The Burmese military junta in Rangoon today mobilized over 10,000 people for a mass rally in support of the recently concluded National Convention. Ironically, the rallyists gathered despite the regime’s order that prohibits the assembly of more than five people.

More than 10,000 people on Saturday gathered at the Thuwana football stadium in Thingan Kyun township of Rangoon, in support of the outcome of military junta’s 14-year long National Convention, which was wrapped up in early September, local residents said.

The junta, as part of the massive crackdown on protests by monks and people, imposed curfew on September 25 and banned the assembly of more than five people in two of the countries largest cities – Rangoon and Mandalay .

“We have not heard of any announcement saying that the curfew and ban on gatherings have been withdrawn,” a resident said.

A police officer in Rangoon said the imposition of curfew and ban on assembly of more than five people, is likely to be withdrawn in the ensuing week to show the international community that normalcy had returned to Burma.

“We are told that the curfew will be lifted very soon. I think that is because the government wants to shore up its image with Gambari, when he comes again,” the officer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said.

Ibrahim Gambari, special adviser to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Burma, who on October 2, concluded a four-day visit to Burma, has called on the junta to immediately withdraw the curfew and ban on gatherings.

The UN Secretary-General on Thursday said he will resend his special adviser on Burma, to the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation in an effort to facilitate dialogue between the ruling junta and opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ban Ki-moon said, his envoy will be begin consultations with key nations in the region starting with Thailand on Monday and follow it up with Malaysia, Indonesia , India, China , and Japan. Finally he will go to Burma .