BURMA/ DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETING

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=5/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232840 
TITLE=BURMA/ DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETING (L-CQ)
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

 /// EDS: CHANGING 4TH GRAF TEXT, "LITTLE" SECURITY VISIBLE ///

INTRO:  SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS OF BURMA'S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY 
MET TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE RANGOON HOME OF PARTY LEADER AUNG 
SAN SUU KYI.  AS DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA 
BUREAU, THE MEETING MARKS A THAW IN RELATIONS BETWEEN 
PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNERS AND BURMA'S RULING MILITARY COUNCIL.

TEXT:  MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
PARTY -- THE N-L-D -- GATHERED AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S LAKESIDE 
HOME (ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE) FOR A RARE PARTY CONGRESS.

THE MEETING CAME ON THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF AN ELECTION IN 
WHICH THE N-L-D WON MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE SEATS.  THE 
RULING MILITARY COUNCIL WAS STUNNED BY THE DEFEAT OF PRO-MILITARY
PARTIES IN THAT ELECTION, AND  NEVER  ALLOWED THE PARLIAMENT TO 
MEET.  

ATTEMPTS IN RECENT YEARS TO HOLD PARTY CONGRESSES ON THE ELECTION
ANNIVERSARY HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY THE GENERALS WHO RUN BURMA.

BUT ON WEDNESDAY, PARTY DELEGATES IN SMALL GROUPS WERE ALLOWED 
INTO AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S RANGOON VILLA.  THERE WAS  LITTLE  EXTRA 
SECURITY AROUND THE HOUSE, AND THE ARMED GUARDS WHO ARE ALWAYS 
THERE APPEARED RELAXED.

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL WARNED THE PARTY SUNDAY  NOT  TO 
ATTEMPT TO HOLD AN ANNIVERSARY MEETING.  BUT IT REVERSED ITSELF 
TUESDAY, SAYING THE MEETING COULD GO AHEAD UNDER CERTAIN 
CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE  NOT  BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

DESPITE THIS CONCESSION, PARTY LEADERS SAY ABOUT 320 OF THEIR 
SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE RANGOON WERE PREVENTED FROM COMING TO THE 
MEETING, OR IN SOME CASES DETAINED.  THE PARTY LEADERS ARE 
CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL DETAINEES.

IN HER REMARKS AT THE MEETING, AUNG SAN SUU KYI SENT A MESSAGE TO
THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL .  SHE SAID POLITICAL DIALOGUE 
BETWEEN THE GENERALS AND THE PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES IS INEVITABLE.

"TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AGAINST THE DIALOGUE," AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
SAID, " I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN NEVER AVOID IT."

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL IS OVERSEEING AN EXTREMELY 
SLOW-MOVING PROCEDURE TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION, LEADING TO 
ANOTHER ELECTION.

IN HER SPEECH, AUNG SAN SUU KYI REJECTED THAT PROCESS, SAYING THE
PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990 SHOULD BE CONVENED.

SHE ALSO REPEATED EARLIER PLEDGES BY SENIOR N-L-D LEADERS THAT  
HER PARTY WILL  NOT  SEEK REVENGE FROM ANYONE NOW IN POWER.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI, THE WINNER OF THE 1991 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, IS 
THE DAUGHTER OF BURMESE INDEPENDENCE HERO AUNG SAN. SHE WAS HELD 
UNDER HOUSE ARREST FROM 1989 TO 1994 AND HER MOVEMENTS OVER THE 
LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN CLOSELY CONTROLLED.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/GC/FC/WTW

27-May-98 5:58 AM EDT (0958 UTC)
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Source: Voice of Americ