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Burma's democracy leader pays tribu
Subject: Burma's democracy leader pays tribute to slain.
Burma's democracy leader pays tribute to slain
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RANGOON, Burma (AP) Embattled pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi paid solemn tribute to her father
Burma's independence leader and greatest hero on
the 50th anniversary of his assassination
Saturday.
Although her movements have been sharply
restricted by the country's military rulers, Suu
Kyi was allowed to take part in ceremonies at the
white marble mausoleum where Aung San is buried.
Suu Kyi, the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has
endured house arrest, harassment and the jailings
of many followers, but observers say her father's
prestige protects her from imprisonment, or worse,
by the military junta.
Gen. Aung San, then 36, and six of his ministers
were shot and killed less than six months before
Burma gained independence from Britain in January
1948. A former prime minister, U Saw, was charged
with the assassinations and executed.
The charismatic, handsome Aung San led Burma's
largely peaceful independence struggle and is
widely revered. His death is annually marked as
Martyrs Day.
Dressed in a white jacket and black sarong and
shawl, Suu Kyi laid three baskets of orchids at
the gravesides, touched the ground three times
with her forehead and clasped her hands in a sign
of Buddhist reverence.
Representatives of Burma's ruling military council
attended the ceremony.
At her lakeside home, Suu Kyi held a private
religious observance for about 500 supporters and
diplomats. Offerings of food and robes were
presented to 50 Buddhist monks.
The ceremonies came three days after a rare
meeting between the military and Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy. Although the reason
remains unclear, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt met with
three members of the party, including chairman
Aung Shwe. Suu Kyi was not included.
"We all welcome the meeting. There is a ray of
hope," said Tin Oo, vice chairman of the party, at
the mausoleum. "It's a good start but a dialogue
is not complete without Aung San Suu Kyi."
Suu Kyi refused to comment on the meeting and
asked whether others might follow she said: "I
don't believe in speculation in politics."
Suu Kyi, who had lived abroad with her British
husband, returned to Burma in 1988 and was
propelled to the forefront of a pro-democracy
uprising against military rule. Her initial
popularity stemmed from being Aung San's daughter.
The junta crushed the uprising and annulled
results of a 1990 general election, which Suu
Kyi's party won. Suu Kyi herself was placed under
six years of house arrest.
[20 July 1997, CNN News].
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News and Information Dept
All Burma Students' Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australia].
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