Myanmar junta, opposition propagand

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar junta, opposition propaganda war heats up 
06:18 a.m. Jul 10, 1998 Eastern 

BANGKOK, July 10 (Reuters) - A propaganda war between Myanmar's ruling
military junta and opposition forces is heating up. 

On Friday, the ruling State Peace and Development Council denied a claim by
an exiled Myanmar students group that over 50 elected representatives of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
had been detained. 

The Bangkok-based All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) had even
named 11 of the MPs it claimed were being detained, including the NLD MP
for Pegu Division, Daw Hla Hla Moe. 

But the military said the ABSDF statement was false. 

``The terrorist organisation (ABSDF) was quoted... stating that 11 new NLD
members have recently been detained, bringing a total of more than 50,'' it
said in a statement obtained by Reuters. 

``It is quite interesting to read this statement and being a matter of
coincidence or irony, Daw Hla Hla Moe arrived in Yangon this morning from
Min Hla Township to meet the NLD leadership at Mrs Aris (Suu Kyi's)
residence,'' it added. 

It was not immediately possible to reach the NLD for comment. 

On Tuesday, the SPDC barred Suu Kyi from travelling by car to northern Min
Hla to meet some of her party's elected MPs including Hla Hla Moe. But the
SPDC brought Hla Hla Moe to see her at a northern village instead. 

On Thursday, the NLD said it had demanded that the authorities send Hla Hla
Moe to the party's Yangon headquarters for consultations on Friday and the
junta had agreed. 

``NLD leaders in return promised not to proceed to Min Hla township as they
have received that promise. It was an achievement resulting from mutual
coordination and talks,'' it added. 

The ABSDF is a political ally of the NLD and is seen as the overseas
propaganda arm of Suu Kyi's party. Earlier this month, it claimed that the
military was preparing a special cell in which Suu Kyi would likely be
detained. 

Earlier this week, the SPDC said it had increased nationwide surveillance
of NLD MPs who were elected in the May 1990 polls, the results of which
were ignored by the government. 

The SPDC said the MPs were being checked to prevent them from disrupting
government plans to reopen universities which were closed after student
unrest in December 1996. 

The NLD on Thursday reiterated that it strongly opposed the restrictions
placed on its elected representatives by the military government. 

The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 polls and has demanded that
parliament be convened by August 21 comprising MPs elected in that poll.
The SPDC has rejected the demand.