"Outmoded leadership styles and centralization are not favoured by Burma?s democrats. As for the so-called leaders who cling to the old model, Thar Nyunt Oo writes, their days are numbered. Burma?s people have grown accustomed to living in a closed society for many years. After the era of feudalism, Burma fell under colonial rule. Then, Burma was given spurious independence from Japan. Later, there was a period of parliamentary governance characterized by civil unrest and an absence of democratic rights and values. The military, calling themselves ?socialists,? seized power in 1962 and, to this day, has tried to draft a state constitution which solidifies the junta?s hold on the state apparatus. We have grown and matured in an atmosphere of oppression, human rights violations and a lack of democratic opportunities..." Burma?s people have grown accustomed to living in a closed society for many years. After the era of feudalism, Burma fell under colonial rule. Then, Burma was given spurious independence from Japan. Later, there was a period of parliamentary governance characterized by civil unrest and an absence of democratic rights and values. The military, calling themselves ?socialists,? seized power in 1962 and, to this day, has tried to draft a state constitution which solidifies the junta?s hold on the state apparatus. We have grown and matured in an atmosphere of oppression, human rights violations and a lack of democratic opportunities..."