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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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