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News from India Newspaper (r)



"Suu Kyi sues chief of Burma intelligence"

Bangkok, Jan, 14: Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and her Opposition National League
for Democracy have filed a criminal complaint against Burma's
intelligence chief for attempting to destroy their political party.
According to an NLD statement received, the complaint against Gen. Khin
Nyunt was lodged with Burma's Chief Justice on December 31.
It accuses military intelligence units under the direction of Gen. Khin
Nyunt of illegally arresting about 1,000 NLD members since September and
forcing many of them to resign from the party.
The units have used "threats, intimidation and illegal forceful
pressure for which there is not one iota of legal justification," the
NLD said. "In so doing, the military intelligence authorities have
committed criminal offenses".
Gen. Nyunt, who has been described as Ms. Suu Kyi's nemesis, is one of
the most powerful and feared generals in Burma.
His intelligence services frequently arrest government opponents and
oversee a nationwide network of spies and informers who monitor
dissidents and root out opposition to the military government. According
to several reports issued by the United Nations, which has condemned
Burma's government for human rights abuses several times this decade,
arrested political opponents are frequently tortured.
Ms. Suu Kyi and NLD leaders have no chance of winning the suit. "The
law is in the generals' mouths," NLD vice-chairman Tin Oo once told
reporters. The party has frequently blasted Burma's judiciary for being
under the thumbs of the military.
Their view is supported by reports issued by the UN and the United
States. "The judiciary is not independent," as judges are appointed by
the military, said US state department's most recent report on human
rights in Burma.
"Pervasive bribe-taking for political ends continued to deprive
citizens of the right to the fair trial and the rule of law," the report
said. Mrs. Aung Naing, the chairman of the All Burma Democratic Students
Front, said the NLD filed the suit to show the international community
that they do everything within the law. (AP)

"The Asian Age"
Date January 15, 1999.