Bangkok post (24/6/98) News

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News headlines

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1:)Parliament "must be convened"

2:)Visa accord signed 

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<bold>Parliament "must be convened"

</bold>

Opposition lays down 60-day deadline

Rangoon, Reuters


Burma's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) yesterday launched
a political offensive, sending a letter to the ruling military demanding
parliament be convened within two months.

	NLD chairman Aung Shwe made the demand in the letter to the ruling State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The NLD won a landslide victory in
the May 1990 election not recognised by the military.

	" The authorities had organised free and fair multi-party democracy
general election on May 27, 1990." Aung Shwe said in a letter to the
SPDC's chairman Senior General Than Shwe. Copies were distributed at the
Rangoon Foreign Correspondents' Club.

	"The result of election has been declared where the representative of
people to the parliament had been elected," said the letter, dated June
23 and signed by Aung Shwe.

	"And I hereby call on the authorities in accordance with the resolution
made by the NLD at its eighth (elections) anniversary ceremony, to
convene the parliament of multi-parties elected within 60-days from now,"
the letter said.

	The SPDC has said parliament cannot be convened until a new national
constitution has been drafted. The convention of government-picked
delegates charged with the task has been in recess since late 1996.

	Rangoon-based political analysts said the NLD's move was aimed at
legitimising itself and boosting sagging morale among its members because
of a statement with the junta over political differences, including
movement toward democracy and human rights abuses.

	Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Laureate, had sought the convening of
parliament late last month as the NLD held a celebration to mark the
occasion of its 1990 election victory. 


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<bold>Visa accord signed 

</bold>

Senior ministers of Burma and Vietnam have signed visa exemption and
bilateral cooperation accord in Rangoon, state-run media there reported
on Monday. Both documents were signed by Deputy Vietnamese Prime Minister
Nguyen Manh Cam and Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw, Televition Myanmar
reported.- AFP 


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