Reuters-Myanmar Says 36 Held Over U

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Subject: Reuters-Myanmar Says 36 Held Over Uprising Call 

Myanmar Says 36 Held Over Uprising Call
06:38 a.m. Aug 19, 1999 Eastern
YANGON (Reuters) - Military-ruled Myanmar said 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 Defense 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
favorable 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.