Burma Urged To Free Dissi

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written  1:48 PM  Jul 28, 1994 by wov.central@xxxxxxx in igc:soc.cult.burma */
/* ---------- "Burma Urged To Free Dissi" ---------- */
Subject : Burma Urged To Free Dissident

   BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Pressure on Burma rose sharply when
Asian, Pacific and European nations agreed Wednesday that its
military rulers had to free dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
   Even Thailand, a close friend of Burma, agreed the officers who
seized power in 1988 had to free Mrs. Suu Kyi, who received a Nobel
Peace Prize for her efforts to restore democracy. She is in her
sixth year of house arrest.
   The officials were attending a meeting of the six-nation
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Community, the
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and
Japan. ASEAN is made up of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.
   The United States and ASEAN have disagreed on how to handle
Burma, with Washington trying to isolate its junta while Southeast
Asian nations have a policy of "constructive engagement" with the
Rangoon government.
   "Burma was such a unique turnaround that I don't know how to
describe it. Suddenly there was a convergence of views on the need
to turn the situation around," said Foreign Minister Roberto
Romulo of the Philippines.
   Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw was to attend a meeting of
ASEAN foreign ministers.
   Foreign Minister Gareth Evans of Australia said Burma also must
free other political prisoners, recognize a government elected four
years ago and end its mistreatment of ethnic minorities.
   A political party led by Mrs. Suu Kyi won the 1990 elections,
but the government refused to recognize the results.


 * News, features and more from WOV On-Line