Burma's new capital stages parade

Burma has staged its first official ceremony in its new administrative capital with a massive display of military force.

More than 12,000 troops took part in a parade in the capital, near Pyinmana, which was officially named Naypyidaw or "seat of kings" on Monday.

It is not clear why the secretive ruling junta moved the capital from Rangoon.

State TV only showed footage of troops, rather than of the capital itself.

Monday's parade was to mark Armed Forces Day which commemorates the Burmese military's uprising against the Japanese during World War II.

Addressing the troops, head of state Than Shwe said the country needed a strong military during its move to "disciplined democracy".

Burma has not had a constitution since the junta seized power in 1988.

In his address, Senior General Than Shwe said the military was striving to create peace and stability so that a multi-party democracy could exist.

"The people, together with the military must also strive hard to build a modern, developed state where disciplined democracy flourishes," he said.

Burma has pledged to allow democracy under strong pressure from its neighbours as well as the US and other Western powers, but has so far failed to deliver.

The State Peace and Development Council abruptly announced in November it was moving the government to remote Pyinmana, 600km (373 miles) north of Rangoon.

Than Shwe made no mention of the capital in his speech on Monday.

The reasons for moving the capital are unclear. Some analysts point to a paranoia among senior military figures that they might come under attack, potentially from the United States, and that a location further from the coast is strategically safer.

But others suggest the military leaders are simply repeating the habits of the Burmese kings in pre-colonial times who built new towns and palaces on the advice of fortune tellers.

Civil servants, who received a sharp pay increase at the weekend, complained on Monday about poor infrastructure and boredom, Reuters news agency reported.

"I'll probably save some money if I stay here. I'm single and I'm not after any amusement or pleasure," Ko Soe Aung, a clerk, told the agency.

Some top-ranked officials will see their salary soar more than 1,000%, according to a document circulated to various ministries.

BBC

The site of the new capital is in a remote mountainous area



Rangoon already has the necessary infrastructure



Burma announced last November that it was moving its capital 400km north from Rangoon to a remote rural area near the town of Pyinmana.



Few outsiders have been allowed to visit the site itself. These images - supplied to the BBC by recent visitors - give a rare glimpse of the emerging capital



The move has confused foreign observers, who say the new site lacks Rangoon's advantages.

Construction is well under way, though much remains to be done to make this a suitable administrative centre.



In the nearby town of Pyinmana, life goes on as normal, despite the upheaval down the road.



Local facilities look out of place so near to what is set to be the country's administrative hub.



Burma's secretive government says Pyinmana is more centrally located than Rangoon, and therefore better able to serve the nation.



But analysts say the real reason may be fear of foreign attack, or even have been motivated by fortune-tellers.

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