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Almost 100 representatives of 15 organisations, including the Bangkokbased Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB), the exiled National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), gathered at the embassy Sunday morning to express their support.

"The situation in our homeland is so tense as the junta has arrested many protest leaders who were 8888 generation activists. Military officers searched the houses of their relatives," Soe Aung, spokesman for the Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB), told The Nation.

"People are living in fear and very few even dare to walk around the city as military intelligence is everywhere," a Burmese activist said.

The 8888 generation activists were those who joined the uprising against the military dictatorship on August 8, 1988. The uprising 19 years ago was ignited by economic factors as students reacted angrily to the government revoking some kyat banknotes without compensation.

Analysts have different views over the current situation. Some believe the protests could not post any significant threat to the junta as the group is so small. Others say four rallies in a week over the fuel prices could really shake the junta's stability and possibly result in a repeat of the 8888 uprising.

People in Rangoon, mostly women, have staged public protests against the dramatic hike of fuel prices since August 21. The junta had detained more than 60 activists in connection with the demonstration for creating unrest and disturbing social order.

"More and more families are facing starvation because the price of rice has doubled, there are no public bus services to take people to work, and worse may follow. If the junta State Peace and Development Council, led by Senior General Than Shwe, continues its vicious crackdown in reaction to the growing protests, it will drag the country and the region into chaos," the group of activists said in their statement issued during the protest in front of the Burmese embassy.

The protesters demanded the junta immediately stop raising fuel prices, stop using violence against peaceful demonstrators and release all political prisoners and cease military hostilities against nonBurman ethnic communities.

They also urged the United Nations and Asean, of which Burma is a member, to seek a solution to prevent the country from sinking into further turmoil.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation