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Exiled Myanmar govt calls for dialogue with ruling junta

BANGKOK: The exiled "government" of Myanmar said on 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 demonitised 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 where imprisoned or fled abroad. AFP