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VOA-BURMA-POL



Voice of America
DATE=8/12/98
BURMA-POL 
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK
INTRO: IN ANOTHER DIRECT CHALLENGE TO BURMA'S MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT, DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS AGAIN LEFT 
HER RANGOON HOME FOR A TRIP OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL  -- AND HAS AGAIN
BEEN STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES. THE LAST SUCH ATTEMPT RESULTED IN A 
SIX-DAY STANDOFF. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR 
SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  IN A VIRTUAL REPEAT OF THE EVENTS OF SOME TWO WEEKS AGO, 
AUNG SAN SUU KYI LEFT HOME WEDNESDAY FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
TO BASSEIN, 100 KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON.  SHE WAS STOPPED AT THE 
SAME CHECKPOINT ABOUT 32 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL.

IN APPARENT ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER LENGTHY ROADSIDE STAY, THIS 
TIME SHE IS TRAVELLING IN A VAN, WHICH HAS MORE ROOM AND MORE 
SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND WATER.

THIS IS THE FOURTH ATTEMPT IN TWO MONTHS AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS 
MADE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL TO MEET WITH LOCAL LEADERS OF 
HER PARTY, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR N-L-D.  ON THE 
FIRST TWO OCCASIONS, SHE WAS STOPPED, BUT AUTHORITIES BROUGHT THE
PARTY OFFICIALS TO MEET HER. IN THE LAST CONFRONTATION, AUNG SAN 
SUU KYI REFUSED TO TURN BACK AND SPENT SIX DAYS IN HER CAR, UNTIL
JULY 29TH, WHEN AUTHORITIES FORCIBLY TOOK HER BACK TO RANGOON.

AFTER THAT STANDOFF, AUNG SAN SUU KYI DEMANDED THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW THE SECURITY DETAIL THAT BOTH PROTECTS AND 
SPIES ON HER.  THE GOVERNMENT DID SO, BUT INCREASED THE SECURITY 
CHECKPOINTS ON THE STREETS AROUND HER RANGOON HOME. THE N-L-D 
SAID AUNG SAN SUU KYI FEELS SHE IS AGAIN UNDER TIGHT RESTRICTIONS
AMOUNTING TO HOUSE ARREST.

THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT LATE TUESDAY SAYING THERE IS NO
GOVERNMENT RESTRICTION ON HER MOVEMENTS AS LONG AS WHAT IT REFERS
TO AS "SECURITY CONDITIONS" PERMIT.  IT DID NOT SAY WHAT THOSE 
SECURITY CONDITIONS ARE.

POLITICAL TENSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE N-L-D HAVE BEEN
ON THE RISE SINCE THE PARTY ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM DEMANDING THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT CONVENE THE PARLIAMENT THAT WAS ELECTED IN 1990 BY
AUGUST 21ST OR FACE  UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES.  THE MILITARY 
REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS OF THE 1990 ELECTIONS AFTER THEY
WERE OVERWHELMINGLY WON BY THE N-L-D.

A BURMESE EXILE OPPOSITION GROUP, THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS 
DEMOCRATIC FRONT, SAID WEDNESDAY FOUR OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF 
PARLIAMENT HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR VIOLATING RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR
MOVEMENTS.  THE CLAIM COULD NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PONDER WHAT ACTION TO TAKE
AGAINST 18 DETAINED FOREIGN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS.  THE ACTIVISTS 
-- FROM THE UNITED STATES, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, THAILAND, THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND AUSTRALIA -- WERE DETAINED SUNDAY AFTER HANDING 
OUT LEAFLETS IN RANGOON TO MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF A 
SUPPRESSED PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING.

THE GOVERNMENT ACCUSES THEM OF INCITING UNREST. THEY FACE 
POSSIBLE IMPRISONMENT, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT COULD OPT TO 
DEPORT THEM.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, HAVE CALLED FOR
THE ACTIVISTS' PROMPT RELEASE.  (SIGNED)


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