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The BurmaNet News: July 10, 1998



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: July 10, 1998
Issue #1045

HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: GOVERNMENT WARNS NLD AGAIN
BKK POST: ANOTHER 11 ARRESTED FOR DISOBEYING JUNTA
THE NATION: BURMESE JUNTA BLASTS RIVALS
SCMP: ROADBLOCK TO STOP TRIP BY ACTIVIST CONDEMNED
BKK POST: RESTRAINT APPEAL TO BURMESE AUTHORITIES
BKK(EDITORIAL): BURMA LEAPS TO WRONG CONCLUSION
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The Nation: Government Warns NLD Again
10 July, 1998 

RANGOON -- Burma's military government yesterday issued a new warning to
the opposition that their activities would land them in trouble.

State-run newspapers said: "There is ample evidence that the National
League for Democracy (NLD) [has] committed political, economic and social
conspiracies with reliance on the international colonialist bloc".

The papers, regarded as a mouthpiece of the ruling government, said Burma
would not be shaken by opposition attempts to stir disorder in the country
"through concoctions and rumours". 

A government statement obtained by Reuters on Wednesday accused the
opposition of spreading rumours that violent unrest could be expected in
Myanmar on Martyr's Day on July 19 and on Aug 8, the 10th anniversary of
student street protests in 1988 which the military crushed. 

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The Bangkok Post: Another 11 Arrested for Disobeying Junta
10 July, 1998

Suu Kyi is accused of pursuing violent path

The military government in Burma has arrested 11 more leading opposition
figures in a growing crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy
movement, an exiled opposition group said in Bangkok yesterday.

The reported arrests follow a harshly worded government statement accusing
Mrs Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, of trying to plunge
the country into violence and suggesting legal steps would be justified to
stop her.

It accused Mrs Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy of "putting on
war-paint and deliberately trying to create a head-on collision and
confrontation with the government".

The threats came after Mrs Suu Kyi flouted an unofficial ban on travelling
outside the capital and staged a 24-hour standoff with police on a road
north of Rangoon, a symbolic challenge to the authorities amid a wider
campaign to hasten civilian rule.

The All Burma Students' Democratic Front, a Thailand-based opposition group
of students who fled a bloody crackdown against an antigovernment uprising
in 1988, said yesterday the government was stepping up arrests.

The targets are winners of parliamentary elections the military allowed in
1990. The vote was overwhelmingly won by the NLD and the military never
allowed the legislature to convene. The country has been in political
deadlock since.

In May, Mrs Suu Kyi's embattled party , for the first time set a deadline,
on August 21, for the government to convene the parliament. The date will
fall amid the anniversary period of the uprising 10 years ago.

The government has responded by ordering all of the elected members not
already in jail or exile to report twice a day to local authorities,
apparently to stop them convening on their own.

The ABSDF said yesterday that 11 new members have recently been detained
for violating the restrictions, bringing the total to more than 50. Two
have been sent to a prison labour camp, the ABSDF said.

Among the 11 was Hla Hla Moe, a member whom Mrs Suu Kyi travelled out of
Rangoon on Tuesday to see.

Mrs Suu Kyi was stopped 80 km north of the capital and sat in her car --
along with NLD chairman Aung Shwe, another party official and the driver --
for nearly 24 hours until Mr Hla Hla Moe was brought to meet her.

Since the NLD's recent deadline as issued, the government has stepped up
its rhetoric and said the country could be plunged into chaos. But the
security forces control most aspects of life and any sign of dissent is
usually stamped out.

"The NLD has clearly decided to take a hellish line of action for reasons
of party politics" to create "instability and chaos," the statement said.

"The government has practised maximum restraint in solving the problem but
deliberate creation of confrontation by the NLD to force the government to
violently react needs to be examined," it said. 

****************************************************************

The Nation: Burmese Junta Blasts Rivals 
9 July, 1998 

BURMA'S ruling junta yesterday launched a stinging attack on its opponents
and their foreign supporters as political tensions escalated in the
isolationist state.

Opponents were headed for conflict with the junta and were trying to
provoke authorities to "react violently", the military regime warned in a
statement.

"It is regretful that the NLD has put on war-paint and is deliberately
trying to create a head-on collision and confrontation with the government,
disregarding the importance of national unity, peace and stability ...
which the nation has not so long managed to achieve," the statement said.

"NLD has clearly decided to take a hellish line of action for reasons of
party politics," it said.

"There has been maximum restraint being exercised in resolving the issues
of conflicts and confrontation in many cases and instances, but deliberate
creation of confrontation by NLD to force the government to violently react
needs to be examined and, more importantly, stopped rather than putting all
the needless blame on the government in enforcing laws intended to maintain
the stability in the country."

The warning came amid rising tension's with the political opposition and a
day after NLD leader and Nobel Peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was
blocked by security forces from visiting supporters outside Rangoon.

However, the streets of Rangoon were peaceful yesterday and no incidents
were reported elsewhere in the country as Burma celebrated a Buddhist
festival.

Suu Kyi and the chairman of the NLD, Aung Shwe, returned to Rangoon
yesterday after an overnight stand-off with security forces who stopped
them visiting supporters, the junta said.

The pair were believed to have spent Tuesday night on a roadside some 50
kilometres north of Rangoon where they were blocked by police and troops,
opposition sources in Bangkok said.

The NLD leaders refused to leave the scene without meeting supporters from
outside the capital and were eventually allowed to talk with a local party
representative, they added.

The junta said they had been blocked to avoid "unnecessary political
agitation and activities intending to create a head-on collision and
confrontation with the relevant authorities in an attempt to bring about
social unrest and political disturbances".

The NLD said riot police had physically lifted the opposition leaders' car
and turned it around to face the capital.

The pair were stopped as they drove to meet supporters in Min Hla town, 150
km north of Rangoon, on the politically sensitive 36th anniversary of a
military crackdown on student pro-democracy demonstrators in 1962.

It was the first in a series of key anniversaries in July and August
marking such crackdowns and other tumultuous political events.

The NLD leaders had intended to meet supporters who have recently been
ordered not to leave their hometowns and to report to intelligence agents
twice daily.

The opposition says some 40 NLD members have also been detained since that
order was given about two weeks ago.

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) said
yesterday that the police blockade on Tuesday to prevent NLD leaders from
visiting Taikkyi Township confirms that the ruling generals are the worst
violators of human rights and afraid to let the NLD leaders meet the people.

"The incident shows that the ruling military junta is a weakling, without
popular support, and remains in power through brute force and by avoiding
to convene parliament following the 1990 elections," NCGUB Prime Minister
Sein Win said.

The latest incident follows recent mass arrests and imposition of travel
restrictions on the elected representatives from the NLD. The "Habitual
Offenders Restriction Act" has been cited by the junta to confine all
elected NLD representatives to their township limits.

The United States said it had sought clarification from Burma on the
incident and had "reaffirmed the strong US position that freedom of
movement should be accorded to members of the opposition".

Thailand expressed concern that the rising political tension in the
neighbouring country could erupt into violence and urged restraint by both
the junta and opposition. 

****************************************************************

South China Morning Post: Roadblock to Stop Trip By Activist Condemned
9 July, 1998 By William Barnes

The Burmese government-in-exile yesterday vigorously condemned the  junta
for a stand-off involving soldiers who stopped Aung San Suu  Kyi when she
slipped her minders and tried to travel outside the  capital.

On Tuesday night, the authorities put up a roadblock halfway to Min Hla,
150km north of Rangoon, where she had hoped to meet members of her National
League for Democracy who were elected to Parliament in 1990.

The incident showed that the junta was "without popular support and remains
in power through brute force and by avoiding the convening of Parliament",
the National Coalition of the Union of Burma said.

There was a tense stand-off for several hours when Ms Aung San Suu Kyi,
accompanied by the chairman of her National League for Democracy (NLD),
Aung Shwe, refused to leave her car or return to the capital. They returned
to her Rangoon home yesterday morning.

The junta said Ms Aung San Suu Kyi had been stopped "for her own safety and
to prevent her creating unrest". US State Department spokesman James Rubin
condemned the "apparent abridgement" of her basic right "to visit
whomsoever she likes".

The confrontation comes amid rising political tension following last
month's demand by the NLD for Parliament to be reconvened by August 21 in
line with the results of the 1990 election which it won but which the
military ignored.

The State Peace and Development Committee, the junta, accused the party at
the weekend of seeking a "head-on" collision with officials.

Tuesday's confrontation took place on the anniversary of the military's
massacre of student protesters in 1962. The aim of Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's
trip probably was to meet elected NLD politicians who had recently been
ordered by the authorities to sign pledges restricting their movements.

****************************************************************

The Bangkok Post: Restraint Appeal to Burma Authorities
9 July, 1998

Rangoon hits back at 'foreign meddling'

Thailand expressed concern yesterday at developments in Burma and urged
restraint in what is seen as a test of the Thai call for "flexible
engagement" among Asean members.

The Foreign Ministry said instability in Burma could retard efforts towards
economic recovery in the region because the international business
community tended to view the region as a whole.

Instability in Burma also could spur a fresh influx of refugees into
Thailand, adversely affecting border trade, co-operation against illegal
workers and drug trafficking, it said.

The comments came after a standoff between Burmese security forces and Aung
San Suu Kyi of the opposition National League for Democracy 50km north of
Rangoon.

Security forces tried to prevent Mrs Suu Kyi, accompanied by Aung Shwe, the
league chairman, from meeting colleagues at Taikkyi Township. At one point,
the security forces lifted their car and turned it towards Rangoon.

But the two leaders eventually were allowed to meet a local representative
and returned to Rangoon yesterday.

Calls for restraint have drawn a testy reaction from Rangoon, which
criticised foreign governments for what it considered interference.

In a statement yesterday, Burma's ministry of foreign affairs said: "Recent
statements made by certain responsible ministers regarding their concern on
the presupposed situation in Union of Myanmar [Burma] are found to be
presumptuous."
The statement came the day after Thailand expressed concern at developments
in Burma and called for restraint between the junta and the league.

The United States condemned the junta's refusal to allow Aung San Suu Kyi
to visit party members. "The authorities in Myanmar have been exercising
utmost restraint in dealing with the aggressive and confrontational
attitude of certain elements," Burma's statement said.

Rangoon said Bangkok's comments could potentially affect relations and were
against the spirit of Asean. "It is regrettable that presumptuous
observation and remarks made on isolated and wrong information could lead
to misunderstanding and a misconception not only in bilateral relations but
also intra-Asean," it said.

Tension between the ruling State Peace and Development Council and the
opposition has intensified since late June after the league stepped up
pressure for recognition of the 1990 election it won by a landslide.

The league on June 24 demanded the convening by Aug 21 of the parliament
elected eight years ago. The state-run New Light of Myanmar subsequently
threatened to jail Aung San Suu Kyi and further restricted the movements of
League MPs, requiring those outside Rangoon to report to local police twice
daily. Some 40 MPs have been arrested.

In Bangkok, the Foreign Ministry expressed concern for an outbreak of
violence ahead of the 31st Asean Ministerial Meeting in Manila on July 24-25.

Surin Pitsuwan, the foreign minister, currently in Indonesia, has called on
Asean to ditch its non-interference policy in favour of a more flexible
approach.

He argued a new approach was needed to prevent or diminish internal
problems that might endanger the region.

On Tuesday, Lauro Baja, the Philippine foreign undersecretary, said Mr
Surin's call would be discussed by foreign ministers at the Manila talks.

Manila was already taking a position of "flexible engagement" with Burma
aimed at avoiding upheaval in that country, he added.

****************************************************************

The Bangkok Post (Editorial): Burma Leaps to Wrong Conclusion
10 July, 1998

Events in Burma have taken several sinister turns in recent days. The
ruling junta has introduced harsh new restrictions on the opposition. The
sudden crackdown has raised tensions in Burma.

The statement by our foreign ministry requesting that both sides remain
calm in the sudden Burma disputes was well taken. The quick, churlish
response from Rangoon is extremely regrettable.

Burma formally became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations one year ago.

The regime still appears unaware that both responsibilities and rights were
attached to that membership. Unrest or worse in any Asean member has a
direct effect on other members.

Burma thinks it is presumptuous that any government would express an
opinion about events inside its country. It always has been a questionable
policy that governments should be allowed to conduct their affairs without
outside examination. And in today's fast-moving world, any serious unrest
in Burma will have direct and indirect effects on Thailand.

It is ironic that the tension in Burma has occurred at this moment. Thai
officials just this week have been explaining their concept of increased,
direct interest by Asean members into each other's actions. This new policy
marks a sea change within Asean. Although details still are fuzzy, it is
clear that Thailand has succeeded in pushing at least a limited version of
the policy upon a some-what reluctant Asean. 

In the past, members of the group were expected to remain stonily silent in
the face of even the most egregious or harmful errors by their neighbours.
That is now changing, and we should take some pride that our foreign
ministry is the leader.

Members of our foreign ministry say they are not testing this new policy
with the statements on Burma. The appeal for calm in Rangoon this week came
only hours after authorities detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for
hours for the crime of driving 80 kms outside of Rangoon. Only the United
States was faster or stronger in its reaction to this latest troubling
confrontation between the junta and its internal opponents.

In addition to the public hope for calm in Burma, our foreign ministry
spokesman noted that instability in Burma poses a threat to the region on
several fronts. In particular, Thailand is concerned about building the
confidence of local, regional and foreign investors. 

Any violence or even severe political confrontation in Burma will reflect
directly upon Thailand. Our spokesman said that the international business
community views the region as a whole.

Burma's response, within hours, was the unfortunate reference to Thai
arrogance. This was another step in raising the political heat. Burma still
appears unable to grasp the simple fact that Thailand and Thais have no
desire to dictate the form of government in Burma. But we have the greatest
interest in trying to help the Burmese achieve the government of their
choice through reasonable discussion, with the participation of all Burmese
citizens.

Thailand can, and will, co-exist with different forms of government on our
borders and within Asean. We have got along, and will continue to get
along, with the communists of Vietnam, the technocrats of Singapore. The
type of system the Burmese choose to govern themselves is their business. 

What concerns us is that the dictators in Rangoon will use excessive force
once again against loyal Burmese who only wish to give their views on the
political system.

Our foreign ministry deserves credit and support for its quick response to
the latest Burmese tension. Officials should continue to speak out. Burmese
and other governments should know when Thailand feels concerned about
disruptive or violent actions which can reflect upon us negatively. We hope
Burma will consider the appeal of our government again. Rangoon should move
to solve its political differences with the opposition in a peaceful, open
manner.

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