Problems facing the military

The State Peace and Development Council [SPDC] is about to stop selling rice to organizations with which it signed cease-fire agreements since 1989—with the exception of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization.

The 30,000-strong Wa State Army, which signed a cease-fire agreement with the SPDC, was given 34,000 sacks of rice in the year it signed the agreement. However, in the following year it received only 8,000 sacks. The supply of rice has dwindled, and now they face the prospect of a total cut in the rice supply.

Protest leaflets circulating in Rangoon

Burma-based anti-government and pro-democracy groups have been distributing leaflets in Burma's capital, Rangoon, calling for an uprising against military rule, the state-run New Light of Myanmar reported.

The paper warned citizens to beware of the instigations by the "axe-handles," the government’s term for traitors.

US diplomat visits Suu Kyi

A senior US diplomat gained access to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi as the country’s junta clamped down ahead of the 10th anniversary of bloody street demonstrations. US charge d’affaires Kent Wiedemann visited the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader after being turned away previously by security forces and spoke to her through an intermediary, an embassy source said.

Renewed attacks on Suu Kyi

Khin Nyunt, secretary one of the ruling SPDC, delivered a strong attack on Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing her of colluding with foreign embassies to incite unrest, state-run newspapers said.

Khin Nyunt told a teachers seminar that Suu Kyi’s recent car sit-in protest had been a well-orchestrated opposition attempt to destabilise the political situation in Burma.

Demonstration in southern Burma

High school students in Burma’s southern town of Mergui held a protest on August 4 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising in August 1988, and to mark the massacre of unarmed civilians by the military.

About 100 students from three State High Schools began the demonstration in the morning and marched along the main roads of the township.