Myanmar urges end to 9-9-99 drive

Myanmar urges end to 9-9-99 drive

YANGON (Agencies): Myanmar's ruling military appealed to
prodemocracy opposition forces on Sunday to put aside plans for a
popular uprising this week and contribute "meaningfully" to the
development of the nation.

The junta accused the opposition National League for Democracy
(NLD) led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of working
with dissidents to provoke unrest on Sept. 9.

The junta said foreign governments were working with the
opposition to encourage the population to demand various human
rights.

Dissidents have said they are planning an uprising to
replicate the protests 11 years ago on August 8, 1988, or 8/8/88,
when hundreds of prodemocracy protectors were gunned down and a
junta took power from dictator Gen. Ne Win.

The junta on Sunday accused dissidents in exile of "spreading
malicious rumors" after they said authorities had arrested about
500 people to thwart an uprising called for this week.