Reuters-Japan closely watching Aung

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Japan closely watching Aung San Suu Kyi situation 
02:15 a.m. Aug 13, 1998 Eastern 

TOKYO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Japan is closely watching the Myanmar military
government's treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was
stopped by security forces while travelling to meet supporters. 
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told Reuters on Thursday: ``We are
watching this situation closely. We are worried that things could
escalate.'' 
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi set out on Wednesday to visit
supporters in Pathein township, 190 kilometres (120 miles) west of Yangon,
with a member of her National League for Democracy (NLD) and two drivers. 
They were stopped in their Toyota van by police at Anyarsu, 32 kilometres
(20) miles southwest of the capital, just down the road from a bridge that
was the site of the earlier stand-off last month. 
That venture ended July 29 when Suu Kyi was overpowered by security men and
taken back to the capital. The Japanese Foreign Ministry official added
that there were no changes in Japan's stance regarding Myanmar and that it
deplores the military government's treatment of Suu Kyi. 
``The recent stand-off between Aung San Suu Kyi, in which her freedom to
travel was limited and she was forcibly taken back to her home, was a
violation of her freedom,'' he added. 
He said that Japan's response to the situation in Myanmar will depend on
how events unfold. 
Tension has been rising in Myanmar ahead of an August 21 deadline set by
the opposition for a move towards democracy by Myanmar's military rulers. 
By that date, Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD wants the government to convene a
parliament of members elected at polls in 1990. 
The NLD won those elections by an overwhelming majority. 
Japan on Wednesday called on Myanmar's military government to open a
dialogue with Suu Kyi. 
The move was part of an eight-nation coordinated appeal as the authorities
appeared to have stepped up oppression of dissidents, but so far the
Myanmar government has failed to acknowledge the pleas, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, 18 foreign activists remained detained by Myanmar authorities
for distributing pro-democracy leaflets. 
Japan has taken a softer stance toward Myanmar's military junta than the
United States, opting for engagement rather than sanctions. 
Tokyo recently announced it would partially reinstate its yen loan
programme to Yangon.