YANGON. May 4: Myanmar's military vowed on Saturday that it would not change its cur-I rent political and economic I course despite recent US economic sanctions which bar new American investment in the country, reports Reuter.

Secretary one of the Ruling State Law and Order Restora-tion Council (SLORC) lieutenant General Khln Nyunt was quoted in the official media as saying Myanmar was confident it could overcome the latest hurdle Imposed on it by Washington.

He also blamed unidentified groups opposed to the SLORC of being behind the latest diplomatic setback for Yangon.

The United States imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in April, banning new Investment by American firms, as a condemnation of the military regime s alleged human rights abuses and Its suppression of the pro-democracy movement led by opposition leader Aung

San Suu Kyi.

"Destructionist groups within the country are employing various way to destabilise the nation, to Jeopardise the nation's political and economic development and to cause difficulties in international relations." Khln Nyunt was quoted as saying at a meeting with local authorities in Hakha township. 375 km (600 miles) northwest of Yangon on Friday.

"As the government can overcome all these obstacles, it has no big problem" he said. "The (US) economic sanctions will have no result for the US as they expect nor will they affect Myanmar."

Myanmar would never change its current political and economic trend and would march onward to reach its objectives despite any obstacles and hindrances that were placed in its way. he added.

AFP adds, an estimated 30.000 members of a Myanmar

government sponsored mass movement today held a demonstration against a US decision two weeks ago to clamp economic sanctions on Myanmar

The rally, held amid tight security in a sports stadium in east Yangon, was organised by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), which is generally regarded as the political arm of Myanmar's internal affairs using bullying tactics," a USDA spokesman said, calling the US investment ban on April 22 an entirely "wrong decision,"

"The US government should understand that authorities here are striving to establish a disciplined democratic state." said another spokesman for the USDA, which was formed in 1988 and presently boasts a membership of six million.

A motion to condemn "internal and external destruc-tionists'' was also approved by the USDA gathering.

The USDA also accused the United States of failing to curb its own law and order problems, particularly widespread murder and rape.

"We invite the American government, which cannot even provide security or guarantee human rights for its own people, to come and take some much needed lessons from our government on how to provide security." one spokesman said.

The rally ended with cries of "shame, shame on the United States" with spokesmen accusing Washington of having been swayed by the "falsehoods" spread by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi. whose Nation J League for Democracy (NLD) won 1990 elections later overturned by the military, has called for investment bans and tourist boycotts of Myanmar as a means of pressuring the military into reform.