PRESS RELEASE 8/98 OF THE EMBAS

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                               EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR
		      
                                               WASHINGTON,  DC
	 

PRESS   RELEASE  	8/98                				      10  August 1998

 Eighteen Foreigners Seeking To Incite Unrest in Yangon  Apprehended

The Public Round-up the Miscreants and Hand Them Over to the Police

	Legal action is being taken against a motley group of 18 foreigners (10 men
and 8 women) who tried to incite unrest in downtown Yangon on August 9 , 1998.

	The foreigners, comprising 6 Americans, 3 Thais, 3 Malaysians, 3 Indonesians,
2 Filipinos and 1 Australian arrived Yangon from Bangkok on tourist visas on
August 7,1998 and had planned to depart on August 9, 1998. On the morning of
August 9, between 9.30 am and 11 am they split into 6 groups and attempted to
incite unrest at busy intersections, the main shopping area, two  pagodas and
a mosque. They also distributed anti-government pamphlets in Myanmar and
English.

	Citizens, wary of such antics, promptly rounded-up the 18 foreigners and
handed them to the police. Legal action is being taken against them.

	It has been ascertained that the failed attempt to incite unrest in Myanmar
was planned, financed and executed by an anti-Myanmar government organization,
"Alternative ASEAN Network of Burma", an umbrella body of groups supporting
anti-Myanmar government movements in neighbouring countries.

	Arrangements  were made for the 18 to enter Myanmar on a package tour
originating in Bangkok, Thailand.

	The trip to Yangon for the Filipinos was arranged and financed by an
organization called, " Initiative for International Dialogue "; and for the
Thais by , "International Organization for Democracy for Burma " and "  the
Union for Civil  Liberty ( Thailand ) ".

	The Malaysians gathered in Bangkok and their trip was arranged and financed
by " The  Union for Civil Liberty( Thailand) ".

	Financial and travel arrangements were made for the rest of the group
comprising the Americans,  the Indonesians and  the Australian by "
Alternative ASEAN network on Burma".

	The Thai group was led by Professor Jaran Ditapichai of Rantsit University
who is also adviser to Parliament on Human Rights  and Vice-Chairman of Union
of Civil Liberty.

	It is regrettable that a motley band of foreigners have been recruited to
incite a breach of public order in Myanmar. They were no doubt under the
influence of those who wish Myanmar ill and who have been spreading rumours
that Myanmar is in dire straits and that civil and social unrest was imminent.
They were led to believe that Myanmar was ready to explode and that all that
was needed was people like themselves to ignite the fuse. The fact that it was
the public rather than the police that rounded up the 18 foreigners gives the
lie to the tale that the people of Myanmar are oppressed and are awaiting a
Messiah. The truth is the people of Myanmar desire peace and are wary of
trouble makers.

	The situation in Myanmar is a far cry from the bleak picture painted by the
anti-government organizations. It is most unfortunate that these organizations
are bent on creating turmoil and are even resorting to employing foreigners
posing as tourists to incite violence.

	The people of Myanmar desire nothing but peace and wish to be left alone to
fashion their own destiny. In the circumstance no amount of outside pressure
can affect the pace or direction of change in the country.

	No nation  brooks attempts by outside groups to carry out seditious
campaigns. Myanmar is no exception.



---------------------------------