Activists stage rally against Burma

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19.9.97
The Nation 
Activists stage rally against Burma junta 
Nation, Agencies 
A GROUP of around 20 Burmese dissidents yesterday marked the ninth anniversary 
of military rule in their homeland by burning a banner bearing the names of 
the ruling junta in front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok. 
Meanwhile, in Jakarta pro-democracy activists picketed the Thai Embassy to 
protest against the arrest and planned deportation of exiled Burmese activists 
in Bangkok. 
"In the name of democracy and humanity, free the NCGUB officials and 
activists, and cancel their deportations which would endanger their lives," 
read a statement from the Pijar Indonesia group which was handed to an embassy 
official. 
Thai Immigration officials on Monday arrested three activists from the 
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) saying they were 
illegal immigrants. Six members of Pijar entered the Thai Embassy and 
displayed banners criticising the arrests and demanding their release. 
In the statement, Pijar accused the Thai government under Prime Minister 
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of "close cooperation" with the "iron hand" State Law 
and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) in Burma. 
It said that the arrests "support the Thai government's backing of the 
accusation made by Burmese intelligence chief Lt Gen Khin Nyunt last July that 
the NCGUB is a group masterminding a terrorist conspiracy against the ruling 
junta." 
The group said that Bangkok's support of Slorc's "anti-democracy" politics was 
a "step back" and that the Thai government should be held responsible for the 
safety of the NCGUB activists if they were deported back to Burma. 
nAssociated Press reports from Washington: A senior US official criticised 
Slorc on Wednesday for refusing again to talk to the leader of a movement to 
bring democracy to the country. 
Testifying before the House International Relations Committee, John Shattuck, 
assistant secretary of state for human rights, said the US goal in Burma "is 
to start a genuine dialogue between Slorc and the democratic opposition led by 
Aung San Suu Kyi and with representatives of ethnic minorities." 
"Unfortunately, as recently as this week the Slorc has rejected dialogue," 
Shattuck said. 
He said the United States would continue working with its allies to isolate 
the Burmese regime "until it ends its widespread repression of human rights".