E/CN.4/1990/46 page 48 "Myanmar was under colonial rule for nearly 100 years. Due to the divide-and-rule policy during those years of the colonial Power, the newly independent nation of Myanmar inherited some (minor) problems concerning national races. As Myanmar is a nation composed of various national races, every effort is made by the Government to protect the rights of all Myanmar citizens. "Accordingly, rights relating to religion are enshrined in the Constitution, which states that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess and practise religion, subject to public order, morality or health. The State not only recognizes the position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the majority of the citizens, but also recognizes Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Animism as religions or faiths professed by other citizens of the Union. It imposes no disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious faith or belief. "Consequently, Christmas, Dipawali, and Idd ul Athwaha days are observed as official holidays in the Union of Myanmar in order that citizens of different faiths may also be able to celebrate their own feast days. "On these occasions, religious leaders of the respective faiths are permitted to broadcast from the Government Broadcasting Service Station religious sermons nationwide. Accordingly, broadcast sermons are made for Christians twice a year, i.e. at Christmas and Easter; Hindu sermons on Dipawala and Muslim sermons on Ramada, Idd ul Athwaha and Prophet Mohammed's birthday. The respective religious leaders are provided free tickets to travel by train and boat to preach and disseminate their respective faiths. Furthermore, all the religious groups in the Union of Myanmar receive financial assistance from the Government for their religious activities each year. For the financial year 1989/90, the allotments have been made by the Government as follows: Islam Hindu Roman Catholic Protestant 100,000 38,500 15,600 36,350 Kyats Kyats Kyats Kyats "But, as mentioned above, due to the legacy of colonialism, national unity, peace and the stability of the Union are found to be threatened at times by slanderous works, articles and essays printed and published under the mantle of religion. "Since the abuse of religion for political purposes is never encouraged, the Government has found it necessary sometimes to take a series of measures to maintain law and order for the benefit of Myanmar society as a whole in order that the stability essential for national development be maintained. "One of the measures taken by the Government was to issue the 1962 Law for the Registration of Printers and Publishers. This law requires prior approval of manuscripts in order to avoid publication of materials written with the aim of destabilizing the unity and peace of the Union.