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JUNTA FORMS POLITICAL COMMITTEE




Media Release
October 29, 1998


             JUNTA FORMS POLITICAL COMMITTEE FOR CRACKDOWN 
                        ON PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT


Burma's military junta has formed a political affairs committee
comprised of 16 people led by Secretary-1 Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt,
revealing the gravity with which it views the current political
impasse.  The committee appears to be an attempt by the regime to
improve its strategy for dealing with the crisis.

The newly formed committee has not yet been officially announced
in the military-controlled media, but has held a series of
meetings since its formation on September 18. Sources in Burma
say that the Committee appears to take have taken the lead in
organizing pro-military mass rallies.

Members of the committee include Secretary-3 Lt. Gen. Win Nyint
and the Ministers for Home Affairs, Information, Science and
Technology, and Education.  Also on the committee are the Chief
Justice, the Attorney General and executives of the National
Convention Committee and the Multiparty Commission. 
Significantly, a number of high-ranking officers from the Office
for Strategic Studies (OSS), headed by General Khin Nyunt, are
also on the committee.

Foreign Affairs Secretary of the All Burma Students' Democratic
Front, Aung Naing Oo, said the formation of the committee was a
desperate move following initiatives by the National League for
Democracy (NLD) to convene Parliament.  "It seems more like a
crisis team to counter the students and the NLD-led democracy
movement.

"We fear that this committee intends to nullify the 1990 election
results and resume the National Convention, giving Burma a
constitution guaranteeing military dominance in the future.  Up
until now, the regime has always claimed that it has had no need
for political discussion, as it is a military government." 

A source in Rangoon close to the military said that the formation
of the committee indicates that Khin Nyunt and officers from the
OSS are going to take full control of Burma's political
situation, rather than try to reach consensus within military
factions. 

A student in Rangoon said that people in Rangoon suspect the
committee of preparing to outlaw the NLD.  "People also think
they will deport or arrest Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will later
force the people to accept the constitution from the National
Convention through mass rallies." 
 
The ABSDF calls on the junta to enter into tripartite dialogue
with ethnic leaders and the NLD, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
The dialogue should address the convening of Parliament in
accordance with the 1990 election result as well as the peaceful
democratization of the country.  The ABSDF calls on the
international community to support the call for dialogue to
prevent further escalation of the tensions within Burma.
 

All Burma Students' Democratic Front
For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984