SPDC/SLORC CORPS MUST TONE-DOWN THE

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written Sun 30 Aug 10:00pm 1998 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in
igc:reg.burma */
/* ---------" SPDC/SLORC must toned down rhetoric "------------ */

SPDC/SLORC CORPS MUST TONED-DOWN THEIR RHETORICS
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One important element in confidence-building in political
conflict situation, such as in the case of SPDC/SLORC and NLD,
is that all parties to the conflict must avoid using rhetorical
language. Using rhetorical language, such as the one made by
Burmese Ambassador, can heat-up political temperature and damage
the process of confidence-building between the parties.

It has become a routine exercise for the New Light of Myanmar
to attack Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders with such
rhetorical language. Fortunately, though, most Burmese inside
the country are simply able to ignore those articles. On the
other hand, the NLM in some way have an 'adverse impact' on
pubilcity: if the NLM attack someone to defame, that person
is sure to become popular amongst the Burmese general public.
Hardly anybody inside Burma in these days treat NLM articles
seriously since these are written, mostly, by the civilian
underdogs.

At this stage, the fear by SPDC/SLORC is the possibility of
NLD announcing a parallel government if elected representatives
have the chance to convene parliament. From my point of view,
the NLD leaders should communicate to SPDC/SLORC leaders that
the elected representative would not make the initiative to
form an alternative government. The people's parliament must
nevertheless seek improvements to the existing cabinet and
should endorse the appointment of that cabinet to work under
the policy guidelines laid-down by parliament.

To my observation, democracy is not about enforcing a simple
majority will on every issue -- in doing so, we would fall
into the trap of the so-called 'tyranny of majority'. The
democracy is about respecting the 'truth' and seeking viable
'compromise' on the issues in conflict. To be able to make
compromise, the parties to the conflict should all the time
show fair mindedness and must also respect the truth.
To build trust between the two sides, one must understand
the others' views, respect the truth and understanding
of the difficulties on each sides.

For example, SPDC/SLORC complained about the presence of
U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in CEC of NLD. True, these
two members were not being elected in the 1990-election, for
they were being put under detention at that time. However,
the SPDC/SLORC must recognize the fact --i.e. a truth-- that
these two persons are the leaders of NLD-party and, whether
the military authorities like it or not, have influence on
the decision makings of NLD-party.

Looking another example: it is true that the NLD won the
1990 election and the NLD does have the right to form a
Government of Burma. While the truth about NLD's right to
govern Burma must be respected, at the same time the view
of the minority--Burmese Army--to participate in government
of Burma has to be taken into account. The compromised
solution is the existing cabinet to take the responsibility
of EXECUTIVE BRANCH and People's Parliament to take
LEGISLATURE. In this case, the views of Burmese Army,
although unreasonable, has to be taken into account to
maintain stability. The Burmese Army, on the other hand,
must recognize the truth that NLD has the right to govern
Burma.

In putting forwards views in public, it is in everybody's
interest not to stir-up the public sentiment by making
statements such as "SPDC/SLORC would dissolve NLD" etc.
Nobody but itself can dissolve the NLD, a legitimate political
party. Neither SPDC/SLORC could ignore the result of election
in 1990. The truth is that NLD will be in Burma to stay and
Burmese junta must simply find its ways to work together.

With best regards, U Ne Oo.

***********************************
THE ASIAN AGE: DOOR IS CLOSED ON DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI
27 August, 1998 by Sutin Wannabovorn

Bangkok, Aug. 26: Burmese's government has told foreign
military attaches, it will neither allow the opposition to
form a parliament nor talk to opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, a Rangoon -based diplomat said on Wednesday.

In meeting with 15 military attaches on Tuesday, the ruling
State Peace and Development Council argued that Ms Suu Kyi,
general secretary of the National League for Democracy, and
Mr Tin Oo, the party's vice chairman, had been officially
stripped of their posts in 1990, the diplomat said

"The bottom-line is that the door is closed for dialogue
between Suu Kyi and SPDC," said the diplomat. The attaches
were briefed by SPDC spokesman Colonel Hla Min, he said.
******************************************
NLD WARNED OF POSSIBLE DISSOLUTION
28.8.98/BANGKOK POST
NUSSARA SAWATSAWANG
AGENCIES

Burmese Ambassador to Thailand  Hla Maung yesterday said his
government was prepared to dissolve the main opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD) party if it-acts illegally.

The ambassador's remark underscored a state-controlled Burmese
media report suggesting the NLD should dissolve and its leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi, should be deported following recent
confrontations between the two sides.

The NLD announced early this week that it plans to summon a
"people's parliament" after the failing to convince the ruling
military junta to convene representatives of a parliament elected
in 1990.

But  Hla Maung suggested such action would be considered illegal
because the government, known as the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC), has no intention of convening the parliament.

"No matter whoever they are, they are not entitled to convene the
parliament if the Burmese government doesn't mean to do it " he
said.

"And no matter if it is the NLD or whatever group, it may be
warned or dissolved if it goes beyond the law ... We are prepared
to dissolve it."

Hla Maung, who is known to be close to powerful SPDC secretary
Khin Nyunt, also insisted the government will not hold talks with
Mrs Suu Kyi on national reconciliation, as demanded by the
international community, including the Thai government.

"We will talk to the NLD. We will not talk to only one person ...
That person is not chairperson of that party," he said, referring
to Mrs Suu Kyi, who is the party's secretary.

Rangoon last week had a one-hour meeting with representatives of
the NLD, but excluded Mrs Suu Kyi.

Other Rangoon officials said yesterday it wants to keep fledgling
meetings
going with the opposition, but diplomats questioned government
intentions partly because Nobel laureate Suu Kyi would not be
included.

The government, facing a month of low-level but concerted
agitation by pro-democracy forces, reiterated that it found other
leaders of the NLD more "responsible".


Government officials have been briefing diplomats and foreign
military attaches over the past few days, stressing that the
NLD's demands to convene a civilian parliament would upset
attempts to hold talks between the two sides.

The officials have described recent meetings with party officials
as confidence-building measures, but diplomats said the briefings
were filled with threats to arrest opposition members and declare
Mrs Suu Kyi's party illegal.

"We do not feel such actions are 'confidence-building measures'
by any stretch of the imagination and are thus skeptical of the
government's sincerity," a US embassy official said on condition
of anonymity.

Mrs Suu Kyi has been recovering since Monday from a 13-day
roadside standoff against authorities preventing her from
travelling to the provinces to meet supporters. She was suffering
kidney and urinary tract problems, dizziness and low blood
pressure, according to the NLD.

Meanwhile, the country's holiest Buddhist shrine, the gold
encrusted Shwedagon pagoda, reopened after an unprecedented
one-day closure due to apparent fears of anti-government
protests.

The temple was closed on the anniversary of an important speech
given there by Mrs Suu Kyi in 1988 during a nationwide uprising
against military rule. Troops eventually crushed the unrest,
killing an estimated 3,000 people.

The government said yesterday in a fax to the Associated Press it
views NLD chairman Aung Shwe as "the most responsible person of
the party" and is also willing to meet with "officially
recognised central executive committee members".