The group in a statement, titled ‘Do not follow the old way’, cautioned activists, politicians and civilians not to repeat the mistake of the 1988 nationwide uprising, where hundreds of civilians, students and monks were brutally killed by the military junta, which grabbed power in yet another coup.

The group, which could not be identified nor contacted, said the fuel price hike, which has caused consternation among the people of Burma, is a crucial step by the junta in its planned political strategy. It warned activists and the people of Burma to avoid public demonstrations and not to fall into the junta’s trap.

“There is an inevitable need for change in the military junta… and for the change of guard from the old to the new generation of the military clique, commotion, unrest and upheavals among the people are needed,” said the group.

However, the 88 generation students’ group, which led over 500 people in a procession on Sunday in Rangoon protesting against the fuel price hike, said while the increase could be a strategy of the junta, its is has been forced due to necessities in their budget.

“This [fuel price hike] was bound to happen, as it is the result of decades of economic mismanagement,” Ko Ko Gyi, one of the key leaders of the 88 generation students’ group, told Mizzima.

The junta, in a surprise move, on Tuesday, increased the prices of petrol and diesel to over 100 percent and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to 500 percent. The increase was followed by an increase in bus fares and prices of other essential commodities.

Dr. Sean Turnell, senior lecturer of the Economics Department of Australia’s Macquarie University said, despite Burma’s possession of vast natural gas reserves, “Most of the new big gas discoveries are yet to be brought online, so at the moment Burma has less gas than it might seem. And it is highly likely the junta’s motivation is to target the ‘black market’ and its traders.”

On Sunday, over 500 people in Rangoon led by prominent student leaders of the 88 generation students’ group took to the streets in protest against the hike in fuel prices that has severely affected the daily life of the people.

Surprisingly, the march was not disrupted or restricted by the authorities, which is known to crush dissidence or any such public demonstration with a heavy hand.

The group further said the reason for the junta’s planned move could be to deny entry to the UN special advisor on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who has recently concluded an international tour for consultations on Burma, with an excuse of internal turmoil.

Besides, the junta would have a further excuse of extending the more than 14-year old National Convention, which is currently in its last round in the Nyaunghnapin camp outside Rangoon, the group added.

“The junta has successfully implemented the first step of its strategy where a new generation of military clique can hold onto power. Therefore, political activists both inside, those in exile and the people of Burma should not walk the same path as it did in 1988,” the group said.

But Ko Ko Gyi said the march on Sunday was not a protest rally against the junta but a demonstration to draw attention to the difficulties faced by the public and expose the contradiction in the junta’s stand that there is stability in the country.

“We are applying limited pressure,” said Ko Ko Gyi, “We want the UN and the international community to intervene in the problems faced by the people of Burma.”

Though Ko Ko Gyi did not rule out the possibility that the junta might want to use public unrest to serve its purpose, he pointed out that it does not want things to get out of hand.

“The junta is not scared of public statements or press releases by opposition groups, but they really do not want the public to come out to the streets, for this type of movement can get out of hand,” said Ko Ko Gyi.

However, he added that so far they have not planned a mass protest in the country.

Meanwhile, analysts said the junta’s move to hike fuel prices was the result of compulsion as it is facing a severe shortage of funds.

“The junta is really facing a shortage of funds because of the costs in Naypyidaw - the expense of which far exceeds the current increase in international reserves from rising gas prices,” Turnell told Mizzima.

Turnell said, public protests are not the best choice for the junta as “these things have a way of getting out of the regime’s control.”