AFP-Myanmar junta says opposition c

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Myanmar junta says opposition corrupting young women with Western ways

Sun 06 Sep 98 - 10:41 GMT 

YANGON, Sept 6 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta has accused the opposition of being
"imperialist lackeys" and corrupting the country's "young girls" with
Western influences, the state-run media reported Sunday.

The accusations were made by the country's military intelligence chief and
Secretary-1 of the ruling junta, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, who said
the "traitors" were soiling the image of Myanmar's women.

"Some women and traitors acting under the pretext of women's affairs for
their party's self interest are beginning to commit foolish acts," excerpts
of a speech carried in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper read.

"Though they say they are working for human rights and women's affairs they
are in fact misleading young girls with anti-government spirit and
disobedient character and persuading them to think highly of the West,"
Khin Nyunt said.

The speech was made at a ceremony Saturday to award prizes to winners of
the "1998 Myanmar Women's Day Commemorative Essay Competitions."

Although no specific party was mentioned, the remarks appear to be directed
at the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel
peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Tensions have been on the rise in recent months since Aung San Suu Kyi and
her party vowed to convene parliament elected in 1990 but which has never
been allowed to sit.

The opposition won at the polls eight years ago by a landslide but the
military refused to relinquish power.