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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