News on India's Papers Part I

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Myanmar juntas action condemned
24 May 1996, The Hindu (New Delhi)
 
Imphal, May 23: The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), 
has strongly condemned the arrest of 71 Party functionaries of the 
National League for Democracy by the State Law and Order restoration 
Council (SLORC) in Myanmar on the eve of the special convention of 
the NLD on Sunday.
 
A press release issued by the working group of the ABSDF here said, 
that the convention was to be held at the residence of the NLD leader, 
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. The military had plan to arrest all the 392 NLD 
MPs before the convention, it added. In the elections held on May 27, 
1990 the NLD had secured 392 seats out of the 485.
 
Contending that such massive arrests were in violation of human rights, 
the students had appealed to the people to send letters of condemnation 
to the SLORC.
 
Meanwhile, police reports say that several students and other pro-
democratic activists have crossed the border fearing a crackdown by the 
junta.
 
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Junta intensifies crackdown on Suu Kyi loyalists
24 May 1996, The Asian Age (New Delhi)
 
Rangoon, May 23: Burmas military rulers detained more pro-democracy 
activists on Thursday, boosting the tally to 191, in what they described 
as 
merely a "pre-emptive measure" ahead of a key Opposition meeting.
 
The sun-up to the planned May 26-29 meeting, which mark the sixth 
anniversary of the National League for Democracys landslide win in 
abortive general elections, has seen an exercise in political 
brinkmanship 
by both the junta and the NLD. Neither side wants to be seen as backing 
down, nor does either want to be blamed for triggering a confrontation 
reminiscent of the period of brutal repression after the 1990 elections, 
diplomats and analysts say.
 
In the first official acknowledgment of the latest detentions, government 
official told Burmese on Thursday that an unspecified number of NLD 
activists had been picked up for questioning. They denied NLD members 
had been arrested or jailed. The deputy head of intelligence, Colonel 
Kyaw Win, said the move was a "pre-emptive measure aimed at 
preventing an escalation which would force authorities to take drastic 
action."
 
Asked if the charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be also be 
taken in for questioning, Mr Kyaw Win Said the government was 
waiting to "see how much further she goes." He did not elaborate. An 
opposition source said on Thursday that 191 activists had been detained 
since Monday, all but four of them NLD candidates who won seats in the 
abortive 1990 elections. The others were close to the NLD leadership.
 
The NLD has planned to a meeting in Rangoon to mark the May 27 
anniversary of the 1990 elections in which the NLD swept 392 of 485 
contested seats but was not allowed to take office when the junta refused 
to step aside. Mr Kyaw Win said, "We believe that this meeting where 
elected candidates will gather and to which the foreign media have been 
invited is an attempt to put the SLORC into a corner." SLORC refers to 
the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the official name of the 
ruling military junta.
 
Rangoon has allowed foreign journalists with active press visas to enter 
the country in recent days but has ordered a freeze on all new press visas.
 
Among the latest detainees was Mr Aye Win, a personal assistant to Ms 
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has frequently acted as her spokesman. Mr 
Kyaw Win said the detained NLD members would be released "once 
their intentions were clear." The state-run newspaper "New Light of 
Myanmar" said on Thursday that Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD 
were "designing to carry out a plot" aimed at provoking a breakdown in 
law and order across the country.
 
Authorities in the capital and other districts across the country had 
"called in" an unspecified number of NLD members who were accused 
of having taken a "confrontational course," the newspaper said.
 
Those detained had not been tortured but were being treated with 
"dignity and respect," the newspaper added.
 
International human rights groups have expressed concern that detainees 
would be subject to ill treatment, including torture.
 
Between 200 and 300 people were expected to attend the meting on May 
26-29 at lakeside compound where Ms Aung San Suu Kyi was held for 
nearly six years under house arrest before her release last July. NLD 
officials have said they expect the number of people detained since 
Monday to continue to raise. "We havent been able to get information 
about the others yet," the Opposition source said.
 
The remaining three confirmed detained were another assistant to Ms 
Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Win Thein, Mr Moe Thu, the editor of an 
economic journal, and Mr Thein Tin. (AFP)
 
***********************
 
Military says it will not arrest Suu Kyi
The Asian Age, 24 May 1996. (New Delhi)
 
Rangoon, May 23: The military regime on Thursday denied planning to 
arrest pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite jailing more than 
100 of her followers to prevent the most important Opposition meeting 
in six years.
 
"We have no plan for that, yet," Colonel Kyaw Win, deputy director of 
military intelligence and one of the ruling juntas powerful figures.
 
However, Ms Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her 
non-violent  promotion of democracy, had told Voice of America radio 
on Wednesday that it was "quite possible" she could be arrested in the 
nationwide roundup of her supporters.
 
The US and human rights groups have condemned the arrests. Students 
in Bangkok, were stage a demonstration on Thursday outside the 
Burmese embassy. The Thai government has called the arrests an 
internal Burmese affair but "counterproductive to the democratisation 
and national reconciliation process."
 
Rangoon remained calm on Thursday. Sarong-clad Burmese crowed 
buses for their morning commute and showed little overt interest in the 
confrontation. At any time, few ordinary people discuss politics with 
journalists, fearing arrest.
 
"I have heard news about the arrests of the NLD delegates, but am more 
concerned about my studies now," said Maung My Myint, an engineering 
student. The current military regime has tried opening the economy to 
foreign investment long shunned by previous governments. Some 
military leaders attended a business conference for foreign investors on 
Thursday, but made no comment on current tensions.
 
One of the investors asked, "who is the Aung Woman and why is she 
trying to spoil our business?" Investor see huge profits in developing 
Burma and some claim the lives of the desperately poor people can be 
improved by foreign capital. Ms Suu Kyi, however, says investment will 
only entrench the regime and that little money will reach the common 
man.
 
Meanwhile, the "New Light of Myanmar" said on Thursday that a mine 
that derailed a mail train this week, killing nine people and injuring 
seven was planted by Karen rebel headquarters had denied responsibility 
for the blast and peace negotiation were going forward. (AP)