Burma: Deteriorating Situation

During Burma's first decade of independence, the nation's undisputed leader was affable, ascetic Premier U Nu, a sometime Buddhist monk who sought through his politics "to merit admission to the higher abode of nirvana." But U Nu was a lackluster administrator, and by 1958 Burma's rice-rich economy was on the brink of ruin and domestic Communists were gaining strength. Willingly, Socialist U Nu turned over power to a military caretaker regime headed by General Ne Win, who restored efficient government, defeated Communist guerrilla bands. After 15 months in office he held elections that promptly returned U Nu to power. Said Ne Win: "There is no need to stay in power when I have real power— the army."

Recently, Burma has been beset again by a faltering economy and sharpened political tensions. Heavy floods last fall wiped out 800,000 acres of revenue-producing rice just as the nation was about to embark on an ambitious industrial development plan; U Nu's Union Party elected five left-wingers to key executive posts; ethnic minority groups such as Shans and Karens were demanding greater self-determination, threatening national unity. Last week, reading the signs of a "vastly deteriorating situation," Ne Win staged a lightning-quick coup, seized U Nu and about 40 other government leaders. Despite the rumble of tanks and heavily armed troops who patrolled Rangoon streets, most Burmese went about their normal affairs with typical good nature. But there was doubt that Burmese democracy, having collapsed twice in 3½ years, would soon be restored.