Evidence of Dissent within Burma's

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Evidence of Dissent within Burma's Opposition

Sunday, May 2, 1999 Published at 14:32 GMT 15:32 UK 


             World: Asia-Pacific

             Evidence of dissent within
             Burma's opposition 



             Evidence has emerged of a split in the ranks of the main
             opposition party in Burma, the National League for
             Democracy. 

             The party leadership has condemned a group of its
             members for calling for talks with the military authorities,
             accusing them of trying to sow disunity and describing
             them as lackeys of Burmese military intelligence. 

             The condemnation follows a statement last month by
             three NLD members, who criticised the strategy of the
             party and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. 

             The statement said policies adopted by the party leaders
             had backfired disastrously, encouraging the detention of
             hundreds of NLD members. The BBC South East Asia
             correspondent says that although this evidence of
             dissent within the party is likely to be seized on by the
             military, there's little suggestion that Suu Kyi's standing
             at the head of the party is under serious challenge. 

             From the newsroom of the BBC World Service