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BBC-Protests mark Burmese crackdown



Subject: BBC-Protests mark Burmese crackdown anniversary 

Sunday, August 8, 1999 Published at 13:31 GMT 14:31 UK

BBC-World: Asia-Pacific

Protests mark Burmese crackdown anniversary

Students are demanding the military junta relinquish power

Exiled Burmese students in the Thai capital, Bangkok, have held a
demonstration outside the Burmese embassy to mark the 11th anniversary of
the military's brutal suppression of the pro-democracy uprising in Burma.

They called for democracy and the release of hundreds of political prisoners
held in Burmese jails.

They also criticised the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) for
its policy of "constructive engagement" with the military government in
Burma.

A statement said human rights violations were worse than ever despite the
policy.

Lost touch

"It proves that the Asean policy is wrong and has lost touch with the
Burmese people's real needs," it said.

In Burma itself, the anniversary was reported to be passing off peacefully
and the capital, Rangoon, was described as calm.

Correspondents say no extra security measures appear to have been taken by
the authorities.

On the eve of the anniversary, the Burmese opposition leader and Nobel peace
prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, called for national reconciliation, saying
soldiers need not fear retribution from a civilian government.

Work together

She said the army and the Burmese people should "work hand in hand to
achieve democracy, where the people govern the country."

But the military government is showing no signs of giving up power.

Human rights groups say as many as 3,000 protesters were killed when the
military moved to crush pro-democracy demonstrations on 8 August 1988.

Elections were held two years later but the junta refused to relinquish
power to the National League for Democracy which won an overwhelming
majority of the vote.

On Thursday Burmese activists disclosed details of a plan to cause civil
unrest on 9 September, or 9/9/99, a date which is believed to be
significant.

Monks and students say they are planning acts of disobedience to encourage a
"revolution."