Yangon vows to restore 'disciplined' democracy

Myanmar's junta leader Senior General Than Shwe (L) reviews the guard of honour during the Armed Forces Day celebration in Yangon yesterday. Myanmar's junta leader Senior General Than Shwe vowed to press ahead with its controversial "road map" to democracy despite Western criticism, in a speech marking the day. PHOTO: AFP

The country's most powerful man spoke after inspecting more than 7,100 troops from the army, navy, air force and police in the sprawling and immaculately groomed Resistance Park in downtown Yangon, on the most important holiday for the military that has ruled since 1962.

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," Than Shwe said, referring to the junta's self-proclaimed "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 self-declared road map, resumed in February to a chorus of criticism from western countries and the United Nations. They condemned the proceedings for failing to include Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), the main opposition party.

The United States has identified Myanmar as an "outpost of tyranny" and imposed investment and trade sanctions on it.

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.

"Nowadays the preferred method employed by a major power to dominate and exploit a small country is political, economic or social subjugation rather than outright attack and occupation," Than Shwe said.

Myanmar's junta brutally crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 and two years later rejected results of national elections won by the NLD. Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.