Reuter: SLORC NOT AFRAID OF ECONOMI

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Subject: Reuter: SLORC NOT AFRAID OF ECONOMIC EMBERGO

 SLORC NOT AFRAID OF ECONOMIC EMBERGO

    RANGOON, June 14 (Reuter) - Burmese official newspapers on Friday
accused opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of trying to impose a
dictatorship on the country under which she and her National League for
Democracy (NLD) party would rule for life.
     The Burmese military was introducing democracy and was not afraid of
any threats of an economic embargo by other countries, a commentary in
state-run Burmese-language newspapers said.
     "It is very clear that your ambition is to build a dictatorship under
which you and and NLD will control the country for life," the commentary
said, referring to Suu Kyi.
     In an apparent reference to Western support of Suu Kyi's pro-democracy
party, it said: "The Western group ... are you helping her for the
prevalence of democracy or the prevalence of dictatorship."
     The newspapers did not identify "the Western group" but several
Western governments including the United States, Australia and Britain
condemned a government crackdown on Suu Kyi's NLD in May, during which
around 250 party members were detained ahead of a party congress at Suu
Kyi's Rangoon home.
     The crackdown revived calls by some Western politicians and exiled
Burmese dissidents for sanctions against the Rangoon military government.
     The commentary said the Burmese people were self-reliant and
accustomed to hardships and "not the sort of people who can be frightened
by threats of economic embargo."
     Burmese newspapers are tightly controlled by the government. All
editorials and commentaries are accepted as reflecting official thinking.
     The commentaries said the Burmese military was "making efforts for the
prevalence of democracy" and said it was the military which abandoned
socialist-style central planning in 1988 and introduced liberal economic
reforms.
     The commentary also said the military had reached ceasefire agreements
with a host of rebel groups and "achieved peace by more than 90 percent."
     "Everybody knows these things, but the Western media blocks out this
news...they only circulate all the gossip spread by you (Suu Kyi) and your
group," it said.
     The commentaries also blamed Suu Kyi for surging inflation -- "prices
have skyrocketed due to what you have done" -- but did not explain how she
was responsible for prices.
     Tension between the NLD and the government has been rising since the
run-up to last month's party congress.
     Last week the ruling military body, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), introduced a sweeping new law providing for
jail terms of up to 20 years for anyone convicted of actions deemed
damaging to peace and stability.
     Last weekend, in her weekly speeches to crowds outside her home, Suu
Kyi did not directly criticise the SLORC following the introduction of the
new law.
     In an apparent response to her milder tone, Friday's commentary warned
the amry's tolerance had bounds but said "constructive critics can be
accepted."
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