U.S. Moving 95 Americans Out of Burma : Armed Troops Patrol Rangoon With Orders to Fire on Looters

RANGOON, Burma —  The U.S. Embassy ordered the evacuation of 95 American dependents as a “precautionary measure” today as army trucks loaded with armed troops patrolled the capital’s main streets with orders to shoot looters.

Ross Petzing, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Bangkok, said the first group of 45 Americans will arrive in Bangkok on Thursday if the airport in Rangoon is open.

There were no reports that any of the approximately 55 U.S. Embassy staff members would leave.

Diplomatic sources said that the Italian, Israeli and several other small embassies sent out dependents in recent days and that the Japanese and larger Western embassies are considering evacuations.

Nationwide Strike Slated

Anti-government forces have called for a nationwide strike Thursday to press demands for an interim government and democracy, and it was believed that airport workers would join in the work stoppage.

Today was the first time in nearly three weeks that the military presence has been obvious in Rangoon, where there was looting Tuesday.

As the troops rolled in the city, state-run Rangoon Radio announced that the “defense forces and the people’s police force shall open fire to impose control should they find that these looters, bent on violence, continue their acts.”

It was the first stern warning about intervention to stop looting, which began outside the city several weeks ago.

Radio Rangoon said its warning “does not concern those people who are demonstrating peacefully,” referring to pro-democracy demonstrations against the 3-week-old government of President Maung Maung.

Factories, Warehouse Looted

Looters broke into the Customs Department warehouse, a building of the Education Department, and soap and textile factories. Thieves were spotted carrying away air conditioners and office equipment from the Rangoon office of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Many residents closed the doors of their homes and shops, and traffic was minimal.

Despite a crumbling administration, defections from the ruling party and signs of dissatisfaction within the military, the government has refused to budge from its plan for the Burma Socialist Program Party leadership to meet Monday to consider organizing a referendum on ending one-party rule.