DATE=8/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BURMA ARRESTS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-252920
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Burma's military government is stepping up
efforts to thwart moves by anti-government groups to
stage protests and acts of civil disobedience on
September ninth. Ron Corben in Bangkok reports the
military government Thursday announced the arrest of
32 people.
TEXT: Burma's military government says those arrested
were involved in plans to instigate civil unrest in
early September. A military spokesman, Colonel Than
Tun, says they include four women. He says the
arrests were made in the towns Bago, Ye, Thaton and
Mawlamyine. Four people were taken into custody last
week on similar charges.
At a news conference, Colonel Than Tun also drew a
link between anti-government groups and the opposition
National League for Democracy -- or N-L-D -- led by
Aung San Suu Kyi.
The effort to directly tie the anti-government groups
to the N-L-D is in contrast to the military
government's recent stance of simply warning the N-L-D
not to become involved with the protests.
But Colonel Than Tun, describing the anti-government
groups as "expatriate destructive elements," sought to
link the N-L-D with the groups, saying the individuals
arrested were wearing N-L-D badges. The badges depict
Aung San, the Burmese independence leader who is Aung
San Suu Kyi's father.
The military government says, the "destructive
elements," are based in Thailand and working with
sympathizers in the United States, India, Japan and
Britain, along with international media.
Diplomats in Rangoon told V-O-A the arrests point to
potentially more protests in advance of September
ninth.
The date is numerologically significant to Burmese as
the ninth day of the ninth month, nineteen ninety-
nine. The All Burma Students Democratic Front - the A-
B-S-D-F and other groups have called for civil
disobedience to mark the day.
The latest arrests also come after reports by the A-B-
S-D-F that 120 people had been arrested as part of the
government's attempt to thwart calls for civil unrest.
The military says the reports of arrests were
fabricated.
The A-B-S-D-F later said that 30 students were
arrested in the southern town of Mergui, during a
march to protest school conditions.
The military government acknowledged four arrests had
taken place.
One senior diplomat says the arrests announced
Thursday indicate the authorities are looking to
September ninth with some trepidation.
The military has accused the anti-government groups of
conducting a smear campaign in order to gain
international attention prior to the next United
Nations General Assembly meeting, which begins in
September.
The military has said there have been no signs of
unrest and people are ignoring calls by activists to
wear the color yellow, as a sign of support for civil
protest.
NEB/RC/FC
19-Aug-1999 07:46 AM EDT (19-Aug-1999 1146 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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