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TEXT: STATE DEPT. 5/21 ON SLORC ARR



Subject: TEXT: STATE DEPT. 5/21 ON SLORC ARRESTS OF NLD MEMBERS IN BURMA 


22 May 1997 

TEXT: STATE DEPT. 5/21 ON SLORC ARRESTS OF NLD MEMBERS IN
BURMA 

(U.S. condemns arrests of democratic opposition members)  (420)

Washington -- The United States condemns the recent arrests of members
and supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) by Burma's
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the State
Department said in a May 21 press release.

"We call on the SLORC to release all persons who have been detained
for the peaceful expression of their political beliefs and to permit
all Burmese to exercise their internationally recognized rights free
of repression and persecution," the State Department said.

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

For immediate Release
May 21, 1997

STATEMENT BY NICHOLAS BURNS/SPOKESMAN

SLORC ARREST OF DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION

The United States condemns the recent arrests by Burma's State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC) of members and supporters of the
National League for Democracy (NLD). According to reliable reports, at
least 50, if not more, NLD members and supporters around Burma have
been arrested in an attempt by the SLORC to prevent them from
attending a meeting scheduled to take place May 27 at the compound of
NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi to mark the anniversary of the 1990
elections won by the NLD.

This is a continuation of the repression of the democratic opposition
in Burma. The activities of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
and Aung San Suu Kyi continue to be monitored and restricted by the
regime. The SLORC has closed NLD offices in several provincial areas
while Aung San Suu Kyi has been prevented from addressing party
supporters in front of her home since September.

Twice in 1996, in May and again in September, similar NLD attempts to
hold a party congress were thwarted by the regime. Authorities erected
barricades in front of Aung San Suu Kyi's residence where the meetings
were to be held and made numerous arrests of party members as they
attempted to gather there.

The SLORC's actions clearly indicate that it is a regime that has
utter disregard for internationally recognized standards of human
rights and decency.

We call on the SLORC to release all persons who have been detained for
the peaceful expression of their political beliefs and to permit all
Burmese to exercise their internationally recognized rights free of
repression and persecution.

(end text)