AFP-Dozens of Myanmar riot police d

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dozens of Myanmar riot police deployed at opposition headquarters
Sun 13 Sep 98 - 13:17 GMT 

YANGON, Sept 13 (AFP) - Dozens of riot police were deployed around the
headquarters of Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy
partySunday, witnesses said.

The police, carrying shields and batons, stayed in the shadows of other
buildings near the Yangon NLD complex.

Witnesses said they were also equipped with mobile barriers which could be
used to quickly seal off the downtown road.

At least 200 riot police were also stationed around the Hlaing university
campus, where students have been staging anti-government demonstrations
over the past two weeks, but no incidents were reported.

"Obviously they are prepared to deal with any developments, but nothing
seems to be happening," one Western diplomat said.

Foreign diplomats said they were unable to confirm a claim by an exiled
student group that 15 officers of the ruling junta had been arrested for
planning to meet with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) said the officers -- six
colonels and a lieutenant-colonel from the army, three navy majors and five
air force colonels -- were detained in Yangon on September 5.

The ABSDF, in a statement issued in Bangkok, said its information came from
junta sources.

Junta officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

"We praise these 15 officers for having the courage to stand up for their
beliefs and hope that many of the other members of the armed forces will
now step forward and show their desire for change and restore the tainted
image of Burma's military," the statement quoted ABSDF vice chairman Moe
Thee Zun as saying.

"We know that these officers were planning to discuss the political
situation with Daw (eds: honorific) Aung San Suu Kyi, and their actions
show the growing desire by soldiers and officers alike for genuine
political reform in Burma."

The official Mirror daily meanwhile turned its guns from the
"pseudo-citizen" Aung San Suu Kyi to NLD vice chairman Tin Oo, a former
army general.

The junta frequently targets Aung San Suu Kyi's marriage to a Briton as
evidence she is not committed to Myanmar.

"U (eds: honorific) Tin Oo, who says one thing and does something else, has
now conveniently forgotten about his pledge and is instigating unrest with
the backing of external elements," a commentary in the newspaper said.

"Defiantly and blatantly breaking the law and instigating instability with
the support of the foreign media is not something one ought to forgive," it
added, in apparent reference to Tin Oo's recent interviews with foreign
radio broadcasters.

The junta has effectively thwarted plans by the opposition to convene a
parliament this month by detaining most of its members, according to
foreign diplomats here.

The NLD claims 700 members and supporters have been detained over the last
week, but foreign envoys put the number at only 157 at the most.

The opposition won 1990 polls by a landslide, with the NLD alone taking 382
of the 485 seats. But the junta, which won only 10 seats, has refused to
relinquish power, saying it is gradually moving towards democracy.

The number of NLD and other opposition members of parliament has since
declined by an unknown level due to deaths and resignations.

The NLD has vowed to convene the parliament elected in 1990 but the junta
has said the move would be illegal.

The detained opposition members were being treated well and were in no
apparent danger, diplomats said.