VOA-BURMA-POLITICS

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/13/98

BURMA-POLITICS 
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK


INTRO:  BURMA'S LEADING DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, 
REMAINS LOCKED IN ANOTHER STANDOFF WITH THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. 
AUTHORITIES HAVE AGAIN STOPPED HER FROM TRAVELLING OUTSIDE 
RANGOON TO MEET WITH LOCAL LEADERS OF HER PARTY AND SHE HAS 
REFUSED TO TURN BACK TO RANGOON.  CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS 
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS LOCKED IN ANOTHER CONFRONTATION WITH 
THE RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT ON A COUNTRY ROAD OUTSIDE THE 
CAPITAL.

THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER, ALONG WITH AN AIDE AND TWO DRIVERS, 
SPENT HER SECOND DAY IN A VAN NEAR ANYARSU, ABOUT 32-KILOMETERS 
FROM RANGOON. 

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID SHE HAS KEPT THE VAN WINDOWS ROLLED 
UP AND HAS NOT SPOKEN TO ANYONE.  HE SAID A MEDICAL TEAM IS ON 
STANDBY IF NEEDED AND SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE AT HAND IN CASE HER 
PARTY DECIDES TO CONTINUE ITS ROADSIDE VIGIL.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S VAN WAS STOPPED WHEN SHE TRIED TO DRIVE TO 
VISIT PARTY LEADERS IN BASSEIN, ABOUT 100-KILOMETERS AWAY.  THE 
GOVERNMENT SAYS SHE CAN NOT GO FURTHER BECAUSE OF UNSPECIFIED -- 
SECURITY CONDITIONS.

IT IS THE SAME PLACE SHE HAD ANOTHER STANDOFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT
LAST MONTH.  SHE STAYED IN HER CAR FOR SIX DAYS AND REFUSED TO 
TURN BACK TO RANGOON AFTER AUTHORITIES WOULD NOT LET HER PROCEED.
THAT CONFRONTATION ENDED WHEN SECURITY POLICE RESTRAINED HER AND 
FORCIBLY TOOK HER BACK TO RANGOON.

THIS TIME SHE IS APPARENTLY PREPARED FOR A LONG STANDOFF.  THE 
LAST TIME SHE WAS IN A CAR.  THIS TIME, SHE IS IN A VAN AND PARTY
SOURCES SAY IT IS STOCKPILED WITH FOOD AND WATER.

THIS COLLISION OCCURS AT A TIME WHEN POLITICAL TENSIONS ARE 
ALREADY RISING IN BURMA.  AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S PARTY, THE NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, HAS DEMANDED THE PARLIAMENT THAT WAS 
ELECTED IN 1990, BUT NEVER ALLOWED TO TAKE OFFICE BE CONVENED BY 
AUGUST 21ST.  THEY HAVE WARNED OF UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES IF THE
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MEET THE DEMAND.

MEANWHILE, CONSULAR OFFICIALS FROM SIX COUNTRIES WERE AGAIN 
ALLOWED TO SEE THE 18 FOREIGN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED SUNDAY
FOR HANDING OUT PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS.  A MILITARY GOVERNMENT 
SPOKESMAN SAYS ALL 18 HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A POLICE STATION, AND 
ONLY A FEW OF THE DETAINEES ARE BEING, AS THE SPOKESMAN PUT IT, 
UNCOOPERATIVE.  

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED THE ACTIVISTS OF INCITING UNREST, BUT 
HAVE NOT SAID IF THEY WILL BE FORMALLY CHARGED AND PUT ON TRIAL.

U-S CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH, WHO HAS A CONSTITUENT AMONG THE 
DETAINEES,  LEFT THE UNITED STATES FOR BANGKOK.  HE SAID HE IS 
GOING TO TRY TO GET INTO BURMA TO SECURE THE DETAINEES' RELEASE.

BUT BURMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE INDICATED HE WILL NOT BE GRANTED A 
VISA.  A STATEMENT POINTS OUT BURMA HAS SUSPENDED VISAS FOR U-S 
OFFICIALS IN RETALIATION FOR A SIMILAR U-S BAN AGAINST BURMESE 
OFFICIALS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN 1996.

ONE U-S CONGRESSMAN, DANA ROHRABACHER, WAS GRANTED A VISA TO 
BURMA EARLIER THIS YEAR.   (SIGNED)