Burmese Junta Meets Politicians

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29764, 6 March 1962, Page 20

Burmese Junta Meets Politicians

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) RANGOON, March 4. Burmese Army officers who last week overthrew the Government of U Nu are reported to have told leading politicians today that they faced permanent banishment from public life unless they co-operated with the Revolutionary Council.

The Army Supreme Commander, General Ne Win, said politicians now under arrest would be freed provided they promised their co-operation, tihe British United Press reported. But according to Reuter, the Revolutionary Council and General Ne Win, today showed signs of wishing to conciliate the leaders of the country’s political parties as well as its minority peoples. The impression in political circles was that the Revolutionary Council was not contemplating any action to impose an outright ban on political parties and activities. During the meeting with the party leaders, the officers said the junta acted for three reasons—the steady and uncontrollable rise in prices, deteriorating security conditions and the compromising attitude taken by the Shan State towards the issue of federalism. The Prime Minister, other Ministers and Government party leaders, together with Shan members of Parliament, were arrested in the coup. They are being held in a military camp 15 miles north of Rangoon. The council has suspended the Constitution and dissolved Parliament. General Ne Win said today that politicians were to blame for the country’s state of affairs. They were too concerned with jostling for office and internal bickering. The old Constitution was too rigid and the council was willing to work with the politicians to produce a more flexible one that would be in keeping with the changing times, reported the British United Press. The Army apparently felt that any loosening of Gov-

ernment control and provision of more rights for States would lead to the disintegration of the Burmese, union, the British United Press said. The situation in Rangoon and throughout the country was reported to be calm, and today prices began to drop sharply. The Revolutionary Council yesterday disbanded the Shamuakaren, Kachin, and Kayah State Councils and the Council for Chin Affairs, but preserved the identity and structure of the. State and the Special Chin Division. It set up new councils for each of the States and the Special Chin Division, consisting of its own nominees These are ' predominantly civilians from the minority areas, with one Army commander on each council.

The Revolutionary Council thereby made it clear that it was not against autonomy and self-government of the minority States, but only against the demand of Shan leaders for federalism, with the implied threat of rebellion and secession.