Evening star., 1948-01-04
Burma independence
Begins With 3-Day
Sports Celebration
BY the As,oeio.sd pre,s

RANGOON. Burma, Sunday, Jan.
4.-Burma, land OF pagodas, jewels
and rice terraces, became an inde-
pendent country today after more
than q century Of British rule.
with the birth Of the nation
government leaders told the 17.000,-
600 Burmese to rejoice in their
freedom and to work together to
build a great state.
The Burmese Constituent Assem-
bly, now assumes power as the union
parliament Of Free Burma. A new
cabinet Of 18 members has been
named with Thakin Nu continuing
as premier and Bo Let va as deputy
premier and defense minister. Tin
Tut retains the foreign ministry
portfolio and Kyaw Nyein the home
ministry.
(In London the British Foreign
Office announced appointment Of
r. j. Bowker as the first British
Ambassador to the Union OF Bur-
ma. He is high commissioner
for the United Kingdom In
Rangoon.)
Date Fixed by Astrologers.
A three-day celebration has been
planned with all forms of gambling
banned for this independence day
the date of which was fixed in ac-
cordance with the directions of
group of astrologers.
British, Chinese and Indian resi-
dents will join with the Burmese in
celebrating the historic occasion.
A prominent place has been given
in the celebration program to physi-
cal culture displays, body beautiful
competitions and all forms Of sports
including boxing, swimming and
track and field events. There will
be boat races in which women
crews will participate.
Burmese already have been told
to get busy and tidy up their coun-.
try. Householders have been clean
ing up the sidewalks and roadways
in front of their homes.
The independent nation faces
many problems. Lawlessness, a
relic OF World War II, has con-
tlnued in the face of drastic at
temps to check it. Reports reaching
Rangoon said the. Communists were
continuing high-handed domina-
ton of some interior areas of the
country. Some observers of Bur-
mese politics have said that Burma
ultimately may have a Communist
government.
Second Independence.
Today marked the second time in
recent years that Burma, an ancient
land with an area of 261 ,6l0 square
miles, had received her "indepen-
dence." In 1943 during the Japa-
nese occupation-when British rule
was broken temporarily-the Japa-
nese announced the granting of in
dependence to Burma. This action
had little meaning, however, since
japanese troops made the country
q major military base and fought
the Allies on Burmese soil.
Britain had exerted an influence
In this Southern Asiatic country
since 1912 when the East India Co.
sent agents here. In 1926 the
British gained Arakan and Tenas-
serim following the first Burma war
and subsequently extended their
1le ters sspthet sections of ha
country. Burma and India were
administered together until 1887
when Burma became separate
part of the British empire.
After World War II the British
gave Burma the choice of complete
independence or Of becoming a
dominion in the British common
wealth. The Burmese Constituent
Assembly voted for independence
and treaty ending British rule
was signed in London last Octo-
ber II.
Sac Shwe Thaik, Burma's first
president, told his countrymen In
an independence day message: "Let
us rejoice that independence has
come to us today not as
result of armed conflict but as the
fruit of friendly negotiations"