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AS THE MILLENIUM GETS CLOSER



AS THE MILLENIUM GETS CLOSER
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By Julien Moe
20th November 1999

As a gesture of so-called political reforms and to persuade the
international community to give aid to Burma, the ruling junta released some
political prisoners. But only Associated Press reported it. Besides, the
regime allowed the the International Committee of the  Red Cross to visit 12
prisons in Burma. Another gesture the regime wanted to demonstrate it  is
changing. Yet the world does not seem to be buying what thenregime has been
selling.  The SPDC has a strong desire to attract foreign investments and
ease international sanctions. On the other hand to be in power is far more
important than the nation's progress. But Lt. general Khin Nyunt is known to
be charismatic and intelligent in prescribing policies for the regime. He is
worshipped by his followers for his intelligence and decisions advisably
made for the good of the regime. He is the kind of man who believes that
some day the opposition figure like Aung San Suu Kyi will run out of words
as time goes by.

As the regime does not appear to ease tensions towards the democratic
opposition, the dissident groups are now considering alternative strategies
that include political violence. The year is coming to an end soon. The
millenium is at hand. Is the regime prepared to face the conditions of the
new millenium? Dissident groups are now planning to launch new strategic
operations that will surely hit the regime hard. 

Internally the regime has been able to accommodate its hardcore supporters,
the USDA. The USDA is gaining momentum and they are locally powerful to
prescribe laws and execute them to eliminate the adversaries. The USDA is
now ubiquitous in Burma. They have been given the power to act as they wish.
The regime has been consolidating its power with the support of the USDA
members nationwide. Despite the fact that the presence of the Burmese troops
is no more in Rangoon, there have been more eyes watching the suspecting
individuals in Rangoon and else where.

As the millenium gets closer, the regime prepares to consolidate its power
by all means at its best while the dissident groups abroad strive to
formulate new ideas and strategies that will weaken the regime in Burma.