Reuters-The last barking of myanmar

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Strength needed to combat manipulation - Myanmar
06:22 a.m. Oct 27, 1999 Eastern
YANGON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A senior member of Myanmar's military government
said a modern and powerful defence force was essential to guard against
interference and manipulation by ``big neo-colonialist powers.''

``In this world today, big neo-colonialist powers are attempting to
interfere in and manipulate the internal affairs of developing countries,''
said General Maung Aye, vice chairman of the ruling military council.

``A modern, mighty and qualified defence force is required to ward off this
danger of interference and manipulation,'' he told a meeting of officials in
the central town of Loikaw on Tuesday.

In Yangon on Tuesday, the head of military intelligence Lieutenant-General
Khin Nyunt urged participants in a performing arts contest to resist ``alien
cultural infiltration.''

He said ``destructive elements'' -- a term the military uses to describe
pro-democracy activists -- were to blame for importing such alien culture.

Myanmar's military seized power in 1988 and killed thousands in crushing a
pro-democracy uprising. It since has greatly restricted dissent, making it a
target for frequent international criticism.

In the past decade, Myanmar has doubled the size of its armed forces to
around 450,000 personnel.