Breaking News, 01/05/98

[RANGOONP@xxxxxxx]

Is Ne Win The Answer of Myanmar's Problems 

By Deborah Charles 

BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Political stalemate in Myanmar (Burma) has become
so entrenched that veteran politicians have now suggested the unfathomable --
that former strongman Ne Win come back to help solve the nation's problems. 

Reaction was mixed on Monday to the surprise suggestion, made by a veteran
politician who played a key role in Myanmar's struggle for independence 50
years ago, that the former leader might be able to help bring about national
reconciliation. 

Late on Sunday, 89-year-old Thakin Chit told a gathering of veteran
politicians in Yangon that Ne Win might be able to help the nation become
peaceful. 

``I would like to propose that if ex-president, retired General Ne Win -- who
used to be able to do a lot in the past -- will work, the entire country could
become peaceful and pleasant,'' Thakin Chit told a group of about 120 veteran
politicians, democracy activists and diplomats at a ceremony to mark the 50th
anniversary of independence from Britain. 

One diplomat laughed when asked about the idea, saying it was ironic to think
that Ne Win -- whose very name invoked such fear over the past few years that
he is referred to in Myanmar simply as ``the Old Man'' -- could find common
ground between the military government and the opposition. 

``They invited Ne Win to help out. It does seem to be a complete
contradiction,'' he said. 

Another diplomat was less cynical, saying it was natural that the veteran
politicians would think of turning to Ne Win, who was part of the ``Thirty
Comrades'' group of nationalists that fought for independence from Britain. 

``It's not completely wild,'' the diplomat said. ``Obviously it was inevitable
that someone should suggest that Ne Win play a role -- he is one of the five
surviving members of the 30 comrades (living in Myanmar).'' 

The former strongman, who ruled Burma with an iron fist for more than a
quarter of a century under his ill-fated 1962-1988 ``Burmese Way to
Socialism'' doctrine, is rarely mentioned in public and has scarcely been seen
since relinquishing power nearly 10 years ago. 

A personal visit to Indonesia in September was one of the first times he had
been in the public eye since he stepped down in 1988, although many analysts
and diplomats feel he still has a good deal of influence over the government. 

Many people in Yangon believe that Ne Win had something to do with a surprise
government change in November, which took place shortly after he went to
Indonesia. The change abolished the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) and created a new military body -- the State Peace and Development
Council. 

``I don't think his intervening in political affairs would be that
surprising,'' the second diplomat said. 

``But the possibility of him talking to the opposition would be. I think his
position vis-a-vis the opposition is pretty hard line. So I couldn't imagine
him willing to help with dialogue.'' 

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was at the ceremony when Thakin Chit
made the suggestion, did not comment on Sunday and could not be reached on
Monday. 

But the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate, whose father General Aung San was
assassinated as he worked for the independence of Myanmar, has repeated her as
yet unanswered call for dialogue with the military. 

On Sunday she urged the government to hold talks and lashed out at the ruling
generals for failing to give the freedoms fought for by her father and other
freedom fighters. 

She said in a recent interview released in part on Saturday that she was
confident there would be a democratically elected government in the ``not too
distant future.'' 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in a 1990 poll
but the SLORC did not recognise the result. 

A government spokesman made only a brief comment when asked to respond to the
suggestion made by Thakin Chit and supported by other veteran politicians. 

``U Ne Win is not involved in politics and he had already
888888888888888888888
50 Years Larer, Opposition Say Myanmar Not Free
YANGON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Myanmar (Burma) celebrated its 50th anniversary of
independence from Britain on Sunday amid opposition accusations at home and
abroad that there were few freedoms in the country despite 50 years of
independence. 

The government celebrated its ``Golden Jubilee Independence Day'' with a flag-
hoisting ceremony just after dawn, and the nation's top general called for
vigilance against disruptive elements within the country. 

``We must be vigilant against various wily schemes of some neo-colonialists
who frequently interfere in the internal affairs of others,'' Senior General
Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
said in a speech delivered by one of his subordinates at the ceremony. 

``It is the time when we must keep constant vigil against any movements of
those who want to disrupt stability and undermine national consolidation
finding fault without any reason on pretext of democracy and human rights,''
he said. 

The vigilance was apparent in the heightened security on the streets of the
Myanmar capital. Armed policemen were seen at several strategic locations in
Yangon and security was tight outside the house of opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi. 

The 600 people who gathered at Suu Kyi's house for her annual independence day
celebration were stopped at checkpoints and forced to identify themselves
before being allowed in to her compound. 

Suu Kyi, daughter of Myanmar independence hero General Aung San, called on the
government to hold talks with the opposition, and lashed out at the ruling
generals for failing to give the freedoms fought for by her father and other
freedom fighters. 

``Although the independence of the nation has turned to a Golden Jubilee, its
situation is not as bright and beautiful even as silver -- its far from
gold,'' the National League for Democracy (NLD) co-founder said in a speech. 

``We should be proud of being a sovereign independent state. However, our
inability to implement unity among national races and (to create) internal
peace, the lack of human rights and the low standard of living of the people
and the declining economy of the country are not as beautiful as gold,'' she
said. 

Repeating a request she has made often since being released from six years of
house arrest in July 1995, Suu Kyi called for dialogue with the government. 

``No matter whoever avoids (dialogue) by giving whatever reasons, the NLD will
keep making efforts to solve the political issues by holding dialogue in view
of the people's interest.'' 

Veteran politician Bohmu Aung, one of the 30 founding members of the nation's
armed forces, sent a message on behalf of a group of 23 veteran politicians
calling for improved relations between the opposition and the government. 

``We earnestly request on the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee
Independence Day to build up national reconciliation by holding talks between
the two major political forces of the country - the SPDC and the NLD,'' said
the message, read at the ceremony at Suu Kyi's home. 

Exiled opposition groups also marked the independence day with protests
against Yangon's military rulers. 

A group of exiles gathered outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok and accused
the government of repression and human rights abuses and calling for dialogue
with the opposition. 

The All Burma Students Democratic Front issued a statement with similar
accusations, noting that the country had been under military rule for most of
the 50 years of independence. 

``Burma lost her independence again into the hands of the brutal military
regime in 1962. Since that time, Burma has experienced relentless struggles by
her people for the restoration of democracy and human rights,'' it said. 

``Though January 4th is an auspicious day for the people of Burma, people
remain far away from democracy as recognised by international norms and
greatly suffer from spontaneous abuses
88888888888888888888888
BANGKOK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Myanmar's (Burma's) opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi said she hoped the country's 50th year of independence would bring about
better human rights. 

``Independence should mean greater enjoyment of human rights but unfortunately
it has not meant this in Burma,'' Suu Kyi said in a recent interview released
in part in Bangok on Saturday by the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
(ALTSEAN). 

``I think that it should be one of our goals that the 50th year of our
independence should be a year when the people of Burma are able to enjoy
better human rights,'' Suu Kyi said. 

On Sunday Myanmar celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence from
Britain. 

Suu Kyi said she was confident there would be a democratically elected
government in the ``not to distant future.'' 

``We've already had democracy in Burma. When we became independent we were a
democratic nation...these were the years Burma was considered one of the
nations most likely to succeed in Asia. I think democracy did us a lot of
good,'' she said. 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in a
1990 election, but the former ruling military body -- the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) -- did not recognise the results. 

The new military government, which abolished the nine-year old SLORC in
November, has not indicated any change in that policy. 

Suu Kyi said she hoped for a ``liberal, practicing democracy'' where there
will be regular elections and people can call for changes if they are not
benefitting from the government. 

``I am confident that there would be a democratically elected government in
Burma in the not too distant future and that, of course, the NLD will have a
key role to play in the establishment of such a democratic government,'' she
said. 

``I know that democracy will not mean the end of our problems but I would like
democracy to mean a country which is strong enough, liberal enough and
sensible enough to cope with whatever problems that arise without (causing)
undue harm to the people,'' Suu Kyi said. 

The 1991 Nobel Peace laureate said she hoped the international community would
make more efforts in 1998 to
888888888888888888
Suu Kyi Says This Year Comes to More Rights 
BANGKOK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Myanmar's (Burma's) opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi said she hoped the country's 50th year of independence would bring about
better human rights. 

``Independence should mean greater enjoyment of human rights but unfortunately
it has not meant this in Burma,'' Suu Kyi said in a recent interview released
in part in Bangok on Saturday by the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
(ALTSEAN). 

``I think that it should be one of our goals that the 50th year of our
independence should be a year when the people of Burma are able to enjoy
better human rights,'' Suu Kyi said. 

On Sunday Myanmar celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence from
Britain. 

Suu Kyi said she was confident there would be a democratically elected
government in the ``not to distant future.'' 

``We've already had democracy in Burma. When we became independent we were a
democratic nation...these were the years Burma was considered one of the
nations most likely to succeed in Asia. I think democracy did us a lot of
good,'' she said. 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in a
1990 election, but the former ruling military body -- the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) -- did not recognise the results. 

The new military government, which abolished the nine-year old SLORC in
November, has not indicated any change in that policy. 

Suu Kyi said she hoped for a ``liberal, practicing democracy'' where there
will be regular elections and people can call for changes if they are not
benefitting from the government. 

``I am confident that there would be a democratically elected government in
Burma in the not too distant future and that, of course, the NLD will have a
key role to play in the establishment of such a democratic government,'' she
said. 

``I know that democracy will not mean the end of our problems but I would like
democracy to mean a country which is strong enough, liberal enough and
sensible enough to cope with whatever problems that arise without (causing)
undue harm to the people,'' Suu Kyi said. 

The 1991 Nobel Peace laureate said she hoped the international community would
make more efforts in 1998 to