US/BURMA:SLORC SAYS "NEW EVIDENCE L

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Subject: US/BURMA:SLORC SAYS "NEW EVIDENCE LINKING THE UNITED STATES TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN BURMA


DATE=7/1/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-216524
TITLE=BURMA / U-S (L-O)
BYLINE=MATHEW CHANCE
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BURMESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE NEW EVIDENCE 
LINKING THE UNITED STATES TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE INSIDE BURMA.  
OFFICIALS IN RANGOON SAY THEY HAVE SEIZED DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY 
ALLEGE SHOW AMERICAN FINANCIAL BACKING FOR MILITANT BURMESE 
PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS.  FROM OUR SOUTH EAST ASIA BUREAU, MATTHEW 
CHANCE REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE BURMESE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS PRESSING HARD ITS 
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.  AT A RARE MEDIA 
CONFERENCE, TUESDAY, THE COUNTRY'S POWERFUL INTELLIGENCE CHIEF --
GENERAL KHIN NYUT -- ACCUSED WASHINGTON OF FINANCING 
PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS WHO HE SAID HAVE PLANTED BOMBS IN BURMA 
AND WERE PLANNING FURTHER CAMPAIGNS.

HE PRESENTED WHAT HE SAID WAS A PHOTOCOPY OF A DOCUMENT LISTING 
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS TO GROUPS IN BURMA.  HE SAYS 
WASHINGTON EARMARKED MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR MILITANT 
BURMESE STUDENT GROUPS AND THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY -- LED BY THE NOBEL LAUREATE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI.

GENERAL KHIN NYUNT ALSO ALLEGES TRANSFERS OF CASH FROM THE UNITED
STATES TO OPPOSITION GROUPS FIGHTING THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT ALONG
THE COUNTRY'S LONG BORDER WITH THAILAND.

WASHINGTON HAS FLATLY DENIED THE BURMESE ALLEGATIONS -- 
DESCRIBING AS A LUDICROUS CLAIMS THAT IT IS FINANCING TERRORISM. 
LAST MONTH, THE UNITED STATES IMPOSED TOUGH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON
RANGOON -- BANNING NEW AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN BURMA IN RESPONSE 
TO WHAT IT SEES AS THE COUNTRY'S POOR RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

BURMA'S GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA HAS REPEATEDLY LASHED OUT AT 
AMERICA FOR IMPOSING SANCTIONS.  A RECENT NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL 
CRITICIZED WASHINGTON FOR WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A POLICY OF 
BULLYING WEAK NATIONS IN PURSUIT OF INCREASING AMERICAN INFLUENCE
IN THE WORLD. (SIGNED) 

NEB / MC / CB / WD