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Myanmar leader greeted by protester



Myanmar leader greeted by protesters in Manila

 .c Kyodo News Service    

MANILA, Feb. 17 (Kyodo) - The head of Myanmar's ruling military regime, Senior
Gen. Than Shwe, arrived Tuesday in Manila on a two-day state visit amid
protests by critics of the junta's authoritarian policies and poor human
rights record. 

Members of the Free Burma Coalition, a U.S.-based umbrella group of
organizations opposed to the junta, picketed the entrance of the Manila Hotel,
where Than Shwe proceeded after arrival. 

Than Shwe, who is returning the visit of Philippine President Fidel Ramos to
Myanmar last October, was earlier met at the Villamor Air Base in suburban
Pasay City by Philippine officials led by Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon and
Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat. 

He made no arrival statement, but a press statement issued by Myanmar
officials said during the visit Than Shwe and Ramos are expected to hold
''cordial discussions on matters related to enhancing friendly relations and
further cooperation between the two countries and within the region.'' 

The statement said they would also discuss ''the implementation of the
principles and objectives of the ASEAN.'' Myanmar was inducted into the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a full member in July last
year. 

Siazon told reporters minutes before Than Shwe's 47-member delegation arrived
that the Philippine government ''will try to encourage our friends from
Myanmar to pursue their efforts towards national reconciliation.'' 

He said Ramos has decided to provide 5 million pesos (about 120,000 U.S.
dollars) worth of scholarship funds for training 60 Myanmar nationals,
including journalists and military officers. 

At the Manila Hotel, about 20 protesters held banners and posters denouncing
Than Shwe as a ''dictator'' and calling for freedom and democracy in Myanmar. 

Than Shwe's group evaded most of the protesters by passing through a side
entrance of the hotel. 

But protest leader Merci Ferrer, who was a few steps from the side entrance,
shouted ''Mr. Shwe, you are not welcome here'' before she was forcibly removed
from the hotel premises by Philippine presidential guards. 

A statement distributed by the activists said the military regime ''does not
represent the peoples of Burma (Myanmar), but rather embodies an illegitimate
military power.'' 

It recalled that the junta ignored the results of the 1990 elections, in which
the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi won over 80% of the
votes. 

In a videotaped message to Filipinos shown earlier by the protesters to
reporters, Suu Kyi called on Filipinos and the Philippine government to teach
Than Shwe the value of democracy and make it clear to him that the Philippines
is a bastion of democracy. 

Than Shwe was scheduled to meet with Ramos at the Malacanang presidential
palace later in the day.