Burma: Freedom Now for Nu

Two men have taken most of the turns at the helm of Burma ever since the nation became independent in 1948: gentle, popular U Nu, the kerchiefed, sometime Buddhist monk who became Burma’s premier politician; and tough, ascetic General Ne Win, chief of the Burmese army. The first Premier, U Nu, found things too much for him, voluntarily handed power over to Ne Win and the military in 1958. Within 17 months, Ne Win’s mailed fist had put the government’s house in order, and he chivalrously handed power back to a re-elected U Nu. Once again, U Nu proved too retiring for the task, and in 1962 Ne Win took over again, this time by outright coup. The general has been giving the orders solo ever since, while U Nu has languished in a military rest camp near Rangoon.

Last week the general dropped in for an hour’s chat with his old political swapmate and to the surprise of everyone, including U Nu, set the ex-Premier free. It largely reflected Ne Win’s solid sense of security—and his conviction that after nearly five years out of circulation, U Nu’s old political magic has largely evaporated. Taking no chances, Ne Win, in the best tradition of Asian indirection, suggested to U Nu that he might well want to use his new freedom for a “pilgrimage” outside Burma or for “medical treatment” abroad.