EBO Burma News, 22 May 2003
News Summary:
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1. U.N.-Turn
2. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party face
worst protest in Myitkyina
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U.N.-Turn
TIME
Or are they just buying time?
BY ROBERT HORN/BANGKOK
Razali Ismail, the
United Nations special envoy to
of quiet diplomacy. His subtle prodding was
widely credited with persuading
Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. So it
was a surprise when, in late April,
the Malaysian diplomat told reporters in
disappointed" with the generals' refusal to grant
him a visa for the past six
months so that he could try to foster dialogue
between the two sides:
"I really cannot understand why I'm
being denied access." Apparently the change
in tactics was effective.
Junta spokesman Colonel Hla Min announced
last week that the U.N. envoy
would be allowed back into
said the generals may have relented because of
hints the European Union and
the
essentials are spiraling
higher and government harassment of the opposition
is on the increase. But as a diplomat in
so little contact with outsiders that
"none of us really know the reasons behind
the decisions." Few in
the long-promised reform process forward.
Even in a miserable economic climate,
the junta is buying time.
--------------------------------
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party
face worst protest in Myitkyina
Democratic Voice of
2003 May 16
It has been learned that Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and party left Tanai yesterday
evening to continue their journey and were
harshly protested and harassed by
armed Kyant Phut (vernacular acronym for Union Solidarity and
Development
Association) members as they entered Myitkyina.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party installed
the NLD (National League for Democracy)
township signboard in Tanai
yesterday and proceeded to Myitkyina in the evening.
As they arrived Nantagu
at the outskirts of Myitkyina about 50 Kyant Phut members
carrying catapults staged a protest and harassed
them. Similarly, about 30 Kyant Phut
members also harassed them as they entered Tanai. The worst scenario was the early
morning protest at a bridge today as Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and party entered Myitkyina.
NLD spokesperson U Lwin
told DVB the following details.
U Lwin : The worst
protest was at the entrance to Myitkyina where there
is a bridge.
The Kyant Phut members numbering about 300 protested on the bridge.
About 150
persons on each side staged demonstrations by
holding placards and shouting slogans.
At first they did not protest but
attempted to stop Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's convoy.
They marched between the cars and caused a
commotion. All the cars stopped but
our members did not alight. They shouted all
sorts of slogans and held many posters.
But the most serious thing was their
physical action. Some were very rowdy.
They held catapults, pieces of wood, and short Kachin swords
about 18 inches
long and swinging them. They were also
shouting and holding posters such as
the axe-handles relying on foreign power and
oppose and destroy those that
stole the national race and religion. They came
close to the cars and tried to
throw punches through the car windows.
After that, U Lwin
explained how the NLD members had to plead with the protesters
holding catapults and other weapons, and
continued their journey.
U Lwin : In their
hands they had bicycle nuts, metal pieces, and metal balls from
ball bearings to use with the catapults.
Although they were holding and aiming
catapults they did not actually use them. They only
threw punches through
the car windows. The NLD members tried to
convince them to move away but
they would not listen. The commotion went on
for about half an hour. Eventually
the situation improved somehow and the NLD
convoy had to slowly penetrate
the crowd. When the convoy passed they seemed
quite furious to be left behind.
These actions were aimed at threatening
the life of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
U Lwin said they
immediately informed higher authorities about the incident.
U Lwin : It was not
the case of only aiming the catapult but if they had used it
there could be injury and if they use metal
nuts then the injury could be serious.
There were only a few people holding
swords but swinging them was not
a good sign. Nothing happened because our
people did not alight from the cars.
If it was a situation similar to the ones
in Kawlin and Katha where
the people were
mingled, there could be many casualties. We have
never come across any
threatening situation before. They protested before
by just shouting slogans
and blocking the roads like we experienced in
Irrawaddy Division. But, the present
happening was almost like physical abuse and we
have already notified relevant
authorities.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party arrived Myitkyina about 0800 (0130 gmt) today
amidst such difficulties and installed
signboards at the Kachin State NLD and other
township NLD offices. They would stop in Myitkyina for about two days and later
proceed to Waingmaw, Bhamo, and Shwegu.
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