RANGOON, Sept 25, Reuter: ‘The new Burmese opposition coalition is considering entering elections sponsored by the country’s military leaders, a spokesman for ‘one of the group’s leader said on Sunday.

However, the spokesman for former defense Minister General TinOo of the National United Front for democracy (NUFD) said the opposition was in a dilemma because militant students opposed any collaboration with the military that seized power a week ago,

“If we do not acknowledge this government and their process, we will automatically be discounted,” TinOo’s spokesman said, “Our position is to beat them at their own game.”

The spokesman said their NUFD coalition was formed on Saturday by the three top opposition leaders TinOo, Brigadier Aung Gyi and Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Independence Hero Augn San to coordinate peaceful dissent against the military regime.

Radio Rangoon reported seven people died on Sunday when troops fired on looters who broke into Government warehouses and buildings in the capital region. Troops killed seven others on Saturday when looters broke into offices of the state shipping corporation.

By official admission about 200 people were killed as the army crushed popular resistance to the coup. Diplomats, Doctors and dissidents place the toll closer to 1,000.

Only last Thursday Aung San Suu Kyi had rejected participating in elections, saying the military should first stop shooting and allows democratic demonstrations.

She could not be reached for comment on the latest political, developments.

Another opposition leader, former Prime Minister U Nu distances himself from the NUFD proposal and said there was “not a possibility” he would participate in the elections.

Diplomats said militant students have fled to areas near the Thai border after the military crackdown and now are being trained by the National Democratic Front, a coalition of ethnic guerrilla groups that has fought the Central Government since Burma gained its independence from Britain in 1948,

Article extracted from this publication >> September 30, 1988