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Reuters-Suu Kyi, military battle wi



Suu Kyi, military battle wills at Myanmar bridge 
03:41 a.m. Aug 16, 1998 Eastern 

By Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's military rulers
were locked in a war of wills on the fifth day of a roadside standoff on
Sunday as the government faced more international pressure for political
reform. 

Prevented from driving to see supporters, Suu Kyi and three companions
refused again to return to Yangon and so remained stuck in a minivan on a
bridge in west Myanmar, showing to the world their lack of freedom of
movement, sources close to Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
said. 

Photographs obtained by Reuters late on Saturday showed the grey minivan
stopped at the entrance to the small wooden bridge on a country road, next
to a yellow beach umbrella, white plastic table and two garden chairs, all
of which are gifts from the government. 

The van, sliding side door open but curtains drawn, was close to a thatched
hut at what appeared to be a check-point. 

The still pictures, obtained from a Japanese television company, showed no
sign of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, her two drivers or senior NLD
member U Hla Pe, who were stopped at the bridge on Wednesday. 

But government and NLD sources told Reuters the group was still inside the
van and refusing to budge. 

Suu Kyi had set out to visit Pathein township, 120 miles (190 km) west of
Yangon but had only reached Anyarsu, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of the
capital, when she was stopped. 

The trip was a repeat of one that led to a six-day standoff last month and
was forcibly ended by the military on July 29. 

The latest standoff is designed to focus world attention on an NLD demand
that the government convene by August 21 a parliament of members elected at
polls in May 1990, diplomats say. 

The NLD won that election by an overwhelming margin but the result was
ignored by the military. 

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in Washington on Friday a
``moment of truth'' was approaching for Myanmar's military government and
it was vital to push for democratic dialogue in the coming days. 

She backed Suu Kyi's defiance of travel restrictions. 

``Aung San Suu Kyi is again today asserting her basic right to move freely
in her own country and she is calling for the parliament the Burmese
(Myanmar) people elected eight years ago to convene by August 21,''
Albright said. 

Australia also called over the weekend on Myanmar to open up and bring in
democratic reforms. 

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Australian Broadcasting Commission
radio late on Saturday Myanmar was not a country with freedom of
expression, freedom of speech, in the way most people in the region would
understand it. 

``The onus (is) ... on the Burmese authorities to start reforming their
political systems and catch up with the rest of the region and the rest of
the world in the latter part of the 20th century,'' he said. 

But the military government has ignored the pressure from abroad and
ridiculed the NLD's ultimatum and the group's latest roadside protest,
sending them gifts and promising ``every effort to ensure their comfort and
safety.'' 

It says Suu Kyi can remain in Anyarsu ``as long as conditions remain safe''
but cannot be allowed to go to Pathein as this would mean travelling in a
dangerous part of the country. 

On Friday, the government said it had sent Suu Kyi the beach umbrella,
table and chairs ``and a selection of journals to help Ms Suu Kyi pass the
time.'' 

The government said in a statement on Sunday it had also sent cakes and
drinks for Suu Kyi and her companions. 

``In addition to the amenities and entertainment provided by the government
to Ms Suu Kyi in helping her pass the time comfortably, government
officials provided imported cakes, cookies and soft drinks this morning,''
it said. 

It added it was ``also in the process of setting up a mobile bathroom near
the camping vehicle to ensure her maximum comfort and welfare.''