Myanmar military warns opposition a

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                           Myanmar military warns opposition against unrest
                           12:05 a.m. Aug 31, 1998 Eastern

                           By Aung Hla Tun

                           YANGON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military
government warned on Monday that the
                           armed forces would not stand idly by if the
country's pro-democracy opposition tries to stir
                           up unrest.

                           Commentaries in state-controlled newspapers said
it was impossible ``at this unsuitable
                           time'' to call a parliament.

                           National League for Democracy (NLD)leader Aung
San Suu Kyi told supporters at the
                           weekend that she would convene a ``People's
Parliament'' in September in a direct
                           challenge to the military government's authority.

                           ``If the party cannot call (parliament), what
will it do next? Is the NLD going to make
                           instigations for an outbreak of civil strife?'' a
commentary in the New Light of Myanmar
                           asked.

                           ``Is it going to launch attacks with alien
assistance to grab power? Is the Tatmadaw (armed
                           forces) going to stay idle if the NLD starts
aggressive campaigns or repulse attacks?'' it
                           said.

                           The article referred back to mob violence during
Myanmar's 1988 uprising for democracy,
                           which the military crushed, killing thousands of
people, according to opposition estimates.

                           The opposition has become increasingly assertive
in recent months in its campaign to try to
                           force the government to recognise the results of
the country's last general election in 1990,
                           which the NLD won by a landslide.

                           Last week, college students staged their first
street protests since 1996.

                           Government officials have said calling a
parliament of those elected in 1990 would be
                           illegal and state media have suggested the
opposition should be outlawed and Suu Kyi
                           deported if the party proceeds with its plans.

                           The military has never recognised the poll result
and has since arrested scores of
                           opposition members. It has said a constitution is
needed before a parliament is called but
                           the opposition accuses the government of
stalling.

                           On August 18, leaders of the government and
opposition held their first talks for more than
                           a year but the NLD said a genuine dialogue was
not possible unless such talks included
                           1991 Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, something the
government has always resisted.

                           State newspapers have repeatedly attacked the
opposition in recent days.

                           Monday's articles accused Suu Kyi of following a
``destructive path'' and said it was time
                           for her to realise her wrongdoing.

                           In a speech quoted in local papers on Saturday,
the government's powerful Secretary One
                           Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt condemned the
opposition as traitors motivated and
                           supported by foreign powers.

                           Articles in the same papers said power could not
be handed to the NLD and that
                           Western-style democracy was an inappropriate form
of government for Myanmar.