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slorc detains several members of nl



DATE=10/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221915
TITLE=BURMA / NLD (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO: BURMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE DETAINED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF A 
LOCAL BRANCH  OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.  
VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA 
BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE N-L-D MEMBERS ARE  BEING QUESTIONED IN 
CONNECTION WITH TUESDAY'S ABORTED ATTEMPT BY PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER
AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO HOLD A MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS.

TEXT:  A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IN RANGOON SAYS FOUR MEMBERS OF THE
MAYANGON TOWNSHIP BRANCH OF THE N-L-D HAVE BEEN, AS THE SPOKESMAN
PUT IT, "CALLED IN FOR QUESTIONING."  THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE FOUR
-- WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED -- ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT ILLEGAL 
POLITICAL MEETINGS AND VIOLATED REGULATIONS GOVERNING SUCH 
GATHERINGS.  HE DID NOT SAY IF THE FOUR N-L-D MEMBERS HAVE BEEN 
CHARGED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS POLITICAL PARTIES IN BURMA -- INCLUDING THE 
N-L-D -- HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY OUT PARTY ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY 
MUST DO SO WITHIN THE LAW.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ACCUSES THE N-L-D OF DEFYING THE LAW TO 
EMBARRASS THE GOVERNMENT.  HE SAYS SUCH ACTIONS WILL, AS THE 
SPOKESMAN PUT IT, ONLY CREATE UNNECESSARY SETBACKS TO BUILDING 
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.

ON TUESDAY, POLICE PREVENTED N-L-D LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM 
MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS IN MAYONGON, A TOWNSHIP IN NORTH RANGOON.
AUTHORITIES BLOCKED THE ROAD LEADING TO THE N-L-D OFFICE THERE 
AND SCUFFLED WITH N-L-D SUPPORTERS, AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S 
MOTORCADE APPROACHED.  SUPPORTERS WERE ROUNDED UP AND TAKEN AWAY,
AND WERE RELEASED SOME DISTANCE AWAY.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE N-L-D HAD NOT OBTAINED PERMISSION FOR THE 
MEETING AND THAT THEY HAD URGED THE PARTY TO HOLD THE GATHERING 
INSIDE AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S LAKESIDE COMPOUND, IN RANGOON.

LAST MONTH, THE AUTHORITIES ALLOWED THE PARTY TO HOLD A CONGRESS 
AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME, LEADING MANY ANALYSTS TO BELIEVE THE 
GOVERNMENT WAS SOFTENING ITS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE N-L-D.  PREVIOUS
ATTEMPTS TO HOLD SUCH MEETINGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP BY 
AUTHORITIES, BY MASS TEMPORARY DETENTIONS.  AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- 
WHOSE MOVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY CURTAILED BY THE GOVERNMENT --
WAS ALSO ALLOWED TO VISIT ANOTHER N-L-D OFFICE IN A RANGOON 
SUBURB LAST WEEK.

BUT TUESDAY'S INCIDENT INDICATES, SAY ANALYSTS, THAT HOPES OF A 
SUPPOSED THAW IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THE 
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT WERE PREMATURE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/KL 

30-Oct-97 4:10 AM EST (0910 UTC)