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VOA : AMNESTY/ BURMA - GARY THOMAS
VOA : AMNESTY/ BURMA - GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)
DATE=7/16/98
//// FIXES TIN OO TITLE IN LAST GRAF OF CR2-235542. /////
INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL IS URGING BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS TO IMPROVE ITS
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD SO AS TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH THE
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. THE GROUP MADE THE APPEAL IN AN OPEN
LETTER TO THE CHIEF OF BURMA'S RULING JUNTA, GENERAL THAN SHWE.
CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU
IN BANGKOK.
TEXT: IN THE LETTER, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR BURMA TO
DEFUSE TENSIONS BEFORE THE UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTRY'S
FAILED DEMOCRATIC UPRISING, BY IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS.
THE LETTER, SIGNED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL
PIERRE SANE, SAYS THE GROUP IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR FRESH CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND
DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.
AUGUST EIGHTH MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING, WHICH
WAS RUTHLESSLY CRUSHED BY THE MILITARY. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
NOTES THE ANNIVERSARY HAS WHAT IT CALLS -- GREAT SYMBOLIC
SIGNIFICANCE -- FOR BOTH THE BURMESE PEOPLE AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY.
A BURMA SPECIALIST IN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S LONDON
HEADQUARTERS, DONNA GUEST, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE SOME
CONCILIATORY GESTURES TO LOWER THE TENSION LEVEL.
// GUEST ACT //
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY COULD RELEASE PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE
WHO ARE SICK OR ELDERLY. THEY COULD CERTAINLY IMPROVE
PRISON CONDITIONS. AND THEY COULD MAKE A START AT
REDUCING FORCED LABOR, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY ENDEMIC IN
THE ETHNIC MINORITY STATES. THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL
SUFFERING, ESPECIALLY THE SHAN AND THE KAREN.
//END ACT //
TENSIONS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE IN BURMA IN RECENT WEEKS. IN
ADDITION TO THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY HAS CALLED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE THE
PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990. THE PARLIAMENT NEVER MET BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT NULLIFIED THE RESULTS AFTER AN OVERWHELMING ELECTORAL
VICTORY BY THE N-L-D.
AS A RESULT, THE RULING GENERALS ARE JITTERY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS
IMPOSED NEW RESTRICTIONS ON OPPOSITION POLITICIANS, ORDERING THEM
TO STAY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TOWNSHIPS AND TO REPORT TO LOCAL
AUTHORITIES TWICE A DAY.
MS. GUEST SAYS ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE RUMOR FROM
FACT, IT IS CLEAR THE CAMPAIGN OF HARASSMENT HAS INTENSIFIED.
// GUEST ACT //
OF COURSE, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RUMORS FLYING AROUND
RANGOON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH EXACTLY WHAT HAS
HAPPENED. I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXAGGERATIONS.
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR
DEMOCRACY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT-ELECT HAVE BEEN BRIEFLY
DETAINED. THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED WELL, AS WE
UNDERSTAND. BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THEY HAVE HAD TO
REGISTER TWICE A DAY, THEY ARE UNDER SURVEILLANCE, THEY
CAN NOT MOVE AROUND. SO THEY ARE BEING INTIMIDATED AND
HARASSED.
// END ACT //
REUTER NEWS AGENCY QUOTES N-L-D VICE CHAIRMAN TIN OO AS SAYING
LEGAL EFFORTS IN THE SUPREME COURT TO GET THE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE N-L-D HAS NOT SAID HOW IT PLANS TO
MARK THE AUGUST EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/RAE
16-Jul-98 7:05 AM EDT (1105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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