9-9-99 DATE SET BY PEOPLE

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release 42/99
14 August 1999

9-9-99 Date Set by People

The Burmese junta has increased searches and arrests of democracy activists
nationwide in the lead up to 9 September 1999 (9-9-99).=A0 It is estimated
that
120 activists have been arrested in the last two weeks.=A0 9-9-99 is
considered
by many people in Burma to be the date on which another nationwide popular
uprising against the military junta will occur. 

In a press conference in Rangoon on 13 August the military junta, the State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) accused those arrested of plotting with
external and internal dissident groups, including the National League for
Democracy (NLD) and the All Burma Student's Democratic Front (ABSDF).

Khin Maung Win, spokesperson for the ABSDF, stated "Basically, an opposition
party or any individual group cannot simply set a date for an entire people,
unless the people are willing to participate in such a movement to remove
military rule. The date 9-9-99 is the date set by the people themselves,
because they are not willing to tolerate any more repression. It is a direct
consequence of the people's suffering at the hands of the SPDC. There will be
thousands more to take the place of those arrested. The four nines (9-9-99),
the date set by the people, cannot be altered by simply arresting people."

"We will continue to priortise political work inside Burma as long as the SPDC
consistently refuses to enter into comprehensive dialogue with opposition
groups, in particular the NLD, which won the election. Only by dialogue can
the
country move into peaceful transition. The ABSDF strongly believes dialogue
will benefit all parties, including the SPDC and the people."=A0 

Sources state that since 8 August a virtual curfew has been imposed in
Mandalay, and is believed to be in place in some other cities.=A0 A number of
small-scale anti-junta activities, including distribution of anti-SPDC
palmphlets, have recently occurred across the country. People residing in
Rangoon Tamwe, Thin Gan Kyun, Thar Kay Ta, South and North Okkalapa in Rangoon
protested against the SPDC by turning off electric lights on the nights of 7-9
August. In many parts of the country, people are promoting the use of the
colour yellow, the symbol of the mass movement against the military junta.
This
has particularly occurred in Kyauk Padaung, Mandalay, Pegu, Mon Ywa, Sagaing
and Taung Gyi.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For futher information please call- (01) 9604026, (01) 3082398, (01) 3120325


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br> All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
P.O. Box 42, Hua Mark P.O, Bangkapi, 10243, Bangkok
<caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx> <lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>