Rally attendants granted license to smuggle

Rally attendants granted license to smuggle

Politics

Reporter: Hawkeye

A hundred men and women who attended last week's rally in Lashio in support of Gen Khin Nyunt's 7 point roadmap were given permits to "carry", a Burmese corruption of the English word meaning "smuggle", said sources from Muse (pronounced Muzay) yesterday.

"Since their return from the Lashio rally (20 October), these people are seen transporting electric and electronic appliances from China to Mandalay (287 miles away) day and night without fear of being caught and punished," said a businesswoman, whose story was confirmed by other sources. 

The smuggled goods included television sets, refrigerators and computers made in China, that are contraband to ordinary citizens. 

Others who were commandeered to join the rally, however, "went home with empty hands", they said. Those who won the 'carry permits' were, first of all, graduates of the civil defense course. There were some 180 men and 120 women who had completed the military-organized military training aimed at civilian participation against possible 'American invasion'. (According to Irrawaddy, Darryl Johnson, US ambassador to Thailand, had already denied on 27 October Americans had plans for military intervention in Burma.) 

The rally was held 07:00-08:00 on 20 October, at the city's sports ground. It was attended by 15,000 supporters and well-wishers, according to http://www.Myanmar.com. 

Earlier on 12 October, another rally was held in Kengtung, eastern Shan State, that was attended by people from several townships in the area. 

"Seven out of ten people could hardly understand Burmese," said a trader from Kengtung, "and there wasn't any translator. But we're used to the military's studied neglect by now." 

Another source said 6,000 plastic chairs from Tachilek, opposite Mae Sai, were rented on 9 October for the occasion. "Of course, the local people had to carry the cost which was 3 baht apiece," he said.