Burmese mass movement demonstrates

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Subject: Burmese mass movement demonstrates against US sanctions

Burmese mass movement demonstrates against US sanctions

RANGOON, May 4 (AFP) - An estimated 30,000 members of a SLORC's  sponsored 
mass movement on Sunday held a demonstration against a US decision two weeks 
ago to clamp economic sanctions on Burma.

The rally, held amid tight security in a sports stadium in east Rangoon, was 
organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), which is 
generally regarded as the political arm of Burma's ruling junta.

"This is a blatant interference in  Burma's  internal affairs using bullying 
tactics," a USDA spokesman said, calling the US investment ban on April 22 an 
entirely "wrong decision."

"The US government should understand that authorities here are striving to 
establish a disciplined democratic state," said another spokesman for the 
USDA, which was formed in 1988 and presently boasts a membership of six 
million.

A motion to condemn "internal and external destructionists" was also approved 
by the USDA gathering.

The USDA also accused the United States of failing to curb its own law and 
order problems, particularly widespread murder and rape.

"We invite the American government, which cannot even provide security or 
guarantee human rights for its own people, to come and take some much needed 
lessons from our government on how to preovide security," one spokesman said.

The rally ended with cries of "Shame, shame on the United States!" with 
spokesmen accusing Washington of having been swayed by the "falsehoods" spread 
by pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) won 1990 
elections later overturned by the military, has called for investment bans and 
tourist boycotts of Burma as a means of pressuring the military into reform.

Official sources said similar mass rallies denouncing the US sanctions would 
be held in 16 cities across the country in the next week.

Many participants at mass USDA rallies held last year to denounce the 
pro-democracy efforts of the NLD said that they had been pressured into 
attending the events through official threats.