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AFP-Aung San Suu Kyi urges greater



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Subject: AFP-Aung San Suu Kyi urges greater use of sanctions on Mynmar

Aung San Suu Kyi urges greater use of sanctions on Mynmar

BANGKOK, Sept 11 (AFP) - Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has
called for greater use of economic sanctions against the government, after
the military rulers quashed threats of a dissident uprising.
Exiled dissidents had called for a nationwide uprising on September 9 aimed
at ending decades of military rule.

But although small-scale demonstrations occured in several areas, they
admitted a tight security net limited protest action.

Diplomats in Yangon said the day passed quietly.

In a video address smuggled out of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi said September
9 was not a crucial day for the country's democracy movement.

"I myself am not aware why September 9 should be a special day for
democracy," the Nobel peace laureate said in a copy of her speech received
here by AFP Saturday.

"For us, every day is a special day for democracy." she said. "but if the
whole world were to rally around us ... we shall get there much faster,"

Dissident groups had called for a mass uprising on September 9 (9/9/99) --
or "four nines day" -- to mirror protests on August 8, 1988 (8/8/88), when
hundreds of protesters were gunnned down by the military.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy (NLD), called
for international economic sanctions against the junta, which is widely
accused by the west of gross human rights abuses.

"Unilateral sanctions are better than no sanctions at all, the best of
course are multilateral sanctions and we would like the whole international
community to join in a movement aimed at bringing democracy soon to Burma,"
she said.

Aung San Suu Kyi denied sanctions would harm ordinary people in Myanmar,
with the country's military rulers pocketing the gains of international
investment.

She also said the junta had used the four nines campaign as an excuse to
crackdown on the democracy movement.

"This is a time when military authorities are more oppresive than they have
ever been," she said.

"This is a time when all of those who believe in human rights and democracy
should rally together to help the oppressed."

Dissident groups say around 500 people were arrested recently in connection
with the campaign of unrest, a claim rubbished by the junta.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been locked in a bitter political struggle with the
junta since leading the NLD to an overwhelming victory in 1990 elections.

The military ignored the results, and embarked on a campiagn of arrests and
intimidation of NLD members and supporters.