Myanmarmar News Rlease Vol.10 No.13

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Myanmarmar News Rlease Vol.10 No.13


                     EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR

                                        OTTAWA

                         MYANMAR  NEWS  RELEASE

                 VOL. 10                                JULY 10,
                     1998                                 No.13

     The Government of the Union of Myanmar has always had a deep
concern for the personal security of all politicians including Ms. Suu
Kyi as there are known elements who are trying to create political
unrest by putting her to some form of bodily harm.   The recent request
to make her return to Yangon was meant to forestall undesirable events
similar to ones currently taking place in a major African nation
following the death of a prominent politician.

    A paragraph from the Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Yangon on July 8, 1998 is quoted as follows: "The authorities
of the Union of Myanmar have been exercising utmost restraint in dealing
with the aggressive and confrontational attitude of certain elements
with the hope of inviting outside interference in the internal political
development.   The authorities will continue in exercising careful and
measured steps to safeguard and protect the stability as well as
constructive building of a system which the Government has committed to
build with discipline."

    There have also been some reports in the media of impending
political unrest in Myanmar in connection with re-opening of all schools
and universities in the country.  Also there have been some individuals
writing in the correspondence columns of a Canadian newspaper making
allegations of atrocities committed against Shan nationalities within
the Union.

     Both reports are entirely without basis and may even be called
fictitious.   The latter allegations originated from the
drug-trafficking breakaway groups of the former Mong-Tai army (which has
surrendered) operating in the guise of a quasi-democratic secessionist
movement but who have themselves massacred Shan villagers refusing to
cooperate with them.  This has required the government security forces
to take appropriate action to protect Shan villagers from the menace of
these armed drug-trafficking groups in the remote border areas.

     Foreigners, including Canadians, who recently visited the Union of
Myanmar found the atmosphere in Yangon and other major cities peaceful
and normal ? a far cry from Western media reports.

     Any suggestion to the contrary must be considered presumptuous and
unnecessary, since 16 out of 17 armed insurgent groups have returned to
the legal fold in recent years lowering all forms of tensions to
unprecedented levels.  Attempts to artificially create unrest and
instability by local politicians to suit their own ends are not likely
to have any popular support within the country.

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