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Democracy a little later, says junta

John Aglionby

General Than Shwe's remark contradicts recent promises

Myanmar's increasingly reclusive military junta showed off its mysterious new capital, Naypyidaw, to outsiders on Monday for the first time, during a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day.

The country's paramount leader, General Than Shwe, used his speech at the parade of 12,000 soldiers to announce that his much-promised transition to democracy would still take ``some time,'' a direct contradiction of recent promises made to neighbouring countries' leaders.

Buried deep within the country's dense mountainous jungle, Naypyidaw, meaning royal city, a heavily fortified compound, is just outside the town of Pyinmana, 360 km north of Yangon, which remains the commercial centre.

Purpose-built

The generals claim it will be easier to run Myanmar from the purpose-built ``command and control centre'', which is not complete four months after civil servants were secretly whisked off to it from their homes and offices in Yangon. The new buildings on show on state television on Monday looked impressive, as did huge statues of three of Myanmar's most famous kings that stared down on to the parade ground.

However, the lack of facilities, including such basics as telephone lines, and poor access to the rest of the country has prompted virtually all embassies, aid agencies and international organisations to stay in Yangon.

There are widespread rumours that the move was prompted by rampant paranoia and astrologers' advice. ``They say they've moved there to avert disaster and threats to their security,'' said a democracy activist, Debbie Stothard. ``But they've also done it to insulate themselves from the follies of their own misrule.''

Gen Than Shwe said the military had to be ``strong, efficient, patriotic and modern ... to ward off any danger befalling the country''. He warned: ``Today, the armed forces and the people are striving together for the emergence of a democratic state and these are tasks which need time to be implemented.''

Virtually all observers say such statements are an excuse not to hand over power to Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won the last election in 1990 but was not allowed to rule. Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said on Monday that he had not been allowed to meet Ms Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, during a visit last week to Myanmar. ``They told me that Aung San Suu Kyi has no more influence, that the NLD has no more influence'' —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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