VOA-BURMA-OPPOSITION

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DATE=5/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249225
TITLE=BURMA-OPPOSITION (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A GROUP OF RENEGADE OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IN BURMA HAS 
SPARKED CONTROVERSY IN THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.  THE GROUP HAS
BEEN LABELED AS TRAITORS BY THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT FOR CALLING ON
THE OPPOSITION TO SHOW MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE ONGOING STALEMATE 
WITH THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT.  AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS 
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE CALL IS A 
RARE PUBLIC SIGN OF DISSENT IN BURMA'S POLITICAL OPPOSITION.

TEXT:  THE GROUP OF RENEGADE POLITICIANS TUESDAY DENIED CHARGES 
BY THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR N-L-D, THAT 
THEY ARE WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SPLIT THE PRO-DEMOCRACY 
MOVEMENT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN RANGOON, EIGHT POLITICIANS -- ALL 
CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE N-L-D -- SAID THEY ARE TRYING TO
PROMOTE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE OPPOSITION AND THE RULING 
MILITARY.  THEY SAID ANY ACTION THEY HAVE TAKEN, THEY HAVE TAKEN 
ON THEIR OWN AND OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.

A LETTER, CRITICAL OF THE  N-L-D AND SIGNED BY TWENTY-FIVE 
CURRENT OR FORMER N-L-D POLITICIANS WAS CIRCULATED LAST WEEK.  
THEY SAID  N-L-D POLICIES HAVE CREATED A STALEMATE WITH THE 
MILITARY.

IN A SHARP RESPONSE, THE N-L-D , WHICH IS HEADED  BY NOBEL 
LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI, ACCUSED THE PETITIONERS OF BEING 
"LACKEYS OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE", WORKING TO SPLIT THE PARTY.  
THE PARTY ASSERTED MOST OF THE SIGNATORIES WERE IN JAIL AND HAD 
SIGNED THE LETTER UNDER DURESS.

IT WAS A RARE SIGN OF INTERNAL DISSENT WITHIN THE N-L-D.  IN 
BURMA'S MURKY POLITICAL WORLD, THE OPPOSITION IS JUST AS 
SECRETIVE AS THE GOVERNMENT, GIVING LITTLE AWAY OF ITS PLANS OR 
PROGRAMS.

THE N-L-D WON ELECTIONS IN 1990, BUT THE MILITARY REFUSED TO 
RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS.  SINCE THEN, THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN 
LOCKED IN A STALEMATE.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS DETAINED HUNDREDS OF 
N-L-D MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, BUT STILL SAYS IT WANTS A DIALOGUE 
WITH THE OPPOSITION.  THE N-L-D SAYS IT WILL ONLY TALK WITH THE 
GENERALS IF AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS PRESENT -- A CONDITION THE 
GOVERNMENT, WITH ITS HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHARISMATIC 
N-L-D LEADER -- REFUSES TO ACCEPT.

THE N-L-D DISSIDENTS SAY THE PARTY LEADERSHIP'S LACK OF 
FLEXIBILITY IS HURTING THE CAUSE OF THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.

THE CRITICISM DOES  NOT  SIT WELL WITH THE N-L-D.  TWO OF THE 
SIGNATORIES WERE EXPELLED FROM THE N-L-D EARLIER FOR A PREVIOUS 
CHALLENGE TO THE PARTY LEADERSHIP, IN WHICH THEY CRITICIZED THE 
N-L-D'S CALL TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT.  THREE OTHERS WERE EXPELLED 
MAY FOURTH AFTER THE CURRENT LETTER WAS CIRCULATED.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/KL

11-May-99 7:26 AM EDT (1126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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