Reuters-Myanmar announces curfew in

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Subject: Reuters-Myanmar announces curfew in Karen towns--traders 

Myanmar announces curfew in Karen towns--traders
07:00 a.m. Sep 01, 1999 Eastern
MAE SOT, Thailand, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military has imposed a
curfew in some towns in an eastern state to prevent participation in an
uprising dissidents have called later this month, cross-border traders said
on Wednesday.

The Myanmar traders, who arrived in this Thai town opposite the Myanmar town
of Myawadi, said local military authorities said the night-time curfew from
Wednesday would affect several towns in Karen state including, Pa-an,
Hlaingbwe and Kawkariek.

``The curfew is to prevent people from lending hands or supporting the
campaign for the ``four-nines day'' uprising,'' one

trader said.

``People who violate the curfew, which bans them from leaving residences
from 20.00 to 06.00 a.m. will be arrested,'' he said.

But a government spokesman told Reuters by telephone from Yangon that the
authorities had not imposed any curfew.

Karen state borders Thailand and the borderlands have long been base for
dissident and insurgent activity.

Myanmar dissidents in exile have called for a pro-democracy uprising on
``four nines day'' -- September 9, 1999. The main Myanmar opposition led by
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi says it did not mastermind the call but will
never disown its allies.

The exiles chose the date for its numerical significance after August 8,
1988 -- the so-called ``four eights day'' which saw the start of a
nationwide pro-democracy uprising that was bloodily crushed by the military
when it seized power that year.

The government spokesman said talk of a curfew was aimed at creating a
picture that parts of Myanmar were gripped by tension ahead of September 9,
he said.

``None of the talk is true. They (dissidents) are trying to create a picture
to make it look like there is tension in many parts of the country ahead of
September 9,'' he said.

``They are also trying to aim for attention ahead of the U.N. general
assembly next week,'' he added. ``They are also saying students have been
arrested in some townships and other things.''

Diplomats in Myanmar say the authorities have stepped up security around the
country since the uprising call and arrested dozens of dissidents.

But the government spokesman said: ``It's business as usual. There is not
even extra security on the streets in main towns.''