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Bangkok Post News (20/9/98)



News headlines:
1):Paper tells Suu Kyi: Leave the country now
2):Chettha to get new job as Burma adviser
 .................................................

1):Paper tells Suu Kyi: Leave the country now
   House opening bid called 'political stunt'

Burma's state-controlled press yesterday called for pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi to "get out" of the country a day after the 10th
anniversary of the junta's takeover.
A commentary in the daily New Light of Myanmar said the military was fast
losing patience with the opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate amid
her repeated calls for a parliament to be convened.
"So you'd better leave this nation? The onlywork we have to say to you is
'get out,' " the commentary, regarded as officially inspireed, said.
A further commentary in the same newspaper called the opposition's efforts
to convene parliament "a political stunt".
Diplomats and residents in Rangoon said the city remained calm, despite the
opposition's continuing defiance of the junta with its plans to set up the
parliament elected in 1990, but which has never been allowed to sit.
The opposition spearheaded by the National League for Democracy (NLD) under
Aung San Suu Kyi won the polls in a landslide, but the junta, which took
power in 1988, has refused to step aside.
"There is no change," one diplomat said by phone from Rangoon, which was
being battered by a rainstorm.
"The government is standing firm and so is the opposition. But the rain has
really put a dampener on it all and we don't expect much to happen today,"
the envoy said.
He added the heavy downpour had even caused security forces, deployed amid
student unrest earlier this month, to take a lower profile.
Exiled members of parliament from Mrs Suu Kyi's party said on Friday Burma
was "in a state of emergency" and military rule was plunging the country
deeper into chaos.
The junta on its 10th anniversary lashed out at the NLD, ridiculing plans
to convene a parliament and saying it had never issued any clear policies
to govern the country.
" The NLD has never put forward any serious, specific ideas on the
structure of government, economic policy, counter-narcotics policy, foreign
policy (or) defence policy," an official statement said.

 ...................

2):Chettha to get new job as Burma adviser
   Army chief to take role after retirement

Army Commander-in Chief Chattha Thanajaro is looking forward to a new job
as special adviser on Burma after retirement at the end of the month.
The army chief said he expects to be appointed as special adviser to the
Supreme Command on Burmese affairs when he retires.
"I am also thinking about setting up a consultant firm specialising in
Burma," he said, adding that he in tends to help coordinate the issue
because the army still has no expert on Burma.
The outgoing commander returned from an official visit to Burma Friday. It
was his last visit to foreign countries as the army commander-in-chief.
Burmese military leaders also expressed their welcome to Gen Chettha's
expected appointment as a special adviser on Burma.
"Although he retires from the army, Gen Chettha is always welcome here. If
there is any problem, he can act as a coordinator," said Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
first secretary of State Peace and Development Council.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt also said that he hopes the Thai army's policy towards
Burma under the leadership of Gen Surayud Chulanont will remain unchanged.
Gen Chettha received a red-carpet welcome from Burmese military leaders
during the visit between Sept 16-18 as part of his farewell-bidding trip.
The army chief also secured the release of 101 Thai prisoners in Burma. All
of them are due back in Thailand on Monday.
However, Burma refused to release some 29 Thais, claiming they are being
tried on more serious charges.
Meanwhile, the Burmese commerce minister will travel to Tak on Tuesday to
discuss trade cooperation including joint fisheries between Thailand and
Burma.
Gen Chettha is expected to attend the meeting which was scheduled during
the army chief's visit.

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