Illegal Government Admits to Holdin

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Subject: Illegal Government Admits to Holding a Total of 68 Over Uprising Call

Illegal Government Admits to Holding a Total of 68 Over Uprising Call


YANGON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Military-ruled Myanmar said on Thursday it
had arrested 36 people in connection with attempts to instigate an
anti-government uprising next month. 

A military intelligence spokesman said claims by dissidents in exile
that more than 150 people had been arrested in recent weeks were
exaggerated. 

"Altogether 32 more people were arrested in recent days in connection
with a conspiracy to cause unrest in September 1999," Colonel Than Tun,
a senior official in the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence,
told a Yangon news conference. 

He said 25 were held in the central town of Pegu, six in Ye and one in
Moulmein. The latter are southern towns. 

The government said last week it had arrested four people, bringing the
total number it says it has recently detained to 36. 

Than Tun said some of those arrested were members of the main opposition
party, the National league for Democracy, and others had direct links
with the All Burma Students' Democratic Front. 

The ABSDF and other dissents in exile have called a general strike on
September 9, 1999 -- so-called "four nines" day. The numerically
significant date was chosen after four eights day -- August 8, 1988 --
which saw the start of a nationwide uprising for democracy that the
military crushed, killing thousands. 

At Thursday's news conference, the authorities displayed leaflets,
stickers, badges, video and cassette tapes they said had been seized
from those arrested. 

Than Tun said 19 people, including 17 high school students, were being
questioned in the southern town of Mergui to expose those who tried to
stir up student unrest there last week. 

"The people of Myanmar do not care if it's four nines, or four tens --
they will not allow themselves to be deceived twice," the colonel said
in reference to the 1988 uprising. 

"They desire to follow the correct national political path while
preserving favourable foundations for internal peace, stability and
development," he said. 

"Hence, in accordance wit the wishes of the people, the government will
resolutely prevent all schemes to cause destruction of the nation." 

The ABSDF said earlier this week the military had detained 33 students,
most of them of high-school age, for joining a demonstration in Mergui
on August 12. 

Yangon residents say the authorities have increased vigilance at schools
to prevent student unrest. They have also used loudspeaker trucks to
warn against joining any protests. 

Anti-government sentiment remains strong in Myanmar but the military has
kept a tight rein on dissent since ignoring the result of a 1990
election that the NLD won by a huge margin. 

Analysts say the authorities have greatly stepped up military
intelligence surveillance and expect memories of the bloodshed to
discourage ordinary people from taking part in open protests.