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Bangkokpost (4-9-99)
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<font face="ARIAL" color="#800000"><b>BURMA<br>
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Junta asks military to block return of workers for 9-9-99<br>
</font><font size=5><i>Curfew imposed and capital reinforced<br>
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</font></i><font size=3>Post Reporters, Reuters<br>
</font><font size=5>R</font></b><font size=3>angoon has asked the Thai
military to bar thousands of its workers employed in Mae Sot from
returning to the country between Sept 2 and 9.<br>
The move was aimed at preventing the workers from taking part in an
anti-government uprising called by Burmese exiles for Sept 9, 1999-the
so-called four nines day.<br>
Military authorities in Myawaddy had sent a letter to their Thai
counterparts urging the temporary ban on the return of the workers,
sources said.<br>
The letter, dated Sept 2, was signed by Lt-Col Tin Ngwe, commander of a
Burmese military base in Myawaddy.<br>
Mae Sot chamber of commerce data shows that about 100,000 Burmese work in
130 factories in the town.<br>
An army source said the Burmese military "asked us to tell employers
in Mae Sot not to allow Burmese workers to take holidays or return home
during that period".<br>
Separately, the National Council of the Union of Burma said the junta had
tightened security nationwide.<br>
Seven Burmese military officers and two soldiers were arrested in Papun
township in eastern Karen state on Aug 27 for circulating pro-democracy
posters, the group said.<br>
The War Office in Rangoon has ordered commanders to car troops from
Rangoon unless on duty and to recall all officers presently there to
their units, it said.<br>
"Restrictions have also been imposed on relatives of military
personnel as well. They have been prohibited from wearing anything
yellow, the colour of the democracy movement," it said. Meanwhile, a
merchant said Rangoon had also imposed a nationwide curfew. Khampoon
Hongsa, a Thai-Mon who travels regularly between Sangkhla Buri district
in Kanchanaburi and Pan-an, Burma, said the curfew was from 6pm to
6am.<br>
A border source in Mae Hong Son said all towns in Shan state have been
under curfew since Aug 28, and a joint military operation involving
Burma's 510th rapid deployment battalion and Muser volunteers was under
way against minority groups, especially the Shan State Army.<br>
The drive was being concentrated along the 100km border from Ban Khai
Luang, opposite Pang Ma Pha district, Mae Hong Son, to Ban Mae Or Luang,
opposite Muang district.<br>
Burmese troops have also told 1,500 Shan residents of Ho Mong they will
be shot if they break the curfew.<br>
Measures have been stepped up to check people coming in and leaving Ho
Mong, the former stronghold of drug warlord Khun Sa's Mong Tai
Army.<br>
According to a source, who claimed to be an intelligence officer of the
New Mon Party, Rangoon has ordered military units in northern Burma to
reinforce security forces in Rangoon and at Thai-Burmese border
crossings.<br>
About 5,000 soldiers would be posted around Rangoon while 25,000 others
would be sent to guard the border crossings, the source added<br>
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</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5>Access sought <br>
<br>
</font><font size=3>British and Australian diplomats were pressing for
access to a dual national given a long jail term in Burma for
pro-democracy activism this week the Australian ambassador to
Burma said ,yesterday. Rangoon said on Thursday that a court had jailed
James Mawdsley, who holds dual British-Australian nationality, for 17
years after a third illegal entry to demonstrate for democracy. "We
ate continuing to press for consular access and it has not yet been
granted," Australian ambassador to Burma Lyndall McLean said by
telephone. - Reuters <br>
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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5>Curfew denied <br>
</font><font size=3> Burrna's government denied reports yesterday that a
curfew had been imposed in Karen State to prevent a mass uprising that
dissidents have called for Septernber 9. A spokesman for the military
government, on customary condition of anonymity, said in a fax received
in Bangkok that there had been no "unusual security
precautions" taken in the capital, Rangoon, or any other towns'or
cities. The. All Burma Students Demoiratic Front reported the overnight
curfew had been imposed in four towns in the south- eastern state on the
Thai border. -AP <br>
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