AP: Singn of Bad Guys in Burma

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SIGNS OF BAD GUYS IN BURMA

 Copyright 1996 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of
the Associated Press.
   By AYE AYE WIN
 Associated Press Writer
   RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- Burma's military rulers mounted a new offensive
against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, this time on 30-foot-high
billboards denouncing her as a stooge of foreign countries.
   The billboards -- including one placed 600 feet from Suu Kyi's house and
another just outside the U.S. Embassy -- were erected Sunday as the Nobel
Peace Prize-laureate gave a speech in which she toned down her government
criticism, apparently to avoid violating harsh new public order laws.
   The billboards and the new laws signal the junta's rejection of Suu
Kyi's calls for dialogue during a landmark congress of her National League
for Democracy two weeks ago. Authorities arrested 262 people to try to
prevent the meeting.
   The congress was Suu Kyi's biggest challenge to the regime since it
freed her from six years of house arrest last July.
   State-controlled newspapers ran photographs of thousands of people
gathered at parks Sunday in Rangoon watching workers erect the huge red
billboards emblazoned with white lettering.
   The crowds were reminiscent of government-orchestrated rallies in recent
weeks, and some people said they were coerced to attend.
   The signs carried slogans similar to those chanted at the rallies:
"Crush All Internal and External Destructive Elements as The Common Enemy"
and "Oppose Those Relying on External Elements Acting as Stooges Holding
Negative Views."
   The one outside the U.S. Embassy was written in English, and the rest
were in Burmese.
   Such slogans have become such a staple of the state-controlled press,
however, that most people heading to work Monday in traditional sarongs
appeared not to even notice the signs.
   The military government, which has held power since 1962, contends that
the movement to install democracy is part of a U.S.-led conspiracy to
colonize Burma, also known as Myanmar.
   About 5,000 people braved arrest Sunday to hear Suu Kyi speak about
democracy in India and even praise the junta for keeping school fees low.
   Authorities did not interfere, despite prohibiting the gatherings
earlier in the week.
   The junta escalated tensions Friday by announcing a law curbing nearly
all political activity, with prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone
seeking to "undermine the stability of the state, community peace and
tranquility."
   Two U.S. envoys, meanwhile, began a weeklong mission Monday to rally
support among Burma's Asian neighbors against the military government's
crackdown on democracy activists.
   The envoys, William Brown and Stanley Roth, were to meet officials in
Japan first and visit the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and
Thailand later in the week.
   Apart from Thailand, Burma's neighbors in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations have voiced little disapproval of the junta's actions,
calling the affair an internal Burmese problem.
   A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Bangkok, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said the envoys would raise the issues of democracy, human
rights and narcotics control. Burma is one of the world's leading producers
of heroin.
   The junta launched mass arrests last month to halt the congress, held on
the sixth anniversary of parliamentary elections won by the opposition. The
military refused to honor the result of that vote.
   
KT
ISBDA