The Indonesian regime's clumsy squashing of political dissent could encourage Burma's junta to be heavy-handed with its opponents, diplomats say. By breaking up an opposition rally, President Suharto has shown that even after ruling for 30 years he will not tolerate even a mild challenge to his authority. 'Indonesia is the most powerful member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - if this is how it treats its opponents then what are Burma's generals to think?' said one Asian diplomat. The relatively unsophisticated generals, who have controlled Burma since 1962, will probably have been impressed by the Indonesian military's display of power. 'The ASEAN countries have told everyone that with economic growth and contact with the outside world the regime will become more liberal. That doesn't seemed to have worked in Indonesia,' said a Western diplomat. U Hla Than, 49, a National League for Democracy member who was detained by police, died in hospital, the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma said in a statement.
