Burma blames dissident groups for bomb blast

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/burma-blames-dissident-groups-for-bomb-blast-20090328-9evn.html

March 29, 2009
Burma's junta has accused two dissident groups in exile of plotting a bomb attack in the country's economic hub Rangoon that killed a man two days ago, state media says.

The New Light of Myanmar (Burma), a mouthpiece for the military government, said the explosion at a city guesthouse on the eve of an annual military parade had killed the bomber himself, a man thought to be in his twenties.

Two women were also injured, it said.




"On examination of the explosives and accessories found in the room and on the dead body, it was found that the blast occurred while the man was setting up a timed bomb," the newspaper said.

They said the All Burmese Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) and Whole Burma United Revolutionary Front (WBURF) were responsible -- two rebel groups based on Thailand's border, formed in the wake of a failed student uprising in 1988.

"After investigating it was found the blast was linked to the ABSDF insurgent group and WBURF insurgent group," the paper said, adding that authorities seized dynamite, a detonator and other bomb-making materials from the scene.

Military-ruled Burma has been rocked by a series of small bomb blasts in and around Rangoon in recent months, usually blamed on armed exile groups or ethnic rebels.

"Destructive elements and insurgents have been plotting to plant bombs in an attempt to undermine community peace and stability and to cause panic among the people," the paper said.

The military has ruled Burma since 1962, partly justifying its grip on power by claiming the need to fend off ethnic rebellions which have plagued its remote border areas for decades.

Democracy activists have also been accused of violence with state-run media accusing two members of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) of bombing pro-government offices in July 2008.

The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but the junta never allowed it to take office. Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest almost constantly since.

AFP

Source: smh.com.au