NEWS - 'People power' alert goes ou

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Subject: NEWS - 'People power' alert goes out

The Straits Times
MYANMAR: 'People power' alert goes out

Yangon clamps down ahead of Sept 9 repeat uprising

BANGKOK -- Myanmar dissidents in exile have picked Sept 9 this year a
repeat of a "people power" uprising 11 years ago that shook the
foundations of authoritarian rule, but was ultimately crushed at the
cost of thousands of lives.

The government is clearly concerned enough to take preemptive action,
including detention of activists, a tightening of provincial security
and even the broadcast of loudspeaker warnings to people not to join any
protests.

Dissident groups said more than 150 people had been detained for
anti-government activity in the past two weeks.

The government said last week it had arrested four people after
uncovering a plot to instigate unrest next month and had detained others
for questioning.

Earlier this month, it warned the main opposition party, the National
League for Democracy, not to get involved in any unrest.

The military authorities in a Myanmar border town have been using a
loudspeaker truck to warn people not to join an uprising dissident
groups in exile have called for, Myanmar traders said yesterday. They
said the residents of Myawadi were warned against supporting a dissident
campaign for civil unrest on Sept 9 this year the so-called "four-nines
day".

The announcements stressed existing rules against gatherings of more
than five people and warned of tough punishments against anyone who
defied the warnings.

The Myanmar military's whole raison d'etre since it seized direct power
on Sept 18, 1988, has been to prevent a return to "anarchy" which it
said ruled that year, when millions took to the streets to demand an end
to decades of authoritarian rule.

It crushed the revolt with bullets and bayonets and has since detained
thousands of dissidents, shut colleges and universities, ignored an
election result and endured consequent pariah status overseas rather
than surrender power. -- Reuters