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AFP-Aung San Suu Kyi calls for Asia

Subject: AFP-Aung San Suu Kyi calls for Asian support in millennium message

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Thursday, December 30 6:49 PM SGT=20
Aung San Suu Kyi calls for Asian support in millennium message
BANGKOK, Dec 30 (AFP) -=20
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a New Year's message =
criticised Asian nations, particularly Japan, for a "lack of compassion" =
and failure to support the democracy movement in her military-ruled =
homeland.

"I think there is a lack of compassion, which is a great pity and a =
great surprise because Buddhism was born in Asia and Buddhism is the =
great religion of compassion," the Nobel peace laureate said.

"In our struggle for democracy and human rights, we would like greater =
support from our fellow Asians," she said in the message distributed by =
a network of activist NGO's based in ASEAN countries.

The taped message is to be delivered to crowds at a New Year's eve rally =
outside the Legislative Council Building in Hong Kong, the Alternative =
ASEAN Network on Burma (Myanmar) said.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy (NLD), =
singled Japan out as having a special responsibility to promote =
democracy in Myanmar.

"We would especially like the Japanese people to take a strong stand in =
the battle for democracy," she said.

"As the richest Asian country and as a democracy Japan has a duty to =
promote human rights and democracy in other parts of Asia. We hope the =
year 2000 will see a blossoming of Japanese interest in human rights and =
democracy."

Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on the international community =
not to invest in Myanmar or provide aid while the military remains in =
power. She has also urged foreign tourists to stay away in an effort to =
starve the military of funds.

Japan suspended all but a small amount of humanitarian aid to Myanmar in =
the late 1980s but agreed in February to help finance reconstruction of =
the airport in Yangon.

In 1998-1999 Japan provided more than 1.3 million dollars to Myanmar =
under its Grass Roots Grant Assistance Program.

The United States and some European nations have imposed sanctions on =
Myanmar, alleging widespread human rights violations. They have also =
condemned the junta's refusal to hand over power to the NLD following =
its huge victory in 1990 national elections.=20

"In a country like Burma, where we have been crushed under the military =
regime for many, many years, want and fear stalk us all the time," Aung =
San Suu Kyi said.

"People wake up in the morning wondering which of their friends have =
been taken into detention by the authorities ... wondering what the =
future of their children will be."

She also expressed solidarity with Hong Kong activists.

"What you have achieved in the field of economics, I'm sure you will be =
able to achieve in the field of humanity as well."

(ATTENTION embargo)


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>Thursday, December 30</B> 6:49 PM =
SGT=20
<H2><FONT size=3D4>Aung San Suu Kyi calls for Asian support in =
millennium=20
message</FONT></H2>BANGKOK, Dec 30 (AFP) -=20
<P>Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a New Year's message =
criticised=20
Asian nations, particularly Japan, for a "lack of compassion" and =
failure to=20
support the democracy movement in her military-ruled homeland.</P>
<P>"I think there is a lack of compassion, which is a great pity and a =
great=20
surprise because Buddhism was born in Asia and Buddhism is the great =
religion of=20
compassion," the Nobel peace laureate said.</P>
<P>"In our struggle for democracy and human rights, we would like =
greater=20
support from our fellow Asians," she said in the message distributed by =
a=20
network of activist NGO's based in ASEAN countries.</P>
<P>The taped message is to be delivered to crowds at a New Year's eve =
rally=20
outside the Legislative Council Building in Hong Kong, the Alternative =
ASEAN=20
Network on Burma (Myanmar) said.</P>
<P>Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy (NLD), =
singled=20
Japan out as having a special responsibility to promote democracy in=20
Myanmar.</P>
<P>"We would especially like the Japanese people to take a strong stand =
in the=20
battle for democracy," she said.</P>
<P>"As the richest Asian country and as a democracy Japan has a duty to =
promote=20
human rights and democracy in other parts of Asia. We hope the year 2000 =
will=20
see a blossoming of Japanese interest in human rights and =
democracy."</P>
<P>Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on the international community =
not to=20
invest in Myanmar or provide aid while the military remains in power. =
She has=20
also urged foreign tourists to stay away in an effort to starve the =
military of=20
funds.</P>
<P>Japan suspended all but a small amount of humanitarian aid to Myanmar =
in the=20
late 1980s but agreed in February to help finance reconstruction of the =
airport=20
in Yangon.</P>
<P>In 1998-1999 Japan provided more than 1.3 million dollars to Myanmar =
under=20
its Grass Roots Grant Assistance Program.</P>
<P>The United States and some European nations have imposed sanctions on =

Myanmar, alleging widespread human rights violations. They have also =
condemned=20
the junta's refusal to hand over power to the NLD following its huge =
victory in=20
1990 national elections. </P>
<P>"In a country like Burma, where we have been crushed under the =
military=20
regime for many, many years, want and fear stalk us all the time," Aung =
San Suu=20
Kyi said.</P>
<P>"People wake up in the morning wondering which of their friends have =
been=20
taken into detention by the authorities ... wondering what the future of =
their=20
children will be."</P>
<P>She also expressed solidarity with Hong Kong activists.</P>
<P>"What you have achieved in the field of economics, I'm sure you will =
be able=20
to achieve in the field of humanity as well."</P>
<P>(ATTENTION embargo)</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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