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Release of NLD leadersE



ERRORS-TO:INET:strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
FROM:NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
DATE:March 16, 1995
TIME:11:43PMJST
SUBJ:Release of NLD leaders

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
(NCGUB) 
Information Office
815 15th Street NW, Suite 609
Washington D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 393-7342, Fax: (202) 393-7343

PRESS RELEASE

March 16, 1995

POSITION OF THE NCGUB ON THE RELEASE
OF THE NLD LEADERS

The military-run State Law and Order Restoration
Council
(SLORC) was reported to have just released 31
political
prisoners, including the two prominent leaders of the
National league for Democracy Chairman U Tin U
and U
Kyi Maung, Secretary of the Central Executive
Committee. 
The National Coalition Government welcomes this
positive
gesture and hopes that this is a harbinger of what is to
come
in the process towards national reconciliation and
democratisation of the nation.

Former Defence Minister U Tin U, imprisoned since
July
29, l989, is widely respected as a prominent leader of
the
Burmese democracy movement, while U Kyi Maung,
detained on August 6, 1990, is well-known for his
outstanding activities during the struggle for
independence
of Burma, as well as for steering the National League
for
Democracy to victory in the May 1990 Multi-Party
General
Election.  He was also elected in that election as a
people
representative from Bahan Constituency, Rangoon
Division. 
These two leaders were imprisoned because their
selfless
dedication to the cause of restoring democracy, human
rights and peace in Burma were considered a threat by
the
SLORC.

Their long-overdue release is  welcome to all the
Burmese
people and the international community.  However, the
National Coalition Government feels that the release of
individuals alone does not amount to much if these two
democratic leaders as well as the others in Burma are
prohibited from enjoying their fundamental freedoms
like
the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and
freedom of association.  Since U Tin U and U Kyi
Maung
are also the democratically elected leaders of the NLD,
they
must have the right to freely engage in political
activities,
given access to the local and international media and
allowed to fulful their mandate as the leaders of the
election
winning party.

The National Coalition Government can also find no
logical
reason as to why the national democratic leader, Daw
Aung
San Suu Kyi, is still being kept under house arrest by
the
SLORC.  If the SLORC is genuine in its claim that it is
willing to work hand in hand with the forces working
for
democracy, there should not be any hesitation in
releasing
her and restoring all her fundamental freedoms.

In the same note, the SLORC must stop waging war
against
all ethnic nationalities throughout the country and start
a
national reconciliation process by taking steps to join
in a
tripartite dialogue under the UN auspices as proposed
by
the National Coalition Government.

Once again, the National Coalition Government
wishes to
reiterate that the dream of the Burmese people does not
end
with the release of their leaders from prison.  Their
ultimate
desire is for the restoration of democracy, human rights
and
peace in the country and the National Coalition
Government
will continue its efforts until that is completely
achieved.