Mar 28, 2008 (DVB), National League for Democracy members and veteran politicians held celebrations in Rangoon, Mandalay and Magwe yesterday to mark the 63rd anniversary of Anti-Fascist Revolution Day.

About 500 people attended the NLD's celebration at the party headquarters in Bahan township in Rangoon yesterday, sources said.

NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win told DVB the celebration was attended by veteran politicians, ethnic leaders and diplomats from the US and European embassies.

Anti-Fascist Revolution Day commemorates the Burmese revolution against invading Japanese forces in 1945.

NLD chairman U Aung Shwe stressed in his speech at the event the importance of equal participation in a true federal system.

"Under a true democratic system, all the states and divisions should have equal rights," he said.

"It is impossible to structure a strong and developed federal nation without the participation of the ethnic people."

Earlier in the day, about 200 people, including veteran politicians, NLD members and four Central Executive Committee members, attended a gathering at veteran politician Thakin Thein Pe's house at around 8am, according to veteran politician U Min Lwin.

Celebrations were also held by the NLD in Aung Lan, Magwe division, and in Mandalay, where authorities kept a close watch over the gathering.

The event was allowed to take place, but Mandalay NLD coordinators were questioned by authorities later in the evening.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw