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NCGUB: On the Continued Detention o



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Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 19:10:28 -0800
Subject: NCGUB: On the Continued Detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi


NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
Information Office, 815, 15th Street NW, Suite 609, Washington D.C. 20005
Tel: 202 - 393 7342, Fax: 202 - 393 7343

Statement on the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who recently visited Burma 
has said the Burmese military regime is refusing to free leader of the 
democracy movement, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, even after six years of 
house arrest without any legal grounds.  The decision by the regime to 
detain the 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate until after the so-called National 
Convention being held to draft a constitution favorable to military rule is
 unwise to say the least because it has once again passed up a great 
opportunity to redeem itself in the eyes of the world.

The move by the SLORC came as no surprise to the National Coalition
 Government but it may as well be a rude awakening for those, who 
for various self-interested reasons, had been praising the SLORC 
leaders in connection with their two recent meetings with Daw Aung 
San Suu Kyi. The content or outcome of the talks with Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi were never announced by the SLORC.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a great leader who stands firm on her 
principles.  She has already made in clear during her meeting with
 Congressman Bill Richardson that she was ready to work for national
 reconciliation but only within the framework of genuine democratic
 reforms.  As for the National Convention, she told New York Times 
correspondent Philip Shenon that that convention would never lead
 to democracy in Burma and that it was not even worthy of its name.

It is trenchantly clear that the present decision on Daw Aung San Suu
 Kyi by the military regime proves that the SLORC leaders never 
succeeded in coercing or persuading Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to
 succumb to their wishes as regards the national convention or sway
 her away from her principles.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also told Congressman Bill Richardson 
that she wanted a dialogue between the SLORC and the democratic 
forces, not just a meeting between individuals. We are fully confident
 that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will stand firm on that principle and insist
 the participation of her colleagues in various stages of dialogue.

What Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stands for is clearly outlined in her
 recent paper to the "World Commission on Culture and Development",
 November 21, 1994. The paper reaffirms her commitment that genuine
 democratic reforms must go hand in hand with any economic changes.

Continuing the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi exposes 
SLORC's true evil attitude to the world. National Coalition 
Government of the Union of Burma would like to urge the entire 
Burmese people not to be discouraged. Let us double our efforts 
for the democratic struggle and to march ahead in unity, discipline
 and perseverance. Democracy will come to Burma.

Jan 21, 1995.