VOA 5/27 Burma Democracy Groups

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DATE=5/27/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-197770
TITLE=BURMA/DEMOCRACY GROUPS (L-O)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BURMESE EXILE DEMOCRACY GROUPS HAVE RENEWED A CALL FOR 
TALKS BETWEEN BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTRY'S 
DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.  V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM BANGKOK 
ABOUT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WHICH THE GROUPS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI:

TEXT:  FOUR ORGANIZATIONS IN A COALITION CALLED THE NATIONAL 
COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA (N-C-U-B) URGE THE UNCONDITIONAL 
RELEASE OF MEMBERS OF THE N-L-D DETAINED BY THE MILITARY JUNTA.

THE GROUPS URGE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FURTHER ISOLATE 
THE BURMESE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND DENY IT ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE. 
A STATEMENT REPEATS PAST CONDEMNATIONS OF A MILITARY-RUN NATIONAL
CONVENTION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE COUNCIL CALLS FOR THREE-WAY TALKS INVOLVING
BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, AND 
BURMESE ETHNIC GROUPS.

/// OPT /// TIN MAUNG WIN IS A SENIOR FIGURE IN THE DEMOCRATIC 
ALLIANCE OF BURMA (D-A-B) -- ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COALITION 
WHICH RECENTLY HELD A CONFERENCE ALONG THE THAI-BURMA BORDER.

                    /// TIN MAUNG WIN ACT ///

 THIS CONFERENCE SERIOUSLY CALLS UPON THE SLORC TO STOP ARRESTING
LEADERS OF THE N-L-D LED BY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND THE ELECTED 
REPRESENTATIVES, AND RELEASE THEM UN-CONDITIONALLY, TO CEASE 
OPPRESSING THE PEOPLE, AND TO HOLD A GENUINE TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE 
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION.

                         /// END ACT ///

                         /// END OPT ///

AUNG HTOO, AN OFFICIAL OF ANOTHER COALITION GROUP -- THE ALL 
BURMA STUDENTS DEMOCRATIC FRONT -- SAYS INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON
THE RANGOON JUNTA COULD PERSUADE IT TO MOVE TOWARD NEGOTIATION:

                      /// AUNG HTOO ACT ///

 IT DEPENDS ON THE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE.  THE UNITED STATES IS 
TRYING TO PASS THE SANCTIONS BILL, AND THERE IS PRESSURE FROM 
OTHER COUNTRIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  IF THEY MOVE TO
PUT MORE PRESSURE ON SLORC, (THE MILITARY RULERS) WILL HAVE NO 
ALTERNATIVE BUT TO HOLD A POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI AND THE ETHNIC FORCES.  WE HOPE SO.

                         /// END ACT ///

BURMESE OPPOSITION GROUPS SAY IF THE MILITARY AGREES, TALKS 
SHOULD LEAD TO CONVENING A PARLIAMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE
1990 ELECTION THAT WAS WON OVER-WHELMINGLY BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
FOR DEMOCRACY.

THEY ALSO CALL FOR FORMATION OF AN INTERIM COALITION GOVERNMENT, 
AND A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO REPLACE ONE CONTROLLED BY 
THE RANGOON JUNTA.  THEY DEMAND A NATIONWIDE CEASEFIRE, RELEASE 
OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND ELIMINATION OF REPRESSIVE LAWS.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

27-May-96 8:09 AM EDT (1209 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America