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Activists Leaders Say Maung Maung Not 'Mastermind' of Uprising

By Wai Moe
December 13, 2007

Leading Burmese activists this week disputed claims by exiled politician and labor activist Maung Maung that he trained people to participate in the September uprising.Maung Maung, a controversial politician in exile, was quoted in The Washington Post, on December 4, "We had about 200 people inside the country trained to take pictures with digital and video cameras. We also trained them to transmit using satellite phones and Internet cafes. They were on the front lines when the demonstrations started.”

"We want money for Sat phones, for digital cameras, for typewriters for the monks, for bicycles. We need it now"—Maung Maung

"We want money for Sat phones, for digital cameras, for typewriters for the monks, for bicycles। We need it now," he told the Post.However, many pro-democracy opposition groups inside and outside Burma strongly disputed Maung Maung's claims and are critical of his unsubstantiated comments.U Sila Nanda, a leading monk during the September uprising who arrived on the Thai-Burmese border recently, said independent monks led the mass protests and no exiled politicians were behind the uprising.

On December 3 in press conference in Naypyidaw, the Burmese junta's Police Director Brig-Gen Khin Yi alleged that exiled Burmese opposition groups and politicians were the masterminds behind the planning and organizing of the pro-democracy uprising.

U Sila Nanda said the junta’s claim in the press conference that Maung Maung, also known as Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai, played a leadership role in the uprising was U Sila Nanda said the junta’s claim in the press conference that Maung Maung, also known as Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai, played a leadership role in the uprising was false।Maung Maung is also secretary of The Federation of Trade Unions—Burma (FTUB). On Thursday, he was in Washington, DC, with a Burmese delegation lobbying for funds to aid opposition groups.

“The exiled politician [Maung Maung] was not related to the monks in Burma during the uprising,” said U Sila Nanda.

“The monks in Burma are clearly free from any exiled organization. If any politicians tried to control the monks, we [monks] would not accept it.

"If they want credit for the monk-led demonstrations, then they should cooperate with the monks,” he said.

Tun Myint Aung, a leader of the 88 Generation Students group who is in hiding, told The Irrawaddy this week that exiled politicians and activists should speak carefully about the causes behind the demonstrations.

“This kind of talk can split the pro-democracy movement," he said. "It can also make more risky situations for activists inside Burma. It is counterproductive.

"Nobody, including the 88 group, systematically prepare for the movement. It happened naturally through the people’s momentum.

“On August 19, we marched in Rangoon. But we did not prepare for that march. We immediately decided to march because of the Burmese people’s poor situation after the fuel price hike by the junta.”

Bo Kyi, the joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said all anti-junta protests were originated by people inside Burma who suffer under the military rules.

“Exiled politicians should not say that it was their work," he said.

All the junta's accusations were false, he said.

"No one gave money to people to join the protests. Hundreds of thousands of people decided to join the protests for democracy and their future,” he said.

Naing Aung, the secretary-general of the Forum for Democracy in Burma, said most protesters were independent monks, young people and students who were not connected to exiled groups such as the FDB or FTUB.

He was critical of exiled leaders who claim ties to groups inside Burma, also saying it could make trouble for pro-democracy activists.

Both Bo Kyi and Naing Aung were named by Brig-Gen Khin Yi as masterminds behind the scene of the September uprising.

A former political prisoner in Mae Sot also disputed statements made by Maung Maung, who, during a meeting on the border during the uprising, said members of his trade union organization would join the uprising.

"But none of his men joined the September movement,” the activist said.

In the press conference in Naypyidaw, Police Director Brig-Gen Khin Yi alleged that systematic planning designed to topple the junta was done months before the uprising.

He claimed the main group behind the opposition was the FDB, which is based on the Thai-Burmese border.