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News from India (r)
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MYANMAR JUNTA IGNORES SUMMIT CALL
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BANGKOK, June 23. Myanmar has dismissed a joint call from
nations at the Denver Summit of the Eight for Yangon's
military leaders to open a dialogue with the country's
democratic opposition and ethnic minorities.
A senior government official reached in Yangon yesterday
claimed a "meaningful dialogue" was already in progress in
the form of the long-running national convention to frame a
new constitution.
"The main problem is the West's refusal to give Myanmar a
chance to prove itself and Constant interference is causing
unnecessary problems," he said.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's main Opposition National League for
democracy, which swept the last pulled held in Myanmar,
has pulled out of the convention because it would enshrine
a military presence in any future parliament.
The official contended that the appeal on Saturday by the
Foreign Ministers of the eight leading world powers at the
Denver summit was motivated by domestic concerns of some of
the eight.
The U.S. which in May adopted investment sanctions against
Myanmar in protest at human rights violations and
suppression of democracy was using Myanmar as a
"sacrificial lamb to please her own voters."
He argued that the junta, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), had made "positive steps"
towards the goal of multi party democracy.
These included dumping the forma\er socialist
constitution, introducing a free market economy and
bringing 16 ethnic insurgent groups into the "legalfold."
The official declined to comment on the G-8's statement
that it would hold the Myanmarese regime "accountable" for
the safety of Ms. Suu Kyi, whose movements in Yangon and
political activities remain severely restricted.
In Denver, the G-7 nations, Britain, Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. plus Russia, also called
on Asean nations to use their "influence to encourage an
early return to democracy."
ACTIVIST GROUP DECRIES ARRESTS
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In a related development, a southeast Asian activist group
condemned the junta for using a video the organization
made of Ms. Suu Kyi as a pretext for arresting five of her
supporters.
In the video, Ms. Suu Kyi appealed to Asean leaders not
admit Myanmar's military government to the regional
grouping until there is progress towards democracy.
Altsean, the alternative Asean network on Myanmar, released
the tape on May 28.
Days later, Asean ignored the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
winner's plea and voted to admit Myanmar along with Laos
and Cambodia in July.
Last week, Myanmar's military government arrested four of
Ms. Suu Kyi's relatives and her photographer for allegedly
smuggling the video out of the country.
"We condemn these arrests and interpret them as cowardly
acts. We are sure that those arrested did not smuggle the
video aborad," said Ms. Debbie Stothard, Altsean's
coordinator.
"We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being
of the people arrested and we call for their immediate and
unconditional release," she said.
Those arrested were Cho Aung Than Ms. Suu Kyi's cousin and
personal secretary his sister and her husband, Ohn Myint
Ms. Suu Kyi's uncle and Ko Sunny, her photographer.
(AFP,AP)
The Hindu 24 June 1997
News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League
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