BBC : US warning on Burma

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Monday, July 27, 1998 Published at 11:21 GMT 12:21 UK 

World: Asia-Pacific

US warning on Burma 

The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has warned that social
breakdown in Burma poses a threat to the stability of south-east Asia. 

"With each passing day, the likelihood of a social breakdown - or explosion
-that would undermine regional stability grows higher," she said at an
Asian regional security meeting in the Philippines. 

"The likelihood that a future government will be able to tackle Burma's
problems becomes smaller," Mrs Albright said. 

Her remarks came as the leader of the democracy movement in Burma, Aung San
Suu Kyi, continued in a stand-off with the Burmese military authorities
over restrictions on her movements. 

Mrs Albright said she was greatly concerned about the opposition leader,
and would hold the government directly responsible for her health and
safety. 

Miss Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, heads Burma's
pro-democracy party, the National League for Democracy. 

She was stopped by police on Friday while driving to meet NLD members and,
as Mrs Albright spoke, was preparing to spend her third night in her car. 

Correspondents say Mrs Albright's comments are the strongest criticism so
far of the Burmese military authorities efforts to limit Aung San Suu Kyi's
movements.