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AFP-Myanmar junta calls for opponen



Subject: AFP-Myanmar junta calls for opponents to halt unrest campaign

Myanmar junta calls for opponents to halt unrest campaign
YANGON, Aug 22 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta appealed Sunday to opponents trying
to incite an uprising to topple military rule next month, urging them to
make a "meaningful and positive" contribution to the country.
The junta in a statement accused dissidents of waging a campaign of
disinformation to create civil unrest on September 9 -- or 9/9/99 -- lashing
them for being "numerically obsessed."

"The government encourages all the anti-government forces to become
responsible members of the Myanmar community and engage as constructive
forces," a statement said.

It added dissident groups had spread false reports regarding government
involvement in religious persecution, drug trafficking, mass arrests and
repression of democratic forces in the country.

The appeal came a day after local newspapers quoted the number two leader of
the military threatening to "annihilate" opponents calling for an uprising
next month.

The junta has accused the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel
peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of working with dissidents at home and
abroad to incite an uprising to overthrow the military, which has ruled
since the 1960s.

August 8 this year marked the 11th anniversary on 8/8/88 of an uprising in
which hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators were gunned down by the army
and a junta took power from strongman General Ne Win.

That anniversary passed peacefully, but opposition groups have said
Myanmar's people have an "appointment" with September 9 to repeat the events
of 1988 and end the military's 37-year domination.

Myanmar's junta Saturday claimed people were largely ignoring calls by
dissidents and exiled students for a mass uprising next month, but warned of
firm action should unrest occur.

Spokesman Hla Min told AFP there was little sign demonstrations planned for
September 9 would even happen.

"It's pleasantly quiet here, you don't see extra security on the road," the
spokesman said.

"Unfortunately those (dissident) groups on the Thai border are trying to
make things look as if everything is ready to blow up, but nothing is ready
to blow up."

An AFP correspondent in Yangon also said there were no signs of tightened
security.

And diplomats in Yangon said the capital was very secure and in the unlikely
event that an uprising was to occur, it could only take place outside the
capital.

Hla Min insisted most people in Myanmar were ignoring the "four-nines"
movement.

"People are fed up with all this nonsense," he said. "On the ninth they will
create here and there small things, but no major disturbances."

Despite its claims of no support for the uprising, the military confirmed
earlier it has arrested 37 suspected dissidents in recent weeks in
connection with the planned unrest.

The Thailand-based All Burma Students' Democratic Front says 150 people have
been detained in the past month, including members of the main NLD, which
won 1990 elections but has been denied power by the military.