Burmese rights groups are marking the country's 59th independence anniversary today with calls for what they call real freedom and independence.
The groups say although Burma was freed from colonialism in 1948, the Burmese people have not enjoyed any true freedom since the military coup in 1962.
The group known as 88-Generation Students says there has been no progress in the country's development since the coup, and said people have instead lost their rights of freedom of religion and expression.
Another group -- the National Council of the Union of Burma -- says the current political situation in Burma is extremely depressing and worse now than it has ever been.
Burma's military government says it is granting amnesty to some 28-hundred prisoners to mark Independence's Day. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is not believed to be among them.
