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Burma/Dissident (r)
- Subject: Burma/Dissident (r)
- From: brelief@xxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:54:00
DATE=4/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230045
TITLE=BURMA/ DISSIDENT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A MEMBER OF BURMA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAS BEEN SENT
TO PRISON -- BUT THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS THE SENTENCE IS NOT
NEW. GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUT SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN
BANGKOK THE OPPOSITION SAYS SHE IS BEING PUNISHED FOR GIVING A
RADIO INTERVIEW WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS SHE WAS RETURNED TO
PRISON FOR VIOLATING TERMS OF HER AMNESTY.
TEXT: A BURMESE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WEDNESDAY CONFIRMED THAT
SAN SAN, A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR
DEMOCRACY, HAS BEEN SENT TO PRISON TO SERVE A 25 YEAR TERM.
THE OPPOSITION SAYS SHE AND SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED LAST
OCTOBER AFTER AN ABORTIVE ATTEMPT TO HOLD A MEETING BETWEEN
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY AND THE PARTY
LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI. ACCORDING TO OPPOSITION SOURCES, SAN
SAN WAS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR GIVING AN
INTERVIEW TO A FOREIGN RADIO STATION, THE BRITISH BROADCASTING
CORPORATION.
THE OPPOSITION SAYS THE TERM WAS INCREASED TO 25 YEARS, WHEN SHE
REFUSED TO PLEDGE TO REFRAIN FROM POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A DIFFERENT VERSION. A SPOKESMAN SAYS SAN
SAN WAS SENTENCED IN 1991 TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIGH
TREASON. SHE WAS CHARGED WITH TRYING TO SET UP A "PARALLEL
GOVERNMENT" IN BURMA. THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS SHE WAS
GRANTED AMNESTY IN 1992, BUT WAS SENT BACK TO PRISON TO SERVE OUT
HER ORIGINAL SENTENCE BECAUSE SHE BROKE THE TERMS OF HER AMNESTY.
THE SPOKESMAN DID NOT ELABORATE, SAYING ONLY THAT SHE PLEDGED
TO, AS HE PUT IT, ABIDE BY THE LAW.
THE SPOKESMAN DENIED SAN SAN HAS BEEN IMPRISONED FOR GIVING A
MEDIA INTERVIEW, ADDING THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO ARREST
EVERYONE WHO GIVES INTERVIEWS, IT WOULD HAVE TO EXPAND ITS
PRISONS.
SAN SAN, WHO IS 58, WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN THE 1990
ELECTIONS. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT THREW OUT THE RESULTS AFTER
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY WON BY AN OVERWHELMING MARGIN.
LEAGUE DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY TIN OO TOLD REUTER NEWS AGENCY
THAT SAN SAN'S SENTENCE MAY INDICATE A NEW CRACKDOWN ON THE
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. HE SAID HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE SENTENCE
WAS SO HARSH, BUT THE LEAGUE WOULD MOUNT LEGAL APPEALS AGAINST
IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/GC/FC
22-Apr-98 6:22 AM EDT (1022 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm