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Voice of America AUNG SAN SUU KYI



Source: Voice of America
08-Jul-98 7:41 AM EDT (1141 UTC)
GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)
  

INTRO:  BURMESE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS BACK AT 
HER RANGOON HOME FOLLOWING A CONFRONTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER HER
ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL.  AS CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE
GOVERNMENT'S ACTION REPRESENTS A NEW CRACKDOWN.

TEXT:  AUNG SAN SUU KYI RETURNED TO HER RANGOON HOME (WEDNESDAY) 
FOLLOWING AN OVERNIGHT STANDOFF 80-KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE 
CAPITAL.  SHE WENT BACK TO RANGOON AFTER AUTHORITIES ALLOWED HER TO MEET
WITH A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.

TUESDAY, A CAR CARRYING AUNG SAN SUU KYI SLIPPED PAST THE 
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON HER 
HOUSE AND WAS ENROUTE TO MIN HLA TOWNSHIP WHEN IT WAS STOPPED.  
SHE REFUSED TO TURN BACK OR TO LEAVE THE CAR, DEMANDING SHE BE 
ALLOWED TO PROCEED TO MEET WITH LOCAL SUPPORTERS.  AUTHORITIES 
FINALLY RELENTED AND BROUGHT THE LOCAL N-L-D PARTY OFFICIAL TO 
THE CAR TO MEET WITH HER.

U-S CHARGE D'AFFAIRES KENT WEIDEMANN, THE HIGHEST-RANKING U-S 
DIPLOMAT IN BURMA, MET WITH BURMESE OFFICIALS (WEDNESDAY) TO 
REGISTER U-S CONCERN OVER THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTINUING 
RESTRICTIONS ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE IN 
RANGOON, MR. WEIDEMANN SAID HE RECEIVED NO ASSURANCES THE 
RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE LIFTED.

MR. WEIDEMANN NOTED IT IS VERY RARE FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO MAKE 
SUCH A TRIP WITHOUT NOTIFYING AUTHORITIES, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A
NEW ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH THE PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.

A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT CALLED THE TRIP AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE 
UNNECESSARY AND UNWANTED CONFUSION, CONFRONTATION, AND COLLISION.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS OFFICIALLY RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST IN 
1995, BUT THE RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT CONTROLS HER MOVEMENTS. THE STREET
IN FRONT OF HER RANGOON HOME IS BLOCKED, AND SHE CANNOT LEAVE WITHOUT FIRST
NOTIFYING THE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THIS LATEST ACTION SIGNALS A NEW CRACKDOWN ON 
THE OPPOSITION.  THE N-L-D LAST MONTH DEMANDED THE GOVERNMENT 
ALLOW THE CONVENING OF THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990.  IT WAS 
NEVER CONVENED BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT NULLIFIED THE ELECTION 
RESULTS AFTER AN OVERWHELMING WIN BY THE N-L-D.

SINCE THAT DEMAND, THE GOVERNMENT HAS REQUIRED N-L-D ELECTED 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO REPORT TWICE A DAY TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES.  
ACCORDING TO OPPOSITION SOURCES, THOSE WHO REFUSE TO COMPLY HAVE BEEN
DETAINED.

BUT RANGOON-BASED ANALYSTS SAY THE REPRESSION IN BURMA IS ONE OF DEGREES
AND IS NOT CONSTANT.  THEY SAY IT SEEMS TO GO IN CYCLES, WITH A CRACKDOWN
FOLLOWED BY A SLIGHT LOOSENING OF THE 
GOVERNMENT'S GRIP.  SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THESE CYCLES REPRESENT 
AN ONGOING DEBATE IN THE INNER CIRCLES OF THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT
BETWEEN HARDLINERS WHO WANT TO CRUSH THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT AND MORE
LIBERAL GENERALS WHO FAVOR AN ACCOMMODATION WITH THE N-L-D.   (SIGNED)


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