VOA News on SLORC's Thugs intimidat

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: VOA News on SLORC's Thugs intimidation of Aung San Suu Kyi

DATE=5/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-
TITLE=BURMA / RALLY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SPEAKERS AT A RALLY OF A CIVILIAN ORGANIZATION IN BURMA 
BACKED BY THE RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT THIS WEEKEND ATTACKED 
THE UNITED STATES FOR IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON NEW AMERICAN 
INVESTMENT IN BURMA.  AS DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST 
ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, SPEAKERS ALSO LASHED OUT AT OPPOSITION 
LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FOR ENCOURAGING THE SANCTIONS.

TEXT:  AN ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED UNION SOLIDARITY AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
GATHERED AMID TIGHT SECURITY IN A SPORTS STADIUM IN EASTERN 
RANGOON.

LEADERS OF THE GROUP DESCRIBED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S 
DECISION, TWO-WEEKS AGO, TO BAR NEW AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN BURMA 
AS AN ENTIRELY WRONG DECISION, AND AS BULLYING.  THEY SAID 
WASHINGTON HAD BEEN SWAYED BY WHAT ONE OF THEM CALLED -- 
FALSEHOODS SPREAD BY AUNG SAN SUU KYI.

ONE OF THE SPEAKERS CALLED FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND HER FOLLOWERS
TO BE DRIVEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR ADVOCATING SANCTIONS AGAINST 
BURMA MILITARY GOVERNMENT.  

THE RALLY ENDED WITH CHANTS OF SHAME, SHAME ON THE UNITED STATES.

THE ASSOCIATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 AS A POLITICAL ALLY OF 
THE RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL.  SOME MEMBERS
HAVE TOLD JOURNALIST THEY ARE COERCED INTO JOINING THE MOVEMENT 
AND ATTENDING RALLIES.  ANALYSTS SAY MEMBERSHIP IN THE GROUP IS 
HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE SEEKING JOBS OR PROMOTION.

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE INVOLVED IN AN ATTACK LAST NOVEMBER ON 
A MOTORCADE IN WHICH AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS TRAVELING.  THE MOB 
SMASHED CAR WINDOWS WITH STICKS AND CROWBARS.  ONE PERSON IN THE 
ENTOURAGE WAS SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.  AFTER THE ATTACK, AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI COMPARED THE ORGANIZATION TO THE HITLER YOUTH IN GERMANY AND 
MUSSOLINI'S FASCIST BROWN SHIRTS.

AIDES TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- WINNER OF THE 1991 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
HAVE EXPRESSED FEARS FOR HER LIFE RECENTLY, CITING CALLS BY A 
GOVERNMENT MINISTER FOR SOMEONE TO KILL HER.

WITHOUT CITING HER BY NAME, SENIOR LEADERS OF THE RULING MILITARY
JUNTA ROUTINELY CALL FOR THEIR OPPONENTS TO BE ANNIHILATED.

THE AIDS ALSO SAY THE UNION SOLIDARITY AND DEVELOPMENT 
ASSOCIATION IS CONDUCTING PARAMILITARY TRAINING EXERCISES ON AN 
ISLAND WITHIN SIGHT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S LAKE-SIDE HOME IN A 
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT OF THE CAPITAL.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/ENE-T/RAE