AP:5000 GATHERED AT SATURDAY NLD FO

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Subject: AP:5000 GATHERED AT SATURDAY NLD FORUM

 5000 GATHERED AT SATURDAY NLD FORUM

  By AYE AYE WIN
 Associated Press Writer
   RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- Defying threats of harsh punishment from the
government, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed more than 5,000
supporters who gathered in front of her house today.
   The one-hour meeting took place without any interference from the
authorities.
   The crowd cheered and shouted "Long Live Aung San Suu Kyi" and "Let the
cause for democracy be successful" when she appeared at the gate to her
compound late this afternoon.
   Burma's military government announced Friday that prison sentences of
five to 20 years awaited anyone who incited, demonstrated, spoke, or wrote
"in order to undermine the stability of the state, community peace and
tranquility and prevalence of law and order."
   The law's immediate target appeared to be Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991
Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring democracy to Burma. She has met
with her supporters every Saturday since being released from six years of
house arrest last July.
   Her speech today was much milder than usual, containing no remarks
critical of the regime. It was not clear whether she would be subject to
legal action over the rally.
   The government imposed the law in reaction to recent challenges by the
democratic dissidents to the authority of the military which for 34 years
has ruled Burma, also called Myanmar.
   Besides prison sentences, the law mandates fines and confiscation of
property, and decrees that any organization found in violation will be
suspended, disbanded or outlawed.
   The law came a day after the military regime informed Suu Kyi's party
that it was banning the Saturday meetings -- already prohibited under a law
that forbids gatherings of more than 50 people, but which has not been
enforced. Suu Kyi said then that the meetings would continue.
   The new law, signed by the chairman of the country's junta, Senior Gen.
Than Shwe, also makes unauthorized writing of a constitution subject to the
same penalties.
   Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy announced last month after a
party congress that it was doing just that, rejecting a constitution being
drafted by a government-organized convention that has been meeting for
three years.
   The weekend meetings represent virtually the only opportunity that
Burmese have to see Suu Kyi -- pronounced Soo Chee.
   The government has blocked most of her efforts to travel around the
country or even to gatherings in the capital's suburbs.
   About 2,000 people have been coming to Suu Kyi's Saturday meetings, and
thousands more listen to tapes made there of what she says. The crowd grew
to 10,000 people on the day the party congress met at Suu Kyi's house,
despite the government's efforts to block the meeting by arresting 262
participants.
   The congress adopted resolutions calling on the military to turn over
power to the overwhelmingly pro-democratic Parliament elected in 1990. The
regime never honored the elections, and the congress was to bring together
surviving candidates on the sixth anniversary of the vote.
   
KT
ISBDA