions.”

Call to free Suu Kyi

YANGON: The National League for Democracy on Sunday demanded the release of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, at a meeting attended by two recently freed student leaders. Some 250 people attended an event at NLD headquarters to mark the start of resistance to Japanese occupation 60 years ago. The NLD urged the junta to engage in “genuine dialogue”. It repeated its demand for the reopening of its offices and for the release of all political prisoners, which Amnesty International estimates around 1,300 people. — AFP