SCMP-Aung San Suu Kyi set for talks

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South China Morning Post
Saturday  August 22  1998

Aung San Suu Kyi set for talks compromise 

WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok 
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi might agree not to attend opening
negotiations with the military junta to break the impasse over political
talks, opposition sources said yesterday.

Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), said yesterday it would
convene a "People's Parliament" within a few days.

The junta predictably ignored last night's deadline set by the NLD for a
parliament to be convened.

The NLD said the military Government had ignored the desires of the Burmese
people by failing to convene a parliament.

The NLD won a general election in May 1990 by a big margin but the result
was ignored by the military.

Ms Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 10th day sitting in a van in a country lane
outside Rangoon to protest against the regime's refusal to let her meet
party members outside the capital.

Her supporters are now worried that she is risking her health by continuing
her fifth such protest in two months.

The All Burma Students' Democratic League sent a public message asking her
to conserve her health for the "paramount role" she will play in the
"important national tasks" that lie ahead.

The opposition group said it was extremely concerned by reports of her
deteriorating health.

The military appears concerned that if Ms Aung San Suu Kyi is allowed to
travel freely, she may be in a better position to announce the formation of
a more legitimate government.

The ruling generals claim parliament can only sit after a new constitution
is drawn up, which analysts believe will emasculate opposition parties.

The NLD has until now rejected the regime's offers of talks because the
military insists that they exclude Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.

The first exploratory meeting for a year between the two sides held earlier
this week ended inconclusively, with the NLD again insisting it must have
the right to pick its own team.

"Everybody knows that the junta is scared to talk. But she does not want to
appear unreasonable. She will compromise if that means that political
negotiations can start," a senior member of the Burmese opposition in exile
said.

The thinking is that if the NLD can break the deadlock and open talks
without Ms Aung San Suu Kyi at the table, it would save military "face".

Yet the party also will make it clear that her absence is only temporary.

The state-controlled media has been - even by its own rich standards -
unusually abusive towards Ms Aung San Suu Kyi this week.

But a commentary that ran in all three newspapers also hinted at an
opening:

"If she had a clear and objective view of holding a dialogue with the
Government . . . the Government will wholeheartedly welcome her approach to
participate in the national task," the commentary said.