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VOA-BURMA / POL -GARY THOMAS -BANGK
DATE=8/21/98
BURMA / POL -GARY THOMAS -BANGKOK
INTRO: TODAY (FRIDAY) IS THE DEADLINE SET BY BURMA'S
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT FOR THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE
PARLIAMENT. AT THE THE SAME TIME, DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU
KYI IS REPORTED TO BE SUFFERING SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS STEMMING
FROM HER ROADSIDE PROTEST. AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS
REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, A BURMESE EXILE POLITICAL GROUP IS CALLING
ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO BREAK OFF HER PROTEST AND SEEK PROPER
MEDICAL TREATMENT IF HER HEALTH IS IN DANGER.
TEXT: THE FRIDAY DEADLINE CAME AND WENT WITH NO SIGN FROM
BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT THAT IT WAS READY TO ACCEDE TO THE
DEMAND FOR THE CONVENING OF THE 1990 PARLIAMENT. THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR N-L-D, HAD GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL
FRIDAY TO MEET THE DEMAND OR FACE UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES.
THE MILITARY THREW OUT THE 1990 ELECTION RESULTS AFTER THE N-L-D
WON AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY.
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY QUOTES N-L-D VICE-CHAIRMAN TIN OO AS SAYING
THE N-L-D HAS THE RIGHT TO ACT ON ITS OWN IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES
NOT COMPLY, BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT ACTION IT WILL TAKE.
HOWEVER, THE CAPITAL WAS QUIET. LIKE THE ANNIVERSARY EARLIER
THIS MONTH OF THE SUPPRESSED 1988 PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING, FRIDAY
PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY. SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE
A MEETING BETWEEN N-L-D CHAIRMAN AUNG SHWE AND LIEUTENANT
GENERAL KHIN NYUNT, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL GENERALS IN THE
MILITARY GOVERNMENT, MAY HAVE HELPED TEMPER A RISING POLITICAL
TEMPERATURE.
PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI PASSED THE DEADLINE IN A
VAN 32 KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON, WHERE SHE IS IN A STANDOFF WITH
AUTHORITIES OVER HER RIGHT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL TO MEET
WITH N-L-D OFFICIALS. ACCORDING TO THE N-L-D, SHE IS SHOWING
SIGNS OF JAUNDICE AND HER BLOOD PRESSURE HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY
AFTER 10 DAYS ON THE ROADSIDE.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI OFFERED LATE THURSDAY TO GIVE UP HER PROTEST, IF
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WOULD FREE NEARLY 100 N-L-D MEMBERS THE
PARTY SAYS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR DETAINED SINCE MAY 27TH. THE
OFFER WAS RELAYED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE MEETING BETWEEN AUNG
SHWE AND GENERAL KHIN NYUNT.
BUT A BURMESE EXILE GROUP IS SAYING THAT IF HER HEALTH IS TRULY
IN DANGER, SHE SHOULD BREAK OFF THE PROTEST TO SEEK PROPER
MEDICAL TREATMENT. AUNG NOING, FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF THE
ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT, SAYS SHE IS TOO IMPORTANT
TO THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT TO BE ALLOWED TO FALL ILL.
// AUNG NOING ACT //
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE REMAINS HEALTHY AND SHE
CONTINUES HER WORK IN REAL GOOD HEALTH. THAT'S WHY WE
ARE ASKING HER TO SEEK PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A
PROPER MEDICAL CENTER. WHETHER SHE WANTS TO GO HOME OR
NOT IS HER OWN DECISION. WE CANNOT INFLUENCE THAT. WE
ARE JUST ASKING HER TO SEEK PROPER MEDICAL ATTENTION.
// END ACT //
THE A-B-S-D-F AND OTHER EXILE GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR MASS CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. THE EXILE GROUPS
ARE CONSIDERED MORE RADICAL THAN THE N-L-D, WHICH, DESPITE
GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT, REMAINS A LEGAL POLITICAL PARTY.
// REST OPT //
AUNG NOING SAYS THERE ARE OTHER POLITICAL GROUPS INSIDE BURMA
WILLING TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION EVEN IF THE N-L-D IS NOT.
// AUNG NOING ACT //
AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE
OF THE N-L-D. AND, LIKE I SAID, IF THE N-L-D IS IN AN
AWKWARD POSITION BECAUSE OF THEIR POLICIES TO DO
SOMETHING, TO DO SOMETHING TO INITIATE A DRAMATIC
POLITICAL MOVEMENT, AND I THINK AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE
OF OTHER POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL START TO INITIATE
SOMETHING VERY SOON.
// END ACT //
MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TIGHTENED UP PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING
TOURIST VISAS. TWO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WERE EXPELLED THIS WEEK
AFTER BEING CAUGHT ENTERING THE COUNTRY ON TOURIST VISAS.
JOURNALISTS MUST OBTAIN SPECIAL VISAS, BUT VIRTUALLY NO SUCH
VISAS HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN RECENT MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/GC/FC
21-Aug-98 5:53 AM EDT (0953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.