[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

VOA on BURMA/REACT (r)



Reply-To: Conference "reg.burma" <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>



DATE=5/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214613
TITLE=BURMA/REACT (L-O)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IN BURMA, THE RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS AGAIN 
ARRESTING MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (N-L-D) 
PARTY HEADED BY NOBEL LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  V-O-A'S DAN 
ROBINSON REPORTS, THE UNITED STATES HAS JOINED HUMAN RIGHTS 
GROUPS IN CONDEMNING THE LATEST ARRESTS, WHICH WERE AIMED AT 
PREVENTING N-L-D MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING A CONFERENCE TO 
COMMEMORATE THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARTY'S ELECTION 
VICTORY IN 1990.

TEXT:  LAST YEAR, SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE N-L-D WERE 
ARRESTED AS THEY WERE TRYING TO GO TO RANGOON FOR A PARTY 
CONGRESS AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME.  MOST WERE EVENTUALLY 
RELEASED, BUT SOME KEY AIDES TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI ARE STILL IN 
JAIL.

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AUNG SAN SUU KYI SENT INVITATIONS TO ABOUT
200 PARTY MEMBERS WHO WON SEATS IN THE N-L-D 1990 ELECTION 
VICTORY -- WHICH WAS IGNORED BY THE MILITARY -- AS WELL AS OTHER 
PARTY ORGANIZERS.

HOWEVER, INITIAL REPORTS SAY AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE -- FROM SEVERAL 
AREAS, INCLUDING BURMA'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY, MANDALAY -- WERE 
PICKED UP. 

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (WEDNESDAY) CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND 
UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THOSE DETAINED.  A STATEMENT SAID THE 
BURMESE MILITARY IS "BENT ON CRUSHING" THE PEACEFUL ACTIVITIES OF
THE N-L-D.  DONNA GUEST IS AMNESTY SPOKESWOMAN IN LONDON:

                      /// GUEST ACT ///   

         IT IS A BIT SURPRISING BECAUSE IT SEEMED AS IF THE 
         MILITARY HAD SUPPRESSED THE N-L-D TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT
         THEY WERE NO LONGER THREATENED BY THEM.  BUT THIS 
         DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.  IT SEEMS AS IF THE SLORC
         (STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL), THE MILITARY 
         AUTHORITIES, STILL HAVE A LOT OF FEARS ABOUT THE N-L-D 
         -- PARTICULARLY INVOLVING MEETINGS WHICH ACKNOWLEDGE 
         THEIR (THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT'S) ELECTION VICTORY.

                         /// END ACT ///

REFERRING TO SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES -- WHO MAY SOON ADMIT 
BURMA TO THEIR REGIONAL ORGANIZATION (ASEAN) -- AMNESTY SAYS THE 
ARRESTS DEMONSTRATE AGAIN THAT DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT
HAS NOT MADE BURMA'S MILITARY LESS REPRESSIVE.

THE ARRESTS CAME AS PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS ISSUING THE FORMAL 
ORDER BANNING NEW INVESTMENT IN BURMA BY U-S COMPANIES -- AND  
ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE ASEAN MINISTERS MEET TO MAKE A FINAL 
DECISION ON MEMBERSHIP FOR BURMA, CAMBODIA AND LAOS.

PUBLICLY, ASEAN LEADERS -- PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM INDONESIA AND 
MALAYSIA -- HAVE SAID NEITHER U-S SANCTIONS NOR PRESSURE FROM 
WASHINGTON WILL STOP BURMA FROM BEING ADMITTED.

THE UNITED STATES, A KEY DIALOGUE PARTNER WITH ASEAN, OPPOSES 
BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP.  IN CONDEMNING THE LATEST ARRESTS, STATE 
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAID IT WAS "A SHAME" ASEAN 
HAS NOT GIVEN MORE SUPPORT TO THE U-S POSITION: 

                      /// BURNS ACT ///   

         YOU WOULD THINK THAT BUDDING DEMOCRACIES IN SOUTHEAST 
         ASIA WOULD WANT TO STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA.  YOU
         KNOW, IF WE HAVE TO STAND ALONE SOMETIMES -- IN BURMA, 
         IN IRAN -- WE'LL DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE A DEMOCRATIC 
         COUNTRY AND WE DO BELIEVE IN HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE 
         WORLD.

                         /// END ACT ///

// OPT // DONNA GUEST OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THE LATEST 
CRACKDOWN MAY REFLECT THE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE BURMA'S MILITARY 
FEELS.  HOWEVER, SHE SAYS THE NEW ARRESTS -- COMING SO CLOSE TO 
AN IMPORTANT ASEAN MEETING -- MAY SUBJECT RANGOON TO ADDITIONAL 
BEHIND-THE-SCENES PRESSURE.

                      /// GUEST ACT ///    

         I THINK ALL THE ASEAN COUNTRIES WILL BE TALKING TO BURMA
         AND SAYING THIS REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY OF US LOOK GOOD.

                    /// END ACT - END OPT ///

IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW (WEDNESDAY), THE HEAD OF THE EXILE NATIONAL 
COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA (N-C-G-U-B) SAID THE 
LATEST ARRESTS SHOW BURMA'S MILITARY HAS NO INTENTION OF EASING 
PRESSURE ON THE N-L-D.  (SIGNED)

EAP/DAR/RRM