Burma Junta Blames Protest on NLD

by Ma Nguyen Tong

22-1-2003

The authorities in Burma said the opposition National League for Democracy was behind an anti-government protest held on January 16, 2003 in the capital, Rangoon. Witnesses said that two Buddhist nuns were detained but a government spokesman, Brigadier-General Than Tun, described them instead as 'pseudo-nuns', and accused the NLD of using religion to deliberately incite unrest. He said NLD members living in exile were returning to Burma to organise such protests.

About ten people took part in the protest outside the municipal buildings in Rangoon.

The NLD won elections in 1990, but the military government refused to recognise the election result.