The Straits Times : Suu Kyi sits ti

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The Straits Times
JUL 28 1998

Suu Kyi sits tight in face-off with junta 

YANGON -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday began the
fourth day of a roadside stand-off with junta officials who are refusing to
let her travel to meet supporters outside Yangon, opposition sources said. 

She has remained in her car since it was stopped on a road 26 km north-west
of the capital last Friday morning and has ignored repeated requests that
she return to Yangon. 

It is the third such bid by the National League for Democracy Leader (NLD)
to leave Yangon in three weeks. 

Ms Suu Kyi was clearly visible in the back seat of the car and two men --
believed to be her driver and an NLD official who accompanied her on the
trip to Bessein, 150 km south-west of Yangon -- were nearby. 

Villagers milled around the area but there was no sign in the immediate
vicinity of any security forces. 

Further up the main road a military ambulance was on stand-by, deployed
there to provide medical care for the NLD chief if she needed it, military
intelligence officials accompanying the journalists said. 

Food and drink had also been brought to the area for her but she had not
requested any, they added. Opposition sources earlier said she had brought
her own food and drink. 

The officials said seven attempts had been made to speak with her but each
had been rebuffed. -- AFP