AP-Dow Jones: Burma Military Vows t

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Subject: AP-Dow Jones: Burma Military Vows to Crush 'Internal Traitors'

Burma Military Vows to Crush 'Internal Traitors'
 
   RANGOON (AP-Dow Jones)--Burma's military rulers and pro-democracy lead=
er Aung
San Suu Kyi fought on in their war of words on Sunday, with a leading =
general
vowing in the press to crush 'internal traitors.' 
   More than 4,000 supporters braved monsoon rains to gather outside the =
home of
Suu Kyi, who spoke for a second straight weekend in defiance of a new =
law
setting 20-year prison sentences for anyone 'threatening the stability =
of the
state.' 
   Despite repeated bans on the weekend pro-democracy gatherings, the =
crowds
have grown so large that young supporters in traditional ribboned straw =
hats
and red armbands joined hands Sunday to control the audience. 
   Suu Kyi told followers it was the government's campaign against her =
movement
that was instilling 'hatred among the people, thus disturbing the peace =
and
tranquility of the nation.' 
   Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring democr=
acy to
Burma, which the military has ruled since 1962. 
   The government has intensified its campaign against her since last =
month,
when Suu Kyi hosted a meeting of opposition leaders at her home. The conf=
erence
was the biggest challenge to the government since she was freed from six =
years
of house arrest last July. 
   The military junta so far has not enforced the bans or moved directly =
against
Suu Kyi. But it has escalated its campaign against the democracy movement
through the state-controlled news media, billboards and staged public
demonstrations. 
   In comments reported in the official press Sunday, military intelligen=
ce
chief Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt threatened to annihilate 'internal =
traitors
beckoning outside influence' - a veiled reference to Suu Kyi. 
   'The government will not allow any attempt by subversives who are tryi=
ng to
destroy the nation's path toward the emergence of a peaceful and prospero=
us
nation,' Khin Nyunt said in a speech to teachers Saturday. 
   Envoys sent by President Bill Clinton to sound out Asian leaders about=
 their
policy toward Burma said Saturday that Washington might consider politica=
l,
diplomatic and possibly economic steps toward sanctions if the situation =
in
Burma deteriorated. 
   Asian leaders agree that both sides in Burma should avoid bloodshed =
through
dialogue and compromise, envoys William Brown and Stanley Roth told a =
Bangkok
news conference. 
   (END) AP-DOW JONES NEWS 16-06-96
   2227GMT