AFP-Myanmar dissidents call for rel

[tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: AFP-Myanmar dissidents call for release of 37 pro-democracy activists

Myanmar dissidents call for release of 37 pro-democracy activists
BANGKOK, Aug 20 (AFP) - Myanmar students in exile called Friday for
Myanmar's military rulers to release 37 pro-democracy activists, arrested
ahead of a planned uprising next month.
At a press conference Thursday, the junta said it had arrested 26 people in
the central town of Pegu and seven more in the southern towns of Ye and
Moulmein in connection with the planned uprising.

The military said another four people, including members of the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) had been arrested earlier in the
northern town of Mandalay.

"The press conference was pure theatre, held only to intimidate the people
of Burma and to serve as propoganda for their own forces," said Aung Thu
Nyein of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF).

The ABDSF said at least 150 people had been arrested this month in
connection with the planned uprising on September 9.

"Burma's crisis will not be solved by intimidation, arresting people and
linking them with opposition figures and organisations," Aung Thu Nyein
said.

The ABSDF called for Myanmar's military rulers to enter into dialogue with
pro-democracy groups, particularly the NLD -- led by Nobel peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi

The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 elections in Myanmar but has been
denied power by the military.

On Thursday the junta accused the NLD of working with dissidents and exiled
students to incite a mass uprising next month.

"They are acting in a synchronised manner ... they are heading for internal
riots," Junta spokesman Colonel Than Tun told reporters.

"Most obviously they are doing so with moral and material support from
outside."

Than Tun said since early July authorities had seized thousands of
"instigative leaflets," cassette tapes, videos and flags bearing the
fighting peacock logo of the democracy movement.

Despite denials from the NLD leadership, he said party members were
"unquestionably involved" in alleged plans for unrest.

Exiled pro-democracy activists based in Bangkok have been calling for a mass
uprising against the junta on September 9, or 9/9/99, a day of numerical
significance for many Burmese.

This month saw the 11th anniversary of a popular uprising on August 8, 1988,
or 8/8/88, in which hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators were gunned down
and a junta took power from dictator General Ne Win.