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Tectonic Shfit in Myanmar (ASAIWEEK



ASIAWEEK
March 27, 1998.

Tectonic Shift in Myanmar
Now that Myanmar is an ASEAN member, it is coming under pressure to fall
into line with other member-countries' notions of acceptable behavior -
although ASEAN diplomats insist they do not interfere in each other's
internal affairs. But there is increasing activity, and possibly some
movement, to break Myanmar out of its internal political stalemate. Between
February and April, five senior ASEAN government officials will have made
there the trek to Yangon. Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi last
week accompanied PM Mahathir Mohamad, meeting with members of the ruling
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and later with four top leaders
- including Aung San Suu Kyi - of the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD).

There is growing evidence of strong divisions in the NLD, with Suu Kyi
wavering but leaning toward a group that favors some sort of rapprochement
with the SPDC. Last month, she did not deny the possibility of a
power-sharing arrangement with the generals. But exiled student leaders and
other hardline oppositionists (including, some say the 40 alleged activists
arrested a few weeks ago), are said to be vehemently against cutting any
deal with the junta.