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U.S. STRONGLY CONDEMNS HARSH BURMA



The United States condemns SPDC for harsh sentences of the
opposition.Following is in detail regarding the condemnation.

Sincerely,

Julien Moe
--------------------
FILE ID:97121601.EEA

DATE:12/16/97

TITLE:16-12-97  TEXT: U.S. STRONGLY CONDEMNS HARSH BURMA OPPOSITION SENTENCES


TEXT:

(Calls on ruling junta to release political prisoners)  (410)


Washington -- The U.S. strongly condemns the harsh sentences meted out

to seven members of Burma's democratic opposition party, the National

League for Democracy (NLD), for "disturbing the public or law and

order."


In a statement released December 16, State Department Deputy Spokesman

James B. Foley said: "We had hoped that the recent restructuring of

Burma's military junta might lead to long-promised political reforms,

and especially create new opportunities to begin a meaningful dialogue

aimed at national reconciliation with the National League for

Democracy, other democratic parties and Burma's ethnic minorities.

However, it appears that repression and dictatorship remain the

hallmarks of the ruling junta."


Burma's ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),

was previously called the State Law and Order Restoration Council

(SLORC).


Following is the text of the statement:


(begin text)


U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesman


December 16, 1997


STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN


BURMA: SENTENCING OF DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION MEMBERS


On December 9, six members of the democratic opposition party, the

National League for Democracy (NLD), were sentenced to six years in

prison for "disturbing the public or law and order" and a seventh was

sentenced to eight years. All seven were detained last month in

connection with attempts by the NLD to hold organizational meetings in

various Rangoon townships.


The U.S. strongly condemns these harsh sentences. The fact that such

sentences were imposed after closed trials, in which the defendants'

rights to legal counsel were limited and due process denied, once

again demonstrates that the judicial process in Burma is opaque,

arbitrary and subject to political manipulation. We vigorously call on

the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release all

political prisoners immediately and to cease its continued harassment

and punishment of members of democratic opposition parties for

activities which are fully consistent with their organizations' status

as legal political parties.


We had hoped that the recent restructuring of Burma's military junta

might lead to long-promised political reforms, and especially create

new opportunities to begin a meaningful dialogue aimed at national

reconciliation with the National League for Democracy, other

democratic parties and Burma's ethnic minorities. However, it appears

that repression and dictatorship remain the hallmarks of the ruling

junta.