news- Myanmar police deployed as ju

[TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar police deployed as junta blasts "subversive" opposition

       Wed 26 Aug 98 - 10:03 GMT 

       YANGON, Aug 26 (AFP) - Armed riot police moved in on Myanmar's
famous Shwedagon Pagoda on Wedensday as reports carried
       an attack from the ruling junta accusing opposition forces of
undermining national development.

       "The subversive group is engaged in destructive acts while the
government is undertaking constructive programmes," General Khin
       Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC), was quoted as saying by the New Light of
       Myanmar newspaper.

       The report came as scores of armed riot police reinforcements
were moved into strategic sites around the capital, including one of
       its most famous Buddhist landmarks the Shwedagon Pagoda,
diplomats and residents said.

       Extra police were positioned at the University of Yangon, the
Shwedagon Pagoda and the Yangon Institute of Technology, all
       hotspots of student unrest in previous uprisings against the
junta.

       The tightened security comes two days after police dispersed
student demonstrators in the first street protests in the capital since
       1996.

       Dozens of people were arrested but no injuries were reported
after police moved on two crowds in seperate incidents.

       They were the first student demonstrations since a much bigger
protest prompted the military authorities to close universities in
       December 1996.

       Other than the police deployments, diplomats said the capital was
quiet Wednesday.

       During a tour of preparations for an upcoming sporting event,
Khin Nyunt said the SPDC was the country's most "constructive" force
       working for national development.