USDA rally over US sanctions

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Burma rally over US sanctions, 30,000 march against Washington's
interference
from Asian Age (5 May 1997)

Rangoon, May 4: An estimated 30,000 members of a movement held a
demonstration on Sunday, against a US decision two week ago to clamp
economic sanction on Burma.

The rally, held amid tight security in a sports stadium in east Rangoon,
was organized by the Union Solidarity and Development Association,
generally regarded as the political arm of Burma's ruling junta.

"This is a blatant interference in Myanmar's (Burma's) internal affairs
using bullying tactics," a USDA spokesman said calling the US investment
ban on April 22 and entirely "wrong decision." " The US government
should understand that authorities here are striving to establish a
disciplined democratic state," said another spokesman for the USDA,
which was formed in 1988 and presently boasts a membership of six
million.

A motion to condemn "internal and external destructionists" was also
approved by the USDA gathering. The movement also accused the United
States of failing to curb its own law and order problems, paricularly
widespread  murder and rape. "We invite the American government, which
cannot even provide security or guarantee human rights for its own
people, to come and take some much needed lessons from our government on
how to provide security," one spokesman said.

The rally ended with cries of "Shame, Shame on the United states!" with
the spokesman accusing Washington of having been swayed by the
"falsehoods" spread by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ms Suu
Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won the elections in 1990 later
overturned by military, has called for investment bans and tourist
boycotts of Burma as a means of pressuring the military into reform.

Sources said similar mass rallies denouncing the will be held in 16
cities across the country in the forthcoming weeks. Similar mass rallies
were held last year to denounce the pro-democracy efforts of the
NLD.(AFP)