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VOA-BURMA AUNG SAN SUU KYI-RON CORB



DATE=8/24/98 
BURMA AUNG SAN SUU KYI-RON CORBEN-BANGKOK 

INTRO:  AFTER ALMOST TWO WEEKS IN A ROADSIDE STAND-OFF AND HER 
HEALTH FAILING, BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
RETURNED TO RANGOON LATE MONDAY.  RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM 
BANGKOK, THE RETURN OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI MARKED THE END OF HER 
FOURTH NON-VIOLENT PROTEST OF THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON HER BY THE
MILITARY GOVERNMENT.

TEXT:  BURMA'S AUNG SAN SUU KYI RETURNED (MONDAY) TO RANGOON AMID
INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT HER HEALTH, ENDING AN ALMOST TWO-WEEK STANDOFF
WITH BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, THE FOURTH IN RECENT WEEKS.

BUT THE ON-GOING NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS BY AUNG SAN SUU KYI OVER 
RESTRICTIONS TO HER FREEDOM TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE RANGOON, ARE COMING AT THE
COST OF HER HEALTH.

MEMBERS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY 
(N-L-D) HAD URGED THE NOBEL LAUREATE TO GIVE UP HER PROTEST AFTER
HER DOCTORS SAID SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM KIDNEY PROBLEMS, LOW 
BLOOD PRESSURE, AND DIZZINESS.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S PERSONAL PHYSICIANS HAD BEEN PREVENTED FROM 
EXAMINING HER DURING THE WEEKEND IN HER VAN ON A RURAL ROAD 
32-KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON.  THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS 
PREVENTED HER FROM TRAVELLING TO MEET N-L-D PARTY MEMBERS.

A SIMILAR STAND-OFF IN JULY ENDED WHEN BURMESE MILITARY TROOPS 
COMMANDEERED HER VEHICLE.

THIS TIME, AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS RETURNING (MONDAY) TO RANGOON,A SIT-DOWN
DEMONSTRATION WAS HELD IN THE CAPITAL -- THE FIRST SUCH SHOW OF DEFIANCE TO
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN TWO YEARS.

THE PROTEST, LED BY UP TO 200 STUDENTS AT AN INTERSECTION NEAR 
RANGOON UNIVERSITY, WAS MARKED BY THE CHANTING OF SLOGANS BEFORE POLICE AND
MILITARY MOVED IN, FORCING THE DEMONSTRATORS TO DISPERSE QUICKLY.  NO
ARRESTS WERE REPORTED.

THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR UNIVERSITIES 
TO CARRY OUT EXAMINATIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE TO BE HELD AWAY FROM THE MAIN
CAMPUSES.

THERE HAVE BEEN RENEWED TENSIONS IN RANGOON IN RECENT WEEKS AS 
THE N-L-D STEPPED UP ITS CALL FOR THE CONVENING OF PARLIAMENT.  
THE OPPOSITION PARTY SET A DEADLINE OF AUGUST 21ST.  THE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PLEA, AND THROUGH THE STATE-OWNED MEDIA
CALLED FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO BE DEPORTED.

THE N-L-D HAS SINCE SAID IT WOULD MOVE TO CONVENE A PEOPLE'S 
PARLIAMENT, A MOVE WHICH UNDER EXISTING LAWS COULD SEE THE 
MILITARY MOVE TO DISBAND THE PARTY.

PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FROM THE COUNTRY'S
WORSENING ECONOMY.  THE LOCAL CURRENCY, THE KYAT, 
SHARPLY WEAKENED ON LOCAL MARKETS IN RECENT WEEKS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

24-Aug-98 9:26 AM EDT (1326 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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