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Myanmar junta in a muddle dealing w



Myanmar junta in a muddle dealing with vocal opponents

Thu 01 Oct 98 - 05:21 GMT 

BANGKOK, Oct 1 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta is increasingly confused about how to
deal with its vocal pro-democracy opponents, analysts say, noting mixed
signals from the various arms of the all-powerful military.

While press releases sent to foreign correspondents and the English-language
New Light of Myanmar often take a conciliatory tone, the Burmese-language
media and officials within the country are adopting a hardline against
opponents who seek their removal from office, they say.

"There has been a marked change of tone in what they are saying in English,"
said one foreign diplomat in Yangon.

"It's as if someone else is writing the press releases for them, perhaps a
native English-speaker."

The junta initially ignored the May call by the leading opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD) for parliament to be convened, but has since
branded the move illegal and said democracy would be gradually introduced in
Myanmar, others noted.

 "They've taken this international stance of saying 'we are a developing
nation and must take things slowly, but we also want democracy'," another
diplomat in the Myanmar capital said.

"But domestically, they have told the NLD they won't tolerate any convening of
parliament and that the party iteslf could be outlawed if they persist."

The NLD, led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, claims more than 1,000
of its members and supporters have been detained since the May demand. The
NLD-led opposition won 1990 polls by a landslide but the junta has refused to
relinquish power.

"It's as if there are two stories here," said the first diplomat.

"For international consumption, it is a government doing its best in difficult
circumstances. For domestic consumption, it is the usual threat and use of
force. Either you do what you're told or you go to jail."

The junta has been at pains to stress internationally that no NLD members are
being ill-treated.

Photographs posted on the junta Internet site show the detainees eating,
resting and talking at government "guesthouses" and the English-language
progaganda regularly talks of former dissidents making peace with authorities.

"They have been hurt by all the international criticism and realise it is
getting them nowhere," said the second diplomat.

"Now they want legitmacy and they know they only way is to show they are
moving towards democracy."

NLD chiefs, excluding Aung San Suu Kyi and others who are not officially
recognised as political figures, recently met with junta representatives and
authorities have repeatedly called for a united effort to develop Myanmar, one
of the world's poorest countries.

"At the same time they are locking people up at a faster rate than ever," the
second diplomat said.

"The two approaches just don't gel. If they are serious about reconciliation
then I have yet to see any proof."

The junta Wednesday told the United Nations not to push for democratic reforms
in the country, while the opposition warned of an imminent popular "explosion"
against the regime.

"There are those who would like to use the United Nations to interfere in
matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of Myanmar,"
junta Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw told the UN General Assembly.

"Political pressure has been put on us by those who would like us to adopt not
only democracy, but would like also to transplant a democracy in their own
mold," he said.

Each year for the past seven years the UN General Assembly has passed a
resolution condemning the military regime in Myanmar for human rights abuses.

The Myanmar government in exile called on the General Assembly to pass a
tougher resolution this year allowing for international sanctions against
Yangon unless it complies with UN resolutions.

"If the regime still doesn't see the explosive situation, there will be an
explosion," said Sein Win, the prime minister of the government which was
elected in 1990 but prevented from taking office.

                                                                          ©AFP
1998

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