MIZZIMA: Burma, will it explode on

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Subject: MIZZIMA: Burma, will it explode on 9999?

BURMA: Will it explode on 9999?

MIZZIMA News Group
29th August 1999

It is just a few days away from 9th September 1999, the magical date set
by exiled Burma democracy activists for a repeat of a people?s uprising
eleven years ago in Burma. The question which Burma observers are asking
is whether the people will pour onto the streets of the country on
9.9.99 as they did eleven years ago or not? Burmese dissidents think
that the increasing economic difficulties and suppression of the
government will, at last, break the silence of Burmese people and push
them to go for large-scale uprising on 9.9.99.

Anti-government pamphlets calling for ?9999 uprising? are secretly being
distributed in Burma cities such as Rangoon, Mandalay, Monywa, Kalay and
Sagaing. The pamphlets read as ?8888 was the beginning of the battle,
9999 will be the end of it?, ?We don?t want military junta?, and ?Let?s
revolt on 9999?. The currency notes with the writings of ?9999? on them
are seen circulating and the authorities keep seizing these currency
notes whenever they found.

The government, on its part, beefs up the security in the schools,
government offices and surrounding areas. At nights, people from
government-controlled USDA (Union Solidarity and Development
Association) are stationed for security checks in the corners of the
streets. More police and military personnel are being employed on the
streets. There were some on-spot protests and demonstrations by high
school students in the past two weeks in some places of the country. The
government is soon likely to close down the schools in the country
(Universities and Colleges have been closed down since December 1996
students? demonstrations in Rangoon) with an aim to disperse students.

General Khin Nyunt, second man in the military junta yesterday warned
the teachers, at closing ceremony of No. 37 Teachers? Training Course,
not to believe what the ?external radio stations? are broadcasting about
9999 uprising and asked the teachers to control their students not to
get involved in any anti-government activities.

At the same time, military government is playing a stick and carrot
policy towards government servants and army personnel. Government is
giving one-month salary and ration of rice in advance for the month of
September to the military personnel and government servants, apparently
to appease the two crucial sections of the Burmese society. On the other
hand, it tells them not to participate in the so-called 9999 uprising
and warns of dire consequences if they get involved.

With the growing signs of outburst in near future, the people started
storing food particularly rice and eatable oil. As a result, the prices
have gone up. The price for one bag (53Kgs) of rice has now gone up to
Kyats 4000-4500 from 2500-3000 a month ago. However, the prices of
non-essential commodities are falling down.

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has given support to dissidents
campaigning for 9999 movement. "This is not a campaign that we started
but our policy has always been very clear on such things -- we will
never disown any of our allies, who have fought for democracy," she
said.

A Rangoon citizen, however, said that he does not think a people?s
uprising like 8888 one will not take place in near future. ?The people
are feared?, he said.

The military regime said that calls by dissidents for a mass uprising on
9999 are destined to fail. But it admitted having arrested some people
in connection with the ?four-nines movement? in the past weeks.

MIZZIMA News Group