Repost:TEXT: STATE SPOKESMAN ON ROU

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

11 September 1998 

TEXT: STATE SPOKESMAN ON ROUND-UP OF BURMA OPPOSITION FIGURES 

(Condemns detention of 700-plus opposition figures)  (410)

Washington -- The United States has condemned the detention of more
than 700 opposition figures by the Burmese authorities.

In a statement released by State Department Spokesman James Rubin
September 11, the United States called for the immediate release of
all those detained for the peaceful expression of their political
views and for the cessation of attempts by the government to coerce
detainees into self-censorship of their peaceful political views.

"We note that the international community will not recognize
resignations or other pledges clearly made under duress," Rubin said.

The statement reiterated the U.S. call on the government of Burma to
initiate a genuine dialogue with all interested parties, particularly
the National League for Democracy (NLD), and its leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, as well as representatives of the ethnic minorities.

Following is the official text of the statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
September 11, 1998

STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN

BURMA -- ROUND-UP OF OPPOSITION FIGURES

The U.S. condemns the detention of over 700 opposition figures by the
Burmese authorities. This number reportedly includes approximately 190
National League for Democracy (NLD) Members of Parliament-elect, some
of whom have been detained since May, as well as hundreds of
opposition party members and officials picked up in the past week. We
understand that the Burmese government has attempted to coerce many of
those detained into signing promises to resign their seats in
parliament or to otherwise refrain from exercising their
internationally-recognized rights to freedom of expression and
assembly.

We reject the Burmese government's description of these detentions as
invitations "to government guest houses for discussions to help
promote a peaceful transition to a multiparty democracy." We call for
the immediate release of all those detained for the peaceful
expression of their political views and for the cessation of attempts
by the government to coerce detainees into self-censorship of their
peaceful political views. We note that the international community
will not recognize resignations or other pledges clearly made under
duress.

We call on the government of Burma to initiate a genuine dialogue with
all interested parties, particularly the NLD, and its leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, as well as representatives of the ethnic minorities.

(end text)