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BURMA/SUU KYI
DATE=7/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235118
TITLE=BURMA / SUU KYI
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BURMESE AUTHORITIES SAY POLICE HAVE PREVENTED OPPOSITION
LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM CONTINUING ON A TRIP SHE IS MAKING
OUTSIDE OF THE BURMESE CAPITAL. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR
SAYS U-S OFFICIALS HAVE REACTED TO THE INCIDENT BY CRITICIZING
BURMA FOR RESTRICTING HER MOVEMENTS.
INTRO: THE INCIDENT BEGAN LATE TUESDAY WHEN THE NOBEL LAUREATE
AND ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES (CHAIRMAN AUNG SHWE OF THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY) APPARENTLY ELUDED HER NORMAL GOVERNMENT
SECURITY ESCORT.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAID SHE WAS STOPPED ABOUT 80 KILOMETERS
NORTH OF RANGOON (AT THE TOWN OF SHWE MYA YAR) AND WAS ASKED TO
RETURN TO THE CAPITAL.
BUT ACCORDING TO THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN IN
WASHINGTON, THE OPPOSITION LEADER INSISTED ON CONTINUING HER
JOURNEY. SHE WAS PLANNING TO VISIT ONE OF HER POLITICAL PARTY
OFFICIALS WHO WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN 1990. SHE WAS
REPORTED TO HAVE REMAINED IN THE TOWN OVERNIGHT.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN CRITICIZED THE BURMESE
AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
///RUBIN ACT///
BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, WE CONDEMN THE APPARENT
ABRIDGEMENT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT AND HER RIGHT TO VISIT WHOMEVER SHE CHOOSES.
ALL BURMESE SHOULD ENJOY THESE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. THE
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ARE ILLEGAL UNDER BURMESE LAW AND,
IN OUR VIEW, ARE IN ANY CASE, CLEARLY AN INFRINGEMENT OF
THE BASIC RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.
///END CUT///
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS U-S EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN RANGOON HAVE SOUGHT
CLARIFICATION OF THE INCIDENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
BURMESE AUTHORITIES ISSUED A STATEMENT LATE TUESDAY SAYING AUNG
SAN SUU KYI WAS STOPPED FOR HER OWN SECURITY AND TO PREVENT HER
FROM CREATING POLITICAL UNREST.
THE INCIDENT COMES AS TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED BETWEEN THE
OPPOSITION AND THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
///REST OPT///
IT CAME ON THE SAME DAY AS AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY OF A
CRACKDOWN ON STUDENT PROTESTERS IN 1962. THE GOVERNMENT
STATEMENT ACCUSED AUNG SANG SUU KYI OF TRYING TO USE THE
ANNIVERSARY TO CREATE AN UNWANTED CONFRONTATION.
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS OFFICIALS HAVE RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF
MEMBERS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S POLITICAL PARTY. THERE WAS ALSO AN
INCIDENT IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE LATE LAST MONTH IN WHICH MEMBERS
OF THE YOUTH WING OF HER POLITICAL GROUP WERE BLOCKED BY POLICE
FROM HOLDING A MEETING. (SIGNED)
NEB/DWD/PT
07-Jul-98 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.