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Reuters-Yangon assails Suu Kyi duri



Subject: Reuters-Yangon assails Suu Kyi during rights mission 

FOCUS-Yangon assails Suu Kyi during rights mission
07:28 a.m. Aug 02, 1999 Eastern
YANGON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Australia's human rights commissioner met
officials in military-ruled Myanmar on Monday to explore the possibility of
forming an independent rights organisation in the country.

But as Chris Sidoti began his mission, official media dampened hopes for a
softening of treatment of the pro-democracy opposition by accusing its
leader Aung San Suu Kyi of ``brazenly spoiling peace'' and reiterating a
call for legal action against her.

In the latest foreign initiative aimed at progress on rights, Sidoti met
Interior Minister Colonel Tin Hlaing to discuss Australian Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer's proposal for a commission like one set up during
Indonesia's Suharto regime in the early 1990s, under mounting pressure at
home and abroad.

Sidoti was also expected to meet opposition leaders during his visit until
Wednesday, diplomats said.

In announcing the mission last week, Downer said Yangon had yet to make up
its mind how the body he first proposed last year would work and added that
Suu Kyi had expressed doubts it would be independent. Human rights activists
were also sceptical.

Bangkok-based Debbie Stothart, of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma,
believed the Myanmar government would try to exploit the idea for propaganda
value.

``If it leads to some kind of opening up in the mentality of the military
and they can start talking about the issue, then that would be positive. But
it's a bit like talking about a mission to the moon when you can't even get
the basics working.''

Military treatment of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has led to
U.S. and European Union (EU) sanctions and has been an embarrassment for
Yangon's fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).

Last month an EU mission visited Myanmar to look into the possibility of
restoring a dialogue with the government and between the generals and the
opposition, but Yangon quickly poured cold water on hopes of reconciliation.

On Monday, a commentary carried by the Myanmar-language ``Kyemon'' and
``Myanma Alin'' newspapers, signed by ``An Advocate'' accused the NLD of
destroying national reconciliation.


``Especially Daw Suu Kyi is brazenly spoiling peace,'' it said.

``She is cutting the union into pieces so the neo-colonialists can swallow
it piece by piece after its disintegration. Once she succeeds in her work,
the union will be in bloodshed.''

Suu Kyi should no longer be tolerated and forgiven, it said.

``I hereby suggest on behalf of the nationalities of the Union that the
government should take effective action against her in accord with the
prevailing laws.''

The official papers in Myanmar are usually considered the mouthpiece of the
government, but similar calls against the 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner
since her release from six years' house arrest in 1995 have not resulted in
legal action against her.

The official Myanma News Agency, meanwhile, quoted powerful intelligence
chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt as saying opponents had been plotting to
incite unrest next month.

Khin Nyunt, considered the most powerful figure in the ruling State Peace
and Development Council, accused them of plotting unrest to mark ``four
nines'' day -- September 9, 1999 -- just as they had on ``four eights''
day -- August 8, 1988.

August 8, 1988, is taken to mark the start of a nationwide democracy
uprising the military crushed the following month.
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