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>Subject: NEWS - Myanmar 9-9-99 dis



Subject: >Subject: NEWS - Myanmar 9-9-99 dissidents see victory of sorts

>Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 18:36:06 -0400
>From: Rangoon Post Co-Editor <Rangoonp@xxxxxxx>
>To: burmanews@xxxxxxxxx, "Burma Net-l @igc.apc.org" <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
>Subject: NEWS - Myanmar 9-9-99 dissidents see victory of sorts
>
>Myanmar 9-9-99 dissidents see victory of sorts
>
>By David Brunnstrom
>
>  
>BANGKOK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Calls for a mass uprising in Myanmar this
>week may not bring many onto the streets, but dissidents are already
>hailing a victory of sorts against military rule. 
>
>Dissidents in exile have been hoping for a repeat of huge protests in
>1988 that shook the foundations of authoritarian rule. They have called
>Thursday, September 9, 1999 -- the so-called ``four nines day'' -- their
>country's date with destiny. 
>
>Diplomats and other independent observers in Myanmar can envisage some
>isolated protests but doubt many people will be willing to risk getting
>on the wrong side again of an army that shot thousands to crush the last
>uprising. 
>
>They say the military has tightened up security and surveillance
>nationwide and imposed an unofficial curfew in provincial cities to
>prevent unrest. 
>
>On Monday the government warned of ``severe and effective action''
>against attempts to disrupting law and order. 
>
>``Everyone has been given the message -- not officially, there is no
>official order -- but everyone has been told that they should be off the
>streets at nine o'clock and there are trucks full of soldiers to make
>sure they do that,'' said a Yangon resident who visited northern towns
>at the weekend. 
>
>``It seems that most of the major towns are under curfew.'' 
>
>On Tuesday the government denied towns were under ``official curfew''
>but said long-standing preventive steps were being implemented against
>``terrorism'' in border areas. 
>
>Diplomats in Yangon say anti-government sentiment remains strong and
>widespread and the economy a mess. But one said: 
>
>``People are still too scared to risk anything. And although things like
>rice prices have risen, I'm not sure there is the level of desperation
>needed to launch some great movement.'' 
>
>Some worried about provocateurs, the diplomat said. 
>
>``They worry the government will actually try to stir it up themselves
>so they can see who comes out to join in so they can arrest them.'' 
>
>On Monday, deputy foreign minister Khin Maung Win told envoys from
>fellow Association of South East Asian Nations the uprising call was a
>vain one despite extensive foreign media coverage. 
>
>``The people of Myanmar do not wish to see a repeat of the anarchic
>conditions of 1988,'' he said, warning of ``severe and effective
>action'' against anyone disrupting law and order. 
>
>Last week the government jailed for 17 years a British activist detained
>in a border town with pro-democracy leaflets. 
>
>Dissidents say 500 local activists have been arrested in the past month
>since the 9-9-99 uprising call, although the government has admitted to
>fewer than 40 detentions. 
>
>Exile groups like the All Burma Students' Democratic Front, 
> made up of dissidents who fled the 1988 massacres, remain unperturbed.
>They say the small-scale demonstrations that have taken place and the
>military response show the extent of anti-government sentiment. 
>
>``It's not like a national uprising but there's been a call to action to
>on the 9-9-99,'' said ABSDF general secretary Aung Thu Nyein. ``I am
>very optimistic, because we have seen a lot of activities despite the
>harsh pressure of the authorities.'' 
>
>``We can't say we have failed -- we still have to wait and see. I'm very
>pleased our action call has been started, that the people have
>responded. The fact the government has had to take such overt action
>shows a lot of activists are still active. 
>
>``We have the momentum and if we continue we will achieve our aims,'' he
>said. 
>
>03:34 09-07-99
>
>
>