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SCMP & BBC Reports today
South China Morning Post
Friday December 19 1997
Burma Junta warns on mass meetings
AGENCIES in Rangoon
The military Government yesterday warned the opposition led by Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to stop holding mass gatherings or risk losing
meaningful dialogue.
The warning was a signal the decision by junta leader General Than Shwe
to allow a UN envoy to visit next month would not be matched by greater
political freedom.
The warning was given to five leaders of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) when they met Home Minister Colonel Tin Hlaing. "At the
meeting, the State Peace and Development Council reminded the NLD
leaders to review the mass gatherings they have been holding in recent
months," a government statement said.
The junta also asked the NLD to refrain from making accusations and
statements protesting against the Government's security measures. "If
they keep on doing this, the chances of dialogue and national
reconciliation . . . would go further away," the statement added.
There was no immediate reaction from the NLD to the meeting, the first
between the two sides since the Government changed its name last month
from the State Law and Order Restoration Council.
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BBC World Service
Thursday, December 18, 1997 Published at 16:16 GMT
Burma democracy warning
The military authorities in Burma have told leaders of the National
League for Democracy to stop holding mass gatherings and to stop
criticising official security, or risk ending dialogue with the
country's rulers.
A governmentstatement said that the chances of dialogue leading to
national reconciliation would recede further and further unless the NLD
reviewed its activities.
Correspondents say the warning was an indication that the decision to
allow a United Nations envoy to visit Burma next month will not be
matched by greater political freedom in Burma.
>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
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