Bangkok post (22-8-99) (r)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

junta vows to annihilate'uprising
We can remove any danger that might 
fall on the country.' 
Rangoon, AP 
The number-two leader of Burma's Tmilitary regime has threatened'to
"annihilate" opponents who have 
called for an uprising next month. Meanwhile an opposition group based in
neighbouring Thailand claimed yesterday that students had heckled the wife of
another senior leader during her visit to their high school near Burma's
capital. The government, called the report a "fabrication" - 
Both sides are waging a propaganda war in the run-up to September 9, .when the
opposition has urged Burmese people to rise up against the military. 
Any increased preparedness by the security forces has been discreet, but
officials have announced the arrest of at least 36 people allegedly involved
with the planned uprising. 
General Maung Aye, army com- mander and vice chairman of the ruling State
Peace
and Development Council, was quoted yesterday in official news papers as
saying
that "Internal subversive elements" were losing ground to the Tatmadaw, or
armed forces 
"The Tatmadaw today is superior, stronger and more consolidated compared to
the
Tatmadaw in 1988," Gen Maung Aye said. "Joining hands with 
the people, we are able to remove any danger that might fall upon the
country."

The  'army crushed pro-democracy protests launched on August 8, 1988,, in
bloodshed. But the demonstrations led to the end of a quarter-century of
socialist isolation imposed by now-retlired.strongrnan Ne Win and vaulted Aung
San Suu Kyi to the forefront of the opposition. Mrs Suu Kyi won the Nobel
Peace
Prize in 1991. 
The new generation of generals has opened up the economy to market forces but
keeps a heavy lid on dissent. opponents hope the so-called 8-8-88 rebellion
will be succeeded by a more successful one on. September 9, or.' 9-9-99. 
Numerology is widely believed' in Burma, but there has been little indication
that the masses are again.ready to face the guns of the military. 
Gen Maung Aye declared that the armed . forces     "would      resolutely
annihilate those who disturb the intetests of the nation". 
High on their list Would be the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), a
dwindling band of former students who fled the country after the failure of
the
1988 uprising. 
The ABSDF claimed yesterday from Thailand that authorities had been tightening
control over high schools in several aras to prevent them being used as
staging
aras for protests. The universities have been closed since demonstrations in
1996. 
On Thursday, the group said,. students from two high schools in Tamwe township
near Rangoon shouted slogans, exploded firecrackers and banged desks in
protest
against a visit by Dr Khin Win Shwe, wife of Lt- Gen Khin Nyunt, number-three
leader of the government, 
The students reportedly sang pro-democracy songs, called for an uprising on.
9-9-99 and complained of excessive tuition fees and the shortage of
educational
supplies and facilities. 
Seven students were temporarily detained and handed over to their parents
after
being threatened with dismissal, the ABSDF said. 
A government spokesman denied the claims and said "it is amazing to learn the
extent of the information campaign they are doing."