Press release of Myanmar Embassy in

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                                     Press Release
                     Myanmar Embassy - Colombo
                                      Sri Lanka

THE TRUE FACTS  BEHIND THE 'TENSE'  SITUATION IN  MYANMAR ( Burma )

In recent days, particularly when the ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) was taking
place in Manila, international media has focused their attention on the so-
call 'tense' situation in Myanmar. The Embassy of the Union of Myanmar would
like to clarify the true situation regarding the 'news' publicized by the
western media.

On 24th July 1998, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi accompanied by one U Hla Pe and two
drivers left her home in Yangon and proceeded to Nyaungdon a township in the
delta area and was stopped, at a place 30 miles south of Yangon, by the local
authorities. This action of the authorities in preventing her from proceeding
further was taken with a view to ensure her own security and safety since she
apparently undertook the journey for political agitation which could have
resulted in undesirable and unpredictable consequences.

Very recently. when Daw Suu Kyi expressed interest in making trips outside of
Yangon to meet NLD members, the authorities arranged for the persons she wants
to meet to be brought to her. Indeed there is no prohibition for her to meet
members of the NLD party or for her to return home. All consequences happened
in Myanmar where well plotted by Daw Suu Kyi in the time of ARF (ASEAN
Regional Forum in Manila) 

Therefore it is entirely upto Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to resolve the present
state of affairs that she has created in the first place in order to create a
confrontation with the government. 

The motive behind Daw Suu Kyi's current activities seems to be to bring about
instability in the country, to create an unfavorable image of the Myanmar at
an important international forum, the ARF, to isolate Myanmar from her
regional partners and to bring about an undesirable intervention in the
internal affairs of Myanmar.

Regretful the international media seems to have 'hijack' the proceedings of
the ARF in highlighting the unwarranted and irresponsible actions of an
individual  instead of the substantive issues being discussed  at this
important meeting. Regretted the rocking the Boat of Myanmar. 	


July 29,  1998.
************************************************************************