SLORC won't change despite sanction

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Subject: SLORC won't change despite sanctions


    SLORCr 'won't change despite sanctions' 



     YANGON -- Myanmar's military vowed yesterday that it would not change
its current
     political and economic course despite recent US economic sanctions
which bar new
     American investment in the country. 

     Secretary One of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc)
     Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt was quoted in the official media as
saying Myanmar
     was confident it could overcome the latest hurdle imposed on it by
Washington. 

     He also blamed unidentified groups opposed to the Slorc for the
diplomatic setback. 

     The US imposed the sanctions in April as a condemnation of the military
regime's
     alleged human rights abuses and its suppression of the pro-democracy
movement led
     by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

     "Destructionist groups within the country are employing various ways to
destabilise the
     nation, to jeopardise the nation's political and economic development
and to cause
     difficulties in international relations," he was quoted as saying on
Friday at a meeting
     with local authorities in Hakha township, 375 km northwest of Yangon. 

     "As the government can overcome all these obstacles, it has no big
problem. The US
     economic sanctions will have no result for the US as they expect nor
will they affect
     Myanmar." 

     Myanmar would never change its current political and economic trend and
would
     march onward to reach its objectives despite any obstacles and
hindrances placed in its
     way, he added. 

     Slorc vice-chairman General Maung Aye said at another function at
Bahtoo township,
     about 312 km northeast of Yangon, that there was no need for Myanmar to
be shaken.

     Meanwhile, a general meeting of the pro-government Union Solidarity and
     Development Association (USDA) held yesterday condemned the sanctions as
     shameless interference in Myanmar affairs. -- Reuter.