VOA : BURMA / STANDOFF UPDATE - RO

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Voice of America
DATE=7/29/98

BURMA /  STANDOFF UPDATE  
RON CORBEN(BANGKOK)


INTRO:  MOVES BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN 
BURMA'S MILITARY AND OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, NOW 
INTO THE SIXTH DAY OF A STAND-OFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT, HAVE BEEN 
DECLINED.  RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK THERE ARE FEW SIGNS OF
A CHANGE IN THE STALEMATE WHICH HAS ATTRACTED WIDESPREAD 
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.

TEXT:  MOVES BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO BREAK THE IMPASSE 
BETWEEN BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG 
SAN SUU KYI HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT.

FOR THE SIXTH DAY, AUNG SAN SUU KYI REMAINS WITH HER CAR 
40-KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF RANGOON.  THE GOVERNMENT IS PREVENTING
HER AND AIDES FROM COMPLETING A JOURNEY TO MEET OFFICIALS FROM 
THEIR NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.

REQUESTS BY EMBASSIES IN RANGOON TO MEET WITH BURMESE OFFICIALS, 
WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS HOPES OF TRAVELLING TO THE ROADSIDE SCENE, 
WERE DECLINED, ACCORDING TO DIPLOMATIC SOURCES.  THE 
INTERNATIONAL ACTION WAS INITIATED WHILE THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM
MEETS IN MANILA, AND HAS BEEN LED BY THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND
AUSTRALIA.

INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HEALTH HAVE 
INCREASED BECAUSE THE SCENE OF THE IMPASSE WHICH BEGAN LAST 
FRIDAY APPEARS TO OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM BURMA'S SWELTERING
SUMMER TEMPERATURES.  

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S PERSONAL PHYSICIANS GAVE THE N-L-D LEADER A 
CHECK-UP AND IN A LATER STATEMENT SAID, WHILE HER HEALTH HAD 
DETERIORATED A LITTLE, THE N-L-D LEADER REMAINED IN GOOD SPIRITS.
DIPLOMATS SAY SHE RECEIVED BOTTLED WATER FROM HER DOCTORS AND HAS
REFUSED OFFERS OF FOOD BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT THE SCENE.

EARLIER, U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MARY ROBINSON 
CALLED FOR THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO 
TRAVEL FREELY AND RESPECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL ITS CITIZENS.

BURMESE OFFICIALS SAY THEY TOLD AUNG SAN SUU KYI SHE IS NOT UNDER
DETENTION AND CAN RETURN TO RANGOON WHENEVER SHE WISHES, BUT SHE 
CANNOT PROCEED WITH HER JOURNEY.

IT IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST MONTH THE GOVERNMENT HAS STOPPED
THE N-L-D LEADER FROM MEETING WITH PARTY MEMBERS.  SHE IS CALLING
FOR THE PARLIAMENT THAT WAS ELECTED IN 1990 TO BE RECONVENED BY 
AUGUST 21ST.  THE N-L-D WON A MAJORITY OF SEATS IN THE 1990 
ELECTION, BUT BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THE 
PARLIAMENT TO TO MEET.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

29-Jul-98 8:39 AM EDT (1239 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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