BBC-Burmese opposition 'evil' says

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Saturday, August 29, 1998 Published at 18:06 GMT 19:06 UK 

Burmese opposition 'evil' says overnment 

One of the most senior officers in the Burmese military government has
denounced the opposition National League for Democracy as traitors and said
any attempt to convene a civilian parliament will not be tolerated. 

Referring to the NLD as "obstructionists with evil intentions", Lt-General
Khin Nyunt said it was trying to stir up instability with the aim of
grabbing power. 

"It is obvious that, apart from the handful of destructive instigators, the
majority of the public want to live in peace and are scared of the
occurrence of any disturbances," he said in a monthly speech at a refresher
course for teachers. 

Lt-General Khin Nyunt was quoted in Burmese newspapers saying that
opposition parties were controlled by western powers attempting to
recolonise the country. 

'Neo-colonialists' 

The traitors within the country, with the support of big nations, are
defying laws," he said. 

"These are tactics dictated by the neo-colonialists and the traitors are
following their subversive schemes." 

He said most Burmese people wanted to live in peace and were scared of the
prospect of any disturbances. 

The NLD's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for a parliamentary meeting
to be convened next month. 

On Monday she ended a 13 day roadside stand-off with the military
authorities as she attempted to visit supporters outside the capital,
Rangoon. 

Earlier this month high-ranking opposition members met the leaders of
Burma's military government in the first such talks in more than a year. 

The government described the meeting as fruitful but refuses to hold talks
with Ms Suu Kyi, a condition the NLD says is a pre-requisite for genuine
dialogue. 

The NLD won elections in 1990 but the Burmese armed forces have refused to
relinquish power since then.