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Financial Times 7th August



BURMA: Democracy protest hampered
By Ted Bardacke in Bangkok
Efforts by Burma's National League for Democracy to commemorate publicly
tomorrow's 10th anniversary of a violent crackdown by the military
authorities could be hampered by the fragile health of the NLD leader, Aung
San Suu Kyi, diplomats said yesterday.


The signs are, said one, that Ms Suu Kyi "is recovering quite well" from her
ordeal last week, when she went for several days with meagre amounts of food
and water in a roadside stand-off with the military.


"Still, she is not ready yet for another confrontation," said another
diplomat, of the 52-year old Nobel prize winner. "She is just not well
enough. It's going to be a long month." Ms Suu Kyi has vowed to leave her
home again as soon as she is strong enough.


The NLD has demanded the military allow the parliament elected in 1990, but
which it does not recognise, to convene for the first time on August 21.


Ms Suu Kyi's presence at any protest action by NLD supporters is crucial.
She has great drawing power among the people and her appeals for calm have
always been heeded.