Reuters-Yangon 'Four Nines' Quiet,

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Subject: Reuters-Yangon 'Four Nines' Quiet, Protests Abroad

Thursday September 9 4:28 AM ET

Yangon 'Four Nines' Quiet, Protests Abroad
By Aung Hla Tun

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's military rulers deployed extra police,
including riot-control units, in the capital Yangon Thursday, bracing for an
uprising called by exiled dissidents on the numerically significant ``four
nines day.''

But there were no signs of the street protests the dissidents had called for
September 9, 1999 as a repeat of a mass uprising 11 years ago that shook the
foundations of authoritarian rule only to be crushed in a bloody reassertion
of military power.

While Yangon was quiet, Myanmar dissidents abroad staged noisy protests
demanding a transfer of power to the opposition National League for
Democracy, winners of Myanmar's last election in 1990 but never allowed to
govern.

In Australia, about 50 protesters smashed fences and overpowered police to
break into the Myanmar embassy in Canberra where they attempted to rip down
the national flag.

In Melbourne about 90 people, mostly Myanmar exiles with red armbands,
chanted and sang on the steps of Victoria's state parliament.

Outside the embassy in Thailand, more than 400 exiles shouted slogans and
burnt the Myanmar flag at nine minutes past nine in the morning. And on the
Thai side of the Moei River about 200 exiles wearing red pro-democracy
headbands shouted slogans at stony faced Myanmar soldiers on the other bank.

``We are gathering here because we think not many people can make protests
in Rangoon (Yangon) because there are too many troops,'' said Yai Min Aung,
protesting at the embassy in Bangkok. ``The fact we are here is a clear
indication the Burmese people want democracy.''

Yangon residents said the city was unusually quiet as many stayed at home or
did not open their businesses for fear of trouble and because it was the
Buddhist sabbath. Schools, which have been hotbeds of dissent, were also
closed for the sabbath.

Despite a dissident call for a general strike, public transport appeared to
run normally and government offices opened. But traffic was lighter than
usual and the streets were almost deserted of shoppers and the usual
pavement hawkers.

Dozens of extra police including some ``Lon Htein'' riot unit were deployed
at strategic points, including the U.S. embassy and the Sule Pagoda, focal
points for protests during 1988 uprising.

They shut the road running past the headquarters 1991 Nobel Peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD, which had planned to distribute rice to the poor.

Diplomats estimate authorities have arrested more than 100 people in Yangon
and others in the provinces in the past month to thwart the uprising call
and also imposed an unofficial night curfew in provincial towns and parts of
Yangon.

Those arrested included two British activists, one of whom received a
17-year jail term last week.

Troops killed thousands to crush the 1988 uprising, creating a climate of
fear that still survives. Diplomats and other analysts doubt ordinary people
would be willing to risk the ''severe'' response the government has
threatened against unrest.

``Everyone knows today is a special day,'' said one diplomat.

``But we weren't expecting anything to happen today because I think people
are too scared and because this movement, if it is a movement, is too
disorganized because the government has too many military intelligence out
there who can stop things.''

Also, universities, the centers of dissent in 1988, have been closed for
much of the past decade.

Dissidents in exile say the government has arrested more than 500 people to
contain their campaign and have called the disruption caused to the security
apparatus a victory of sorts.

The government has reported fewer than 40 arrests and ridiculed it as a
``numerically obsessed'' campaign. The Bangkok Post said dissidents had
succeeded in making it ``jump at shadows.''

``It has every reason to be wary of 9-9-99...'' it said.

``With a stranglehold on the media, universities closed, communities
infested with junta eavesdroppers and severe restrictions on public
assembly, the people of Burma needed and found a way to put those numbers to
good effect.''