Aung San Suu Kyi in sixth day of de

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Aung San Suu Kyi in sixth day of deadlock with Myanmar junta
Mon 17 Aug 98 - 08:27 GMT 

YANGON, Aug 17 (AFP) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was
Monday locked in the sixth day of a roadside standoff with the country's
junta as her ultimatum for parliament to be convened loomed, diplomats
said.

"She's still sitting there and they are all healthy," said one western
diplomat, referring to the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader, two
drivers and an official from her party accompanying her.



"I have heard of journalists and some other foreigners who tried to
approach the area but were turned back at a checkpoint," the envoy said.



"But some reports are still getting through," the diplomat added, saying
the country's junta was probably the source of the latest information on
the stand-off as it was keen to show Aung San Suu Kyi was not being
mistreated.



A foreign correspondent visiting Myanmar told AFP he had been stopped at
the checkpoint near the site of the stand-off, a small bridge linking a
highway to adjacent rice paddies about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from
Yangon.



It is her fourth failed attempt to visit supporters outside the capital in
little over a month.



He said security officials had told him that the military was conducting
exercises in the area and that he should return in about two weeks.



France Monday condemned restrictions imposed on Aung San Suu Kyi's
movements, adding it was "deeply concerned about the health and safety" of
the Nobel peace laureate.



"France condemns the unacceptable behaviour of the Myanmar authorities, who
have blocked, once more, Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi while she was on her way
outside the capital," the French embassy here said in a statement.



France called on the junta to allow Aung San Suu Kyi freedom of movement
and to enter into dialogue with the NLD and other opposition groups.



The junta has stressed it was doing everything possible to maintain Aung
San Suu Kyi's health and security after barring her from travelling to meet
supporters in a provincial centre last Wednesday.



A similiar standoff at the same bridge last month ended when she was
forcibly driven back to Yangon.



The NLD won 1990 elections by a landslide but the junta has refused to give
up power. It has demanded the junta convene parliament by August 21 or face
unspecified consequences.



Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters said her health had suffered during the last
stand-off and blamed the junta.



The junta has played down the stand-off, with a spokesman Sunday saying the
opposition leader was in a "camping vehicle" and was "visiting Anyarsu, a
small but picturesque village outside Yangon."



"Ms Suu Kyi left Yangon on August 12 on her way to the city of Pathein, but
regrettably, recent threats of violence have made travel there by prominent
persons inadvisable at this time," the spokesman said in a statement.



"Until safety conditions improve, Ms Suu Kyi is visiting Anyarsu, a small
but picturesque village outside Yangon, while the government of Myanmar
continues to make every effort to ensure their comfort and safety."



The junta said it had supplied musical cassettes including religious songs
and recordings by Madonna and Michael Jackson for Aung San Suu Kyi's
enjoyment, as well as an ambulance in case of an emergency. A "beach
umbrella" and "garden chairs" had also been provided, along with "cakes,
cookies and soft drinks."



Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists took their protest outside Myanmar's
embassy in neighbouring Thailand into its 13th day Monday.



Some 50 activists maintained their peaceful vigil outside the embassy
compound, demanding political change in Myanmar.



They have pledged to remain at the embassy until the junta convenes
parliament, citing the August 21 deadline set by Aung San Suu Kyi.



The junta Saturday deported 18 foreign activists who were detained for six
days for distributing pro-democracy leaflets.



They were sentenced to five years hard labour on Friday for attempting to
incite unrest, but the penalties were suspended.