AI: Amnesty condemns continued dete

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Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 09:31:10 -0800
Subject: AI: Amnesty condemns continued detention of Suu Kyi

                                             News Service 15/95
AI INDEX: ASA 16/WU 01/95


AI: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS CONTINUED DETENTION OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI
23 JANUARY 1995
Amnesty International today condemned the decision of the Burmese military
Government to detain Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate, until at least July 1995. 

     "We have repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional
release of Aung San Suu Kyi since she was placed under house arrest on 20
July 1989. However, Myanmar's ruling military authorities appear determined
to hold her until she is no longer deemed a political threat to them," 
Amnesty International said today.

     "If they are going to make a credible effort to improve their human
rights record, the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be a genuine first
step."

     Following rumours that she may be released sometime this month, Kyaw
Thein, a general staff officer of the Directorate of Defence Services
Intelligence (DDSI), told an Australian broadcasting company on 18 January
that she would not be released until the sixth anniversary of her detention
on 20 July 1995.

     In a related report, Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated
publicly on his return from Yangon (Rangoon, the capital) that Aung San Suu
Kyi would not be released until a new constitution is drawn up.  General
Than Shwe, Chairman of Myanmar's ruling military authority, the State Law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), discussed her continued detention
during a meeting with Thaksin on 19 January.

     The National Convention, which is convened and controlled by the
SLORC, has been meeting to agree principles for drafting a new constitution
since January 1993. However, there is no public timetable for the
completion of this task.  

     Delegates have agreed on principles which stipulate that no one who
is married to a foreigner or who lived outside the country during the last
20 years can hold the office of executive president or vice-president. 
These provisions are widely believed to be designed to exclude Aung San Suu
Kyi from these offices.   

     Ms. Suu Kyi was a founder member of the National League for Democracy
(NLD), the main political opposition party in Myanmar. The NLD won a
landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the SLORC, which took power
following the violent suppression of a nationwide pro-democracy movement in
1988, refused to hand over power. Hundreds of political activists were
arrested and imprisoned by the SLORC, many of whom remain in prison today. 
ENDS\