SCMP-Students prepared to pay price

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

South China Morning Post
Wednesday  August 26  1998

Students prepared to pay price for demonstrations 

WILLIAM BARNES and Agencies in Rangoon 
Burmese student activists knew before they planned this week's rare street
protests that some would be held - but decided they had to take the risk.

Opposition sources in daily touch with the students said they decided on
the move because the ruling junta would not enter into "real" talks with
the opposition without the threat of mass unrest.

Diplomats in Rangoon expect further unrest.

"We are certainly expecting some more trouble, but at what level we don't
know," said a Western envoy. "It could be like Monday, or it could be
bigger."

At a meeting on Monday, the junta warned the opposition not to undermine
stability.


Minister for Home Affairs Colonel Tin Hlaing met opposition National League
for Democracy (NLD) members to deliver the message, the state-run press
said yesterday.

Demonstrators said they had the backing of the NLD's leader, Aung San Suu
Kyi.

Their aim was to spark public interest in future political negotiations and
convince the junta it must agree to an unconditional meeting with the NLD.

"Nobody wants to be a martyr. Nobody wants to see their friends beaten up.
But the students are convinced the risks they are running are worth it,"
said an activist.

Diplomats in Rangoon said yesterday that police had detained some student
leaders and warned others not to demonstrate again.

About 150 students - waving opposition flags - gathered at a road junction
near the centre of town on Monday, attracting what observers said was an
enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 onlookers.

The protesters denounced gov ernment corruption and demanded the release of
political prisoners and the convening of Parliament.

But they quickly dispersed when riot police arrived an hour later. A
smaller protest was held briefly in a Rangoon suburb later that day.

The State Peace and Development Council - the junta - later condemned
"radical and provocative" actions designed to derail talks between the NLD
and the Government. But the students are deeply suspicious of the junta's
claims to be willing to talk to the opposition when it refuses to speak
directly to Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.