Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Mon, 5 Oct 1992 22:33:15 PDT
From:         "(Coban Tun)" <tun@QUARK.SFSU.EDU>
Subject:      Burma: SLORC puts on a smiling face

/* Written 12:10 am  Oct  3, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "BURMA: Junta puts on smiling face" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: BURMA: Junta puts on smiling face


an inter press service feature

by yuli ismartono

bangkok, sep 29 (ips) -- as burma strives for a higher profile in
south-east asia and the united nations, it is promoting a more
conciliatory image of its brutal suppression of democracy at
home.

last week the junta lifted the 10 pm to 5 am curfew that has
been in force for four years and on saturday it abolished martial
law which was declared soon after the crackdown of a popular
uprising in 1988.

''(the decisions were) well-timed to pre-empt the upcoming
u.n. general assembly debate on burma in which the opposition
will ask for sanctions against the military rulers,'' said a
rangoon-based diplomat contacted from bangkok.

the series of actions taken by the country's military rulers
seem to indicate moves to end political repression in burma, but
analysts believe it is no more than a cosmetic move to draw burma
out of its international isolation.

''they are just public relations exercises to improve their
image of a human rights violator,'' said one analyst, recalling a
recent statement by junta chief gen than shwe saying the military
would continue to hold on to power for some time.

the state-run radio rangoon said monday the junta, which calls
itself the state law and order restoration council (slorc), had
passed a decree requiring all local authorities to be civilians,
to be aided by a police chief and an immigration official.

the government has also been playing up the release of more
than 400 political prisoners in the past three months, but about a
third of them are believed to be paroled common criminals.

analysts say slorc's actions reflect their growing confidence
in the security and stability inside the country. ''the
military's powers are well-entrenched. they can certainly afford
to have townships... governed by civilians,'' said the diplomat.

in fact, slorc recently appointed navy and air force chiefs
and gave three regional army commanders key ministerial posts.
two senior slorc members, admiral maung maung khin and lt-gen tin
tun, were named deputy prime ministers.

burma has been under military control since gen ne win seized
power in 1962 and ruled the country with an iron fist, dragging
it down the economic ladder and into international isolation.
(more/ips)


burma: junta (2)

in 1988, with the economy in shambles, students and civil
servants took to the streets of rangoon demanding a return of
democracy but were violently dispersed by troops of gen saw
maung, who took over when ne win stepped down.

the crackdown left hundreds dead and wounded, and sent
thousands fleeing to neighbouring thailand. more than 2,000
were arrested, including the popular leader of the national
league for democracy (nld), burma's largest opposition party.

slorc called multi-party elections in 1990 but refused to hand
over power when the nld won a landslide victory, claiming
allegations of fraud needed to be investigated.

today, the military still refuses to step down, arguing that a
new constitution still needs to be formed.

western countries imposed an economic embargo on burma after
the 1988 crackdown, halting trade and much-needed aid programmes.
but rangoon continues to receive help, including a one-billion-
dollar loan for arms purchases, from its staunch ally china.

observers say economic conditions in the country continue to
deteriorate despite slorc's attempts to liberalise the economy.
inflation is raging as the value of the kyat, the local currency,
nose-dives and prices of basic commodities shoot up.

rangoon is now trying to mend its diplomatic ties with other
countries and international organisations. it rejoined the non-
aligned movement (nam) at the jakarta summit earlier this month
and is now taking part in a number of u.n. programmes.

but the government expects to be grilled during the u.n.
general assembly's debate on burma, scheduled to take place at
the end of the year.

capitalising on the growing criticism of slorc, the nld
government in exile is embarking on a campaign calling for a u.n.
arms embargo on rangoon. an analyst said the lifting of curfew
and martial law were timed to undermine the opposition's move.
(end/ips/np/yi/ln/92)
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