Myanmar's state-run media issued a veiled threat on Wednesday to the opposition party of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, suggesting its contacts with Western governments could lead to its demise.
The New Light of Myanmar said the National League of Democracy relied too much on Western powers and had too close a connection with the United States and British embassies in the country.
"People believe that the days of NLD, which relies too much on big Western nations, are numbered," the newspaper said, reiterating similar threats of recent months.
The ruling junta has put pressure on the NLD since seizing power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations.
It has jailed a number of its senior party members, severely restricted party activities and keeps Suu Kyi under house arrest.
The report said the "public," which is watching the NLD, has noticed that the staff of British and American embassies in Yangon visited the NLD headquarters 34 times during the month of July and the party had accepted parcels sent by the embassies.
The paper suggested that the NLD was taking its cues from these embassies and many NLD members who had lost confidence in the party have resigned.
{{/usCountry}}The paper suggested that the NLD was taking its cues from these embassies and many NLD members who had lost confidence in the party have resigned.
{{/usCountry}}Although state-run newspapers say recent resignations were voluntary, the NLD insisted its members were coerced into quitting its ranks.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military control since 1962 and the current junta is widely accused of human rights violations and suppression of any political activity critical to its rule.