Burma bans exile 'terror groups'

Burma's military rulers have a firm grip on power

Burma's military rulers have designated four exiled political groups as terrorist organisations, state-run media reports.

They include overseas offshoots of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the domestic opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

A student group and a trade union group based on the Thailand-Burma border were among others blacklisted.

The NLD won elections in Burma in 1990, but was not allowed to take power.

State-run newspapers and TV in Burma reported the decision made by the country's Home Affairs Ministry, but gave no further details.

Disputes

Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD denies any formal links with the newly-banned overseas exile groups, known as the NLD-LA (Liberated Area).

The NLD-LA denies any involvement with terrorism or violence, and insists that it follows the example set by the domestic party within Burma.

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the Federation of Trade Unions and the All Burma Students Democratic Front were also designated as terrorist groups.

Burma's military junta has recently accused exile groups based in Thailand of carrying out a series of bomb attacks.

But dissident groups say the regime is fostering a climate of insecurity to shore up support at home.