Bangkok Post News (9/9/98)

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110 more arrests - NLD

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members invited for political discussion

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Burma's opposition said yesterday the military had arrested 110 more of
its members - bringing the total member of seizures of representatives of
the National League for Democracy to 220 in the last three days.

The junta said they had merely been invited for a political discussion.=20

The military also made a new demand for opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi to be deported through state media. The NLD said in a statement that
73 of those arrested in various parts of the country since Sunday were
members of parliament elected in the 1990 polls which the opposition won
by a landslide.

"The NLD strongly condemns and protests these arrests and demands their
immediate release," it said.

The junta arrested some 110 NLD members on Sunday and Monday, opposition
officials said earlier.

A commentary entitled " Time for Deportation" in the state's Mirror Daily
yesterday, attributed to an unnamed chief court lawyer, appealed to the
junta to deport Mrs Suu Kyi.

"Daw Suu Kyi =85. Has tried to blatantly destroy the country by
deliberately  creating problems," the commentary, believed to be
officially  inspired, said.

"I therefore appeal to the government, on behalf of the people, that it
is time now to issue a deportation order and send her back where she
belongs," it added.

" I can't confirm exact figures but a large number have been detained,"
one said.

"There was no brutality, it was handled very smoothly. They are being
held in government guest houses, but their freedom of movement has
definitely been curtailed."

An official statement said authorities had simply invited the NLD=20
members for a discussion on the convening of parliament and they were
being "comfortably housed at government guest houses while the process
continues.

" To convene a parliament before the constitution is finished would lead
to political confusion and possibly undermine national security," the
statement said.


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