The Irrawaddy

January 27, 2004—The Communist Party of Burma recently launched its new website, in preparation for "the last battle" in the decades-long conflict between the country’s military rulers and the people, according to the website.

It includes pages stating the party’s policies and announcements, open letters and news articles in Burmese. It also has posted the most recent issue of the party’s journal, People’s Power, which first began publication over 40 years ago.

The Communist Party of Burma, or CPB, collapsed in 1989 after many of its members mutinied against their leaders. Today, most of its members live in Chinese towns bordering northern Burma and deeper inside China.

The party launched the website to circulate its opinions to Burmese people abroad and, it hopes, to people inside Burma through its overseas readership.

The party was founded in 1939 by young dissidents who played a key role in Burma’s fight against British colonial rule, including independence hero and national leader Aung San, father of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The party took up arms against Rangoon in 1948. It also took part in the 1988 pro-democracy movement and many activists were jailed for having suspected links to the party.