BURMA NEWS INTERNATIONAL

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Burmese Generals Hiding From Press At India-Asean Rally

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Surajit Khaund/Mizzima News

November 22, 2004

 

The delegation of Burmese ministers at the India-Asean Rally has been

kept in tight security in the army cantonment at Narengi, Guwahati,

and press people have not been allowed to meet with them.

 

"We have to provide full security as per rules of the army, so we

cannot allow them to meet anyone," a spokesperson for the army said.

 

Lieutenant General Myint of the Ministry of Defense, northwestern

commander Major General Thar Aye, sports minister Brigadier General

Thura Aye Myint and deputy foreign minister Maung Myint were present

at the India-Asean car rally at the capital of Assam state along with

some senior army officials of the Burmese junta.

 

Despite repeated requests from the press people they were not allowed

to meet the ministers, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),

the main organizer of the rally, could not provide information on

them. Abhijit Barooah, the senior CII member who is coordinating the

delegates, said the Burmese were kept in the army cantonment for fear

of security lapses..

 

"This has been conducted by the Army on its own," Barooah added..

 

Media people who gathered in Guwahati to cover the historic rally were

disappointed at what was happening. "Since they have come to witness

the historic rally, they (the ministers ) should mix with the people,"

said a disappointed journalist.

 

The ministers who were supposed to address the rally were cancelled at

the 11th hour due to shortage of time.Unconfirmed sources said they

had held a meeting with Indian External Affairs minister Natwar Singh

today. But the Army refused to make any comment in this regard.

 

The visit of the Burmese ministers also indicated that the Indian

government has been constantly putting pressure on the Burmese Junta

to drive out Indian rebels taking shelter in their territory.

 

The 20-day-long rally will cross through Tamu, Mandalay, Loilem,

Kengtung and Tachilek (Burma), Mae Sai , Phitsanulok and Bangkok

(Thailand), Vientiane (Laos), Hue and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam),

Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Putrajaya (Malaysia) and Singapore to culminate

in Indonesia.

 

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Burma News International is a network of nine exiled media groups

such as Mizzima News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Kao Wao News Group,

Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara News, Kaladan Press Network,

Independent Mon News Agency, Karenni Information

Network Group and Network Media Group.

 

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