[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

AP- The cowardice of so called SPDC



Thursday August 19 8:42 AM ET

Myanmar Arrests 32 for Alleged Plot

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Officials arrested 32 people for alleged involvement
in plans to instigate an uprising next month, Myanmar's military regime
announced Thursday.

The party headed by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi, meanwhile,
was accused of having links with anti-government groups inside and outside
the country that are involved in the planned revolt.

Col. Than Tun, a senior spokesman, said at a news conference that efforts to
thwart the uprising led to the arrest of 32 people, including four women.
Four others were arrested last week.

Among them, Than Tun said, were members of the All Burma Students Democratic
Front, composed of students who fled the country in 1988 after another
uprising was crushed, and members of Suu Kyi's party, the National League
for Democracy.

``It is found that every time the acts of expatriate destructive elements
are exposed, there is the linkage between the incident and the NLD,'' Than
Tun said. ``Even badges sold at the NLD headquarters are the same as those
seized from expatriate agitators.''

The badges depict Suu Kyi's father, Aung San, the country's greatest hero of
independence from Britain. He was assassinated by a rival politician in
1947. The military has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, since Aung San's
former comrade, Gen. Ne Win, led a coup in 1962.

The government has accused the opposition of waging a propaganda war by
claiming the population of 45 million is on the verge of a new revolt. Yet,
there is little visible sign the people are ready to again face the army's
guns.

Than Tun called the groups appealing for the revolt ``destructive
terrorists'' based in neighboring Thailand and said they were working with
sympathizers in the United States, India, Japan and Britain in collaboration
with international radio networks.

The opposition was also using embassies enjoying diplomatic immunity as a
cover to issue statements, tapes and videotapes to drive ``a wedge between
the government and the people,'' Than Tun said.

Suu Kyi was vaulted to the forefront of the pro-democracy movement in 1988
protests, which brought down Ne Win but were crushed when troops killed
thousands of demonstrators.

In 1990, her party overwhelmingly won elections that the new generation of
ruling generals allowed in expectation that the parties they supported would
win. The elected parliament has not been allowed to meet.

Suu Kyi was freed from six years of house arrest in 1995 but still has her
activities severely curtailed. Hundreds of her supporters are in jail. The
military has rejected her appeals for a dialogue.

Exiled opposition groups have increased agitation for a new revolt on Sept.
9. The date, 9-9-99, is seen as lucky in this numerology obsessed country,
though the number nine has in the past been associated with Ne Win.