BBC-BURMA ARRESTS-RON CORBEN-BANGKO

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=9/9/98
BURMA ARRESTS-RON CORBEN-BANGKOK
 
INTRO: BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT FACED INTERNATIONAL 
CONDEMNATION WEDNESDAY AS IT CONTINUED WITH A POLICY OF DETAINING
MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY OR N-L-D.
RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK THE GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING OVER 
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY N-L-D SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING MORE THAN SIXTY
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.           

    TEXT: BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT WEDNESDAY CONTINUED TO 
MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
- OR N-L-D - THROUGH FRESH ARRESTS ADDING TO THE NUMBERS OF 
SUPPORTERS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS NOW BEING HELD AT GOVERNMENT 
GUEST HOUSES.      

    THE DETENTIONS, WHICH BEGAN EARLIER THIS WEEK, OFTEN TAKING 
PLACE AT THE HOMES OF N-L-D SUPPORTERS IN THE EARLY MORNING 
HOURS, ARE AIMED AT PREVENTING N-L-D PARTY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI FROM CARRYING OUT HER CALLS TO CONVENE A SITTING OF THE 
PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN MAY, 1990.       

    THE NLD WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY AT THOSE POLLS, BUT THE 
OUTCOME HAS NEVER BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. 

    THERE IS ALSO NO CLEAR INDICATION FROM THE MILITARY WHEN THE 
DETAINED PEOPLE WOULD BE RELEASED. AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS SAID THE 
BID TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT WOULD TAKE PLACE SOMETIME THIS MONTH. 
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS LABELLED SUCH MOVES AS 
UNCONSITUTIONAL.      

         THE LATEST CRACKDOWN HAS BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED. U-S 
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID THE DETENTIONS WERE A
VIOLATION OF THE BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE 
AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS.      

    MR RUBIN SAID RESOLUTION OF THE POLITICAL IMPASSE IN BURMA 
REQUIRES REAL, SUBSTANTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC 
OPPOSITION, INCLUDING AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
ETHNIC GROUPS.      

    WASHINGTON IS URGING THE MILITARY TO RELEASE THOSE BEING HELD
IMMEDIATELY, WITH THE ARBITRARY DETENTIONS UNJUSTIFIABLE, MR 
RUBIN SAID, AND ONLY ADDING TO POLITCAL CRISIS.      

    NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ADDED ITS WEIGHT TO THE 
CRITICISM OF THE CRACKDOWN, SAYING THE MOVES APPEARED HEADING 
TOWARD BANNING THE NLD ALTOGETHER.      

    HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAID THE INCREASED REPRESSION WOULD ONLY 
CREATE CONTINUED INSTABILITY AND LEAD TO BURMA'S FURTHER 
ISOLATION INTERNATIONALLY.      

    THE GROUP CALLED ON JAPAN, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MEMBERS OF 
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS - OR ASEAN - WHOSE 
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN NEW YORK LATER THIS MONTH, TO URGE 
BURMA TO ALLOW ALL ITS CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE FREELY IN THE 
POLITICAL PROCESS. (SIGNED)

NRB/RC/PLM/GE

09-Sep-98 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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