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BURMESE MILITARY BARS ETHNIC JUNTA



Media Release
August 24, 1998

Burmese Military Bars Ethnic MPs From Traveling To Rangoon

The Burmese military is barring Members of Parliament (MPs) from
ethnic political parties elected in 1990 from travelling to
Rangoon where the National League for Democracy (NLD) is to
convene parliament. 

Sources in Shan State, northeast Burma, say military authorities
began preventing MPs and representatives of ethnic groups from
travelling to Rangoon immediately after the NLD announced that it
would convene a Peoples' Parliament.

The NLD stated on August 21 that it would convene a parliament
consisting of all MPs elected in the May 1990 election as well as
representatives of ethnic groups.

ABSDF sources say the military issued a directive to regional
commanders stating that all MPs from ethnic parties and the
leaders of ethnic groups are barred from travelling outside their
respective townships.

ABSDF Foreign Affairs Secretary, Aung Naing Oo, says the
restrictions are the latest in a series by the Burmese military
in their attempt to prevent parliament being convened.

"Burma's military rulers are extremely worried about the NLD's
call to convene parliament. They have even threatened action
against their own regional commanders if they fail to stop MPs
and ethnic leaders from getting to Rangoon."

In the 1990 election some 66 MPs were elected to parliament from
ethnic-based political parties. Most of these MPs are from Shan,
Arakan, Mon, Chin and Kachin States. 

The focus of the restrictions appears to be centered on Shan
State where the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD) won 23
seats, becoming the second largest political party after the NLD.
The SNLD remains politically active and has been a very vocal
critic of the military.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, Thai authorities have arrested 14 Burmese
students who were part of a peaceful protest outside the Burmese
Embassy. The arrests, yesterday and today, coincide with the 50th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Burma.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front 

For more information please contact 01 253 9082, 01 654 4894.