BURMA: BURMESE MILITARY GOVERNMENT PRESS CONFERENCE

(3 Sep 1996) English/Nat
The Burmese military authorities have accused a number of American citizens and Burmese dissidents living abroad of plotting to bring down the Rangoon government.
They say pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi collaborated in the plot to spread civil disobedience,
The government has threatened to take "appropriate measures, when and if required."
Aung Sang Suu Kyi denies the accusations but says she is prepared to be arrested.
It was the first time in more than a year that the media-shy Burmese military government held a news conference.
The allegations came in a news conference called by the State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC.
A high ranking intelligence officer, Colonel Kyaw Thein from the Defence and Intelligence Services gave the briefing.
He said four U-S citizens had been caught distributing anti-government pamphlets and videotapes and that they had been giving lessons to Burmese on techniques of civil unrest and sedition.
One of the Americans was named as Michael Mitchell of the I-R-I or the International Republican Institute who was said to be the go-between for dissident groups and their leader Aung San Suu Kyi, .
A brochure was shown which Colonel Thein said was from the I-R-I, in which graduates of the course allegedly posed for a class photograph.
Another American was named as Robert Helvey, former military attache at the U-S Embassy in Rangoon.
It called them an outright infringement of Burma's sovereignty.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is obvious that some citizens of super power nations are blatantly trying to meddle into the affairs of Myanmar and thereby disrupt peace and tranquillity in the country while enriching themselves at the same time."
SUPERCAPTION: Colonel Kyaw Thein, Defence and Intelligence Services
Another accused is Gene Sharp, author of Aung San Suu Kyi's handbook for non-violent political protest.
Members of the opposition National League for Democracy (N-L-D) were also accused of heading Burmese dissident groups from overseas.
They then made a further claim - that there was a direct link between the Americans and pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Suu Kyi and her party knowing full well that what these people are doing is unlawful have held negotiations, discussions and consultations and have collaborated with their activities sometimes openly and sometimes through secret contacts and have been a party through transgressions of these people."
SUPERCAPTION: Colonel Kyaw Thein, Defence and Intelligence Services
To support their claim, they displayed leaflets, said to have come from training courses, and copies of the feature film "Beyond Rangoon."
They concluded with the statement regarding the future of the 1991 Nobel peace Prize Winner.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Necessary and appropriate measures will be taken if and when required. And that is my answer."
SUPERCAPTION: Colonel Kyaw Thein, Defence and Intelligence Services ]
Last Sunday Aung Sang Suu Kyi made her regular speech to around three thousand people outside her Rangoon home.
She has already said that a renewed crackdown on her party, the National League for Democracy, is underway.
61 members have been arrested since June, and 30 have just received long jail sentences.
Some diplomats in Rangoon believe that a new showdown between Suu Kyi and the military government is on the way.
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