VOA : BURMA / STANDOFF - RON CORBEN

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=7/27/98

BURMA / STANDOFF 
RON CORBEN (BANGKOK)


INTRO:  BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS IN THE 
FOURTH DAY OF A STAND-OFF WITH BURMESE AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE 
BLOCKED HER FROM MEETING WITH HER SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE RANGOON.  
RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS REFUSED TO 
LEAVE HER CAR, WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS.

TEXT:  WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY AUNG SAN SUU KYI BEGAN ANOTHER DAY 
OF THE STAND-OFF WITH AUTHORITIES ABOUT 40 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST 
OF RANGOON.  THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR 
N-L-D, HAS REFUSED TO MOVE FROM THE SPOT SINCE FRIDAY, REJECTING 
OFFICIAL REQUESTS BY THE RULING MILITARY JUNTA THAT SHE RETURN 
HOME.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO A TOWN 160 KILOMETERS WEST 
OF RANGOON TO MEET WITH PARTY MEMBERS WHEN AUTHORITIES STOPPED 
HER CAR.

N-L-D VICE CHAIRMAN TIN OO HAS EXPRESSED HOPE A COMPROMISE COULD 
BE REACHED, ALONG THE LINES OF THE ONE THAT ENDED A SIMILAR 
STAND-OFF EARLIER THIS MONTH.  THAT CONFRONTATION ENDED WHEN THE 
MILITARY BROUGHT THE PEOPLE SHE WAS TRYING TO MEET, TO HER . 

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S CAR HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS, SANDBAGS 
AND BARBED WIRE TO PREVENT HER FROM DRIVING ON.  BURMESE 
OFFICIALS ACCUSE THE OPPOSITION LEADER OF TRYING TO SPARK UNREST,
BY ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT SECURITY ESCORT.

THE STAND-OFF COMES AS SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT,SPEAKING IN MANILA, WARNED OF A POLITICAL EXPLOSION IN 
BURMA WITHOUT DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

THE N-L-D HAS CALLED FOR THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990 TO BE 
CONVENED BY AUGUST 21ST.  THE N-L-D WON AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY 
IN THAT ELECTION, BUT THE BURMESE MILITARY HAS NEVER ALLOWED THE 
PARLIAMENT TO MEET.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RC/FC/WTW

27-Jul-98 3:38 AM EDT (0738 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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