BURMA OPPOSITION /MEETING

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=5/27/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214845
TITLE=BURMA / MEETING (L ONLY)    
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER 
DATELINE=BANGKOK 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:     

INTRO:  THE LEADERS OF BURMA'S MAIN OPPOSITION  PARTY MET TODAY  
(TUESDAY) TO MARK THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF AN ELECTION VICTORY.
AS DAVID  BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN 
BANGKOK, BURMA'S RULING  MILITARY JUNTA FORCED THE PRO-DEMOCRACY 
GATHERING TO BE MUCH SMALLER THAN PLANNED. 

TEXT: BURMA'S RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL 
ALLOWED ONLY THE TEN MEMBER'S OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  TO ATTEND TUESDAY'S MEETING AT 
THE RANGOON HOME OF PARTY LEADER AUNG SAN  SUU KYI. 

SOLDIERS AND RIOT POLICE SEALED OFF THE AREA AROUND THE LAKESIDE 
COMPOUND, IN  A RANGOON UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. 

SECURITY WAS ALSO HEIGHTENED AROUND THE HOMES OF THE LEAGUE'S TWO
VICE-CHAIRMEN:  TIN OO AND KYI MAUNG. 

HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY -- OR N-L-D -- 
DELEGATES WERE INVITED TO THE MEETING. 

PARTY LEADERS SAY MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED N-L-D ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN
DETAINED IN RECENT DAYS, TO PREVENT THEM FROM ATTENDING THE 
GATHERING. THE AIM OF THE MEETING WAS TO DISCUSS PARTY STRATEGY 
AND MARK THE N-L-D'S  SWEEPING ELECTION VICTORY, SEVEN YEARS AGO.

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL SANCTIONED THE MAY 27, 1990 ELECTION.
BUT WHEN N-L-D CANDIDATES WON MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE SEATS 
IN THE PROPOSED  PARLIAMENT, THE MILITARY CANCELLED THE RESULTS. 
THE PARLIAMENT NEVER MET. 

AMONG THOSE DETAINED AHEAD OF THIS WEEK'S PLANNED MEETING WERE 
ABOUT 50 N-L-D  CANDIDATES ELECTED TO THE PROPOSED PARLIAMENT. 
THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL DENIES THAT IT HAS ARRESTED ANY N-L-D
ACTIVISTS. IT  SAYS INSTEAD, THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED THEM
TO STAY AT HOME THIS WEEK SO AS NOT TO CREATE CHAOS IN THE 
COUNTRY. 

ANALYSTS SAY THE MILITARY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE 
LEAGUE'S EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE TO MEET TUESDAY WAS A COMPROMISE 
AIMED AT PREVENTING CONFRONTATION.  

COINCIDING WITH THE PLANNED RANGOON GATHERING, A SMALL GROUP OF 
EXILED BURMESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS JOINED BY THAI COUNTERPARTS 
STAGED A DEMONSTRATION AT BURMA'S BANGKOK EMBASSY TUESDAY.  THEY 
DEMANDED THAT THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL IN RANGOON RECOGNIZE 
THE RESULTS  OF THE 1990 ELECTION.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/DB/FC