BKKPOST:Mar13 Slorc ready for talk?

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written 10:37 pm  Mar 13, 1994 by kamol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:soc.culture.th */
/* ---------- "BKKPOST:Mar13 Slorc ready for talk?" ---------- */

Sunday Perspective: 
Is Khin Nyunt ready for talks?
 
 
THE black cars turn onto University Avenue and then enter a house 
where the country's most prominent pro-democracy leader, Aung San 
Suu Kyi, has been detained for almost five years. It was on 14 
February 1994 that Aung San Suu Kyi received her first non-family 
visitors: US Congressman Bill Richardson, a UN representative, and 
a foreign journalist.
Since then there has been speculation that she may be released in 
the near future and that Slorc leaders may begin a dialogue with 
her. Furthering such speculation, the Slorc-controlled newspaper, 
The New Light of Myanmar, printed Richardson's Bangkok Press Club 
statement after his visit to Rangoon. Such a statement could not 
have been authorised by Burma's Information Minister, Myo Thant -- 
such permission could only come from Khin Nyunt.
Despite having only a short meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, 
Richardson's statement was full of admiration for her. But 
Richardson's praise extended further: he also described Lt-Gen 
Khin Nyunt as "a pragmatic individual, who is sincere." He went on 
to say, "I think the future of Burma will be determined by two 
people: Khin Nyunt and Aung San Suu Kyi."
The statement indeed raised eyebrows. The immediate query is, how 
will Khin Nyunt, the country's feared intelligence chief, approach 
Burma's most famous freedom-fighter?
Another question is, will experienced and older officers who are 
jealous of Khin Nyunt's presence allow him to decide Burma's 
future? It is a doubtful matter.
Khun Nyunt, 54, became Secretary 1 of the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council in 1988. It was a sudden rise. At the same 
time he maintained his previous position as the head of 
Directorate Defence Service Intelligence (DDSI.)
No one, even Khin Nyunt himself, would have been able to arrange 
this. But of course, it was Chairman Gen Ne Win's decision. 
Indeed, Khin Nyunt is a person who won the trust of Ne Win.
Khin Nyunt, in an interview with a journalist in Rangoon, said, 
"From what we see, her [Aung San Suu Kyi] supporters are only from 
outside Myanmar. She has been portrayed as a great leader of the 
country basically by groups outside of the country."
However, during the same interview, Khin Nyunt said, "She rose up 
because of the Burmese Communist Party and its underground cells."
Khin Nyunt's `description' of Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy 
movement was caustic and dismissive. He also said Aung San Suu Kyi 
is a "political neophyte" who allowed herself to be used as a 
"front" for Burmese Communists. However, the Burmese themselves 
and foreign diplomats say his allegations are pointless.
In 1984 Khin Nyunt became head of DDSI, one of Asia's most 
efficient military intelligence services. The service's most 
important obligations are to spy on its political foes and also to 
keep tabs on Burmese dissidents' movements in Western countries 
and Thailand.
Khin Nyunt's most infamous acts occurred in August 1988 when he 
authorised sabotage tactics to create anarchy during the 
nationwide demonstrations and thus created a pretext for the 
September Coup.
"Khun Nyunt's persona is," an observer said, "a strong patriot, 
anti-rightist, anti-democratic, and anti-communist."
Since Aung San Suu Kyi entered into politics, Khin Nyunt's DDSI 
and Slorc-controlled newspapers launched smear campaigns against 
her. For example, recently Rangoon residents reported the Slorc's 
municipal campaign slogan is Suu Poun Shin (Collect, Pile, Clear.)
Suu has a double meaning: "to collect" or Aung San Suu Kyi. Shin 
also means "to purge."
A Burmese resident said, "What most of us [in Rangoon] 
comprehended it to mean is `clear Suu out.'