Myanmar junta condemns 'neocolonialist' threat to independence

Yangon- Myanmar's military junta on Sunday condemned "neocolonialists" and appealed for a renewed sense of nationalism as it marked the 61st anniversary of independence from Britain. Junta chairman Senior General Than Shwe said the country was threatened from the outside by Western nations and organizations bent on destabilizing the regime.

"Today, neocolonialists are interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, putting pressure on and coercing other countries to serve as their minions, and resorting to all possible ways of forcing a government to serve as a puppet one that will dance to their tune with the intention of harming the sovereignty of their targeted counties," an official translation of the general's speech read.

"Moreover, they are using some international organizations to gain support for their schemes, and driving a wedge among national people and inciting riots to undermine national unity, peace and stability of a nation."

Than Shwe said all Burmese people were duty-bound to safeguard the country's independence and sovereignty.

The military junta is an international pariah for its human rights abuses and refusal to return the country to civilian democratic rule.