VOA-BURMA POL

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/17/98

BURMA POL
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK
 

INTRO:  THE STANDOFF BETWEEN BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS AND 
DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI CONTINUES.  THE ROADSIDE 
PROTEST IS NOW IN ITS SIXTH DAY.  CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS 
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S ROADSIDE PROTEST HAS LASTED AS LONG AS 
HER PREVIOUS ONE, AND NEITHER SHE NOR THE GOVERNMENT IS SHOWING 
ANY SIGN OF GIVING IN.

SHE SITS IN A VAN WITH THREE COMPANIONS 30-KILOMETERS FROM 
RANGOON.  WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY SHE IS BETTER PROVISIONED WITH 
FOOD AND WATER FOR A LONG SIEGE THAN ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.

FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN TWO MONTHS, THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER WAS 
STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES AS SHE TRIED TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE RANGOON TO 
MEET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS OF HER PARTY, "THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY".  THE LAST ATTEMPT WAS FORCIBLY ENDED JULY 29TH, AFTER
SIX DAYS ,WHEN POLICE TOOK CONTROL OF HER CAR AND DROVE HER BACK 
TO RANGOON.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO MAKE LIGHT OF THIS
LATEST PROTEST.  STATE-RUN NEWSPAPERS HAVE REFERRED TO HER 
VEHICLE AS A -- CAMPING VAN.  AUTHORITIES HAVE SENT HER A BEACH 
UMBRELLA, GARDEN CHAIRS, READING MATERIAL, AND AUDIO TAPES.  BUT 
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS SHE CANNOT PROCEED TO HER DESTINATION OF 
BASSEIN, 100-KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON, BECAUSE OF UNSPECIFIED 
SECURITY CONDITIONS.

REPORTS OF THE PROTEST HAVE COME FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE N-L-D, 
OR DIPLOMATIC SOURCES.  RANGOON-BASED JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE TRIED 
TO MAKE IT TO THE SITE OF THE PROTEST HAVE BEEN TURNED BACK BY 
AUTHORITIES.  IN ONE CASE, REPORTERS WERE TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE THE
MILITARY WAS HOLDING EXERCISES IN THE AREA.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S PROTEST IS PARTIALLY DESIGNED TO CALL 
ATTENTION TO THE PARTY'S DEMAND FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE, BY
AUGUST 21ST, THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990.  THE PARTY HAS NOT 
SAID WHAT IT WILL DO IF THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES.  THE 1990 
PARLIAMENT NEVER CONVENED BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT THREW OUT THE 
ELECTION RESULTS AFTER THE POLLS WERE OVERWHELMINGLY WON BY THE 
N-L-D.

ON AN OMINOUS NOTE, STATE RUN NEWSPAPERS MONDAY REFERRED TO THE 
N-L-D AS THE -- NUMBER ONE ENEMY -- OF THE COUNTRY, AND SAID 
ANYONE WHO GOES AGAINST WHAT THE PUBLIC WISHES WILL NOT LIVE 
LONG.   (SIGNED)



17-Aug-98 7:01 AM EDT (1101 UTC)