USDA armed to attack NLD

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breaking news from BurmaNet...

BURMANET: USDA ARMED BY SLORC TO ATTACK NLD MEMBERS
September 26, 1997

The NLD is planning to hold a congress on September 27-28, 1997.  As of the
morning of September 26th, at least 150 NLD MPs and party members have
arrived in Rangoon for the congress.  

However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's street is still blockaded and she has not
been able to go out.  Moreover, the atmosphere in Rangoon is tense as the
SLORC has reportedly given USDA members sticks, chains, and other implements
which can be used as weapons.  According to worried Rangoon residents, the
SLORC is planning to use the USDA members to attack NLD members and
supporters trying to attend the congress.  

The USDA members will be milling around the intersections near Aung San Suu
Kyi's residence and near the NLD's main office in Rangoon.  Rangoon
residents believe that the SLORC wants to start a riot. The riot will appear
to be between civilians, but in fact it will be orchestrated by the SLORC.
Fear of violence may deter NLD members and supporters from attending, but if
a riot does break out, the SLORC can use this as an excuse to clamp down on
the NLD.

The USDA is a mass organization founded by the SLORC.  Members receive 
privileges such as lower prices on fertilizer and access to low cost 
computer courses.  Civil servants and students are often forced to join, 
or their names are simply added to the USDA membership rosters without 
even asking them.  The USDA thugs who have been used to attack Aung San 
Suu Kyi and other NLD members in the past are mainly poor people from the 
satellite towns outside Rangoon who have been hired or receive benefits 
for participating in aggression against the NLD.

It should also be noted that NLD members from out of town have difficulties
finding a place to stay when they come to Rangoon.  Hotels and guesthouses
are afraid to accept NLD members because of harassment from the SLORC. If
they stay at friends' houses, the friends must report that they have a guest
to the ward Law and Order Restoration Council office.  Those friends then
become known to the SLORC as pro-democracy supporters and may face
harassment as a result. If the friends do not report that they have a guest
at their house, both the host and the guest can be arrested and fined.