Reuters-Myanmar ignores opposition

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar ignores opposition vow to call parliament 
12:23 a.m. Aug 23, 1998 Eastern 

By Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military rulers on Sunday ignored a
pledge by the pro-democracy opposition to convene a parliament and accused
foreign powers and their ``lap-dogs'' of trying to destroy the country. 

The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), led by 1991 Nobel Peace
Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, issued its most defiant challenge yet to the
government on Friday by saying it would shortly call a ``People's
Parliament.'' 

The NLD made the vow after the passing of its Friday deadline for the
military to convene a parliament based on Myanmar's last general election
in May 1990, when the NLD won by a landslide. 

State media have given no direct response to the NLD's promise, but the
English-language ``New Light of Myanmar,'' a voice for the military, on
Sunday showed no hint of compromise. 

In an editorial headlined ``No Disturbing the Peace,'' the daily said
Myanmar was suffering a malaise as ``neo-colonialists and their lap-dogs''
worked for a recurrence of the pro-democracy uprising of 1988, which led to
a crackdown on the opposition. 

Pro-democracy supporters say several thousand people were killed by troops
in the unrest 10 years ago. The government puts the death toll at a few
dozen. 

The newspaper said the foreigners would not succeed. 

``However much the foreign masters may wish their puppets to dance to their
tune of dissent and disaster, the forces who cherish peace, led by the
State Peace and Development Council (military government), shall deny those
perpetrators of doom the luxury of seeing the Union (of Myanmar)
disintegrate,'' it said. 

The NLD's promise of a parliament has raised political tensions already
heightened by a marathon roadside protest by Suu Kyi in west Myanmar, which
entered its 12th day on Sunday. 

The daughter of independence hero Aung San has been stuck since August 12
in a minivan about 32 km (20 miles) outside Yangon. The government has
refused to let her travel to the west of the country and she in turn has
refused to return to Yangon. 

On Friday, the NLD said Suu Kyi would hold out until the government
released 97 detained NLD members even though she looked jaundiced and her
blood pressure was a little low. 

Diplomats say the protest has been effective in drawing world attention to
the NLD's demand for a parliament made up of members elected at the
country's May 1990 polls. 

The NLD's victory at those elections was ignored by the government, which
said a constitution was needed before a parliament could be formed. 

Diplomats say the NLD's promise of a parliament now puts the onus on it to
deliver and takes pressure off the military. The opposition action could
result in it being outlawed, they say. 

An editorial in the Sunday Nation newspaper in Thailand, the main refuge
for Myanmar political exiles in Southeast Asia, said the NLD's pledge put
the ball back in Suu Kyi's court. 

``All eyes are now on her next step,'' it said. ``But she will have to hold
true to her threat if she is to retain her credibility.'' 

The newspaper noted the military had so far ridiculed Suu Kyi's protest.
The military calls it a camping holiday and has sent her a beach umbrella
and garden chairs. 

``Until and unless there is a mass mobilisation of her supporters, the
junta will be contented to treat her with kid gloves,'' the Sunday Nation
said.