VOA : ALBRIGHT / ASEAN / BURMA -GIL

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=7/27/98

ALBRIGHT / ASEAN / BURMA (L-UPDATE)
GIL BUTLER (MANILA)

 INTRO:  U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS SHARPLY  
CRITICIZED BURMA FOR ITS REPRESSION OF DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS, ITS 
FAILURE TO CURB NARCOTICS TRADING AND ITS RESPONSE TO AN AIDS 
EPIDEMIC AND THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS.  HER STATEMENTS CAME IN 
MANILA AT A MEETING OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC FOREIGN MINISTERS.  
V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS MRS. ALBRIGHT WAS PARTICULARLY 
CONCERNED ABOUT NOBEL LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHO IS BEING 
BLOCKED FROM TRAVELING IN BURMA BY HER COUNTRY'S MILITARY RULERS.

TEXT:  THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES 
STRONGLY DEPLORES THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES' TREATMENT OF ELECTED 
PEOPLE LIKE AUNG SAN SUU KYI.

                   /// FIRST ALBRIGHT ACT ///

 WE BELIEVE THAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL AND THAT ITS 
DENIAL CAN ONLY INCREASE THE ALREADY DANGEROUS STATE OF TENSION 
IN BURMA.  AND WE ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND 
SAFETY OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND WILL HOLD THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES 
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INSURING HER HEALTH AND WELFARE.

                         /// END ACT ///

EARLIER, WITH THE BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER PRESENT, SECRETARY 
ALBRIGHT GAVE A STRONGLY-WORDED SPEECH CONDEMNING BURMA'S 
REPRESSION OF THE OPPOSITION.  SHE SAYS THE SITUATION HAS 
WORSENED IN THE PAST YEAR, SINCE THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST 
ASIAN NATIONS ADMITTED BURMA TO MEMBERSHIP.  SEVERAL OTHER 
COUNTRIES AT THE CONFERENCE ALSO WERE CRITICAL OF BURMA'S RECORD,
LEADING FOREIGN MINISTER OHN GYAW TO DEFEND HIS GOVERNMENT'S 
ACTIONS.  MS. ALBRIGHT RESPONDED:

                   /// SECOND ALBRIGHT ACT ///

                 I THINK HIS RESPONSE IS QUITE TYPICAL OF THE 
                 PROBLEM OF AN  AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT THAT 
                 DOESN'T GET IT -- THAT BLAMES THE VICTIM FOR THE
                 PROBLEM AND THEIR ABILITY TO DISREGARD THE FACT 
                 THAT AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS POPULARLY ELECTED AND 
                 THAT THE PEOPLE SHE IS TRYING TO SEE ARE 
                 POPULARLY ELECTED, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THEIR 
                 LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO 
                 HAVE SOME FORM OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

                         /// END ACT ///

DESPITE THE CRITICISM, IT IS UNLIKELY THIS CONFERENCE WILL 
FORMALLY CONDEMN BURMA, SINCE IT MAKES DECISIONS BY CONSENSUS.   
(SIGNED) 

NEB/GB/GC/WTW

27-Jul-98 6:37 AM EDT (1037 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America