[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

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.

**********************************************
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 


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com