KYODO: Suu Kyi rejects junta-drafte

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Subject: KYODO: Suu Kyi rejects junta-drafted constitution

Myanmar's Suu Kyi rejects junta-drafted constitution
     YANGON, June 24 Kyodo - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi said Monday the ruling military junta has no right to draw up a
new constitution, demonstrating that she will continue her fight for
democracy despite a new law aimed at suppressing political dissent.
     Suu Kyi said in an interview with Kyodo News, ''Nobody except
for those who were chosen by the people'' (in the aborted 1990
general election) can work out a new constitution for the country.''
     The junta, self-styled as the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC), refuses to recognize the outcome of the election
which brought a landslide victory for Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD).
     Instead of convening the elected legislature, the junta called a
national assembly to draft a new constitution under which new general
elections are to be held.  The parts of the constitution completed so
far guarantee the military a substantial share of posts and influence
in future governments.
     On June 7, SLORC banned anyone from inciting, demonstrating,
delivering speeches or expressing either by mouth or in writing
anything that would undermine the prevalence of law and order, public
peace and tranquility, or national reconciliation.  The law also
prohibits drafting and publishing a constitution without junta permit.
     Violators face 5-20 years imprisonment and any organization
found to violate the law can be dissolved, suspended or outlawed.
     Since the enactment of the law, Nobel peace prize laureate Suu
Kyi, who had made a series of speeches attacking the junta since her
release from house arrest in July 1995, has refrained from touching
on the constitution issue in her regular addresses to her supporters
in front of her Yangon home.
     The junta arrested more than 260 NLD members last month to
prevent them from attending a party congress held at Suu Kyi's
residence in Yangon.  Those who did manage to attend the congress
decided that the NLD should draw up its own constitution.
     Against the backdrop of the new law, Suu Kyi said that her party
would discuss what kind of constitution would contribute to
democracy.  ''I cannot see why we cannot discuss the (constitutional)
principles,'' she said in the interview.
     She reiterated that the law could be abused to suppress any kind
of legitimate political activity while calling on the junta to work
for a detente with its opposition rather than aggravate the situation.
     The pro-democracy leader also indirectly criticized the partial
resumption of Japanese official development aid, demanding that any
assistance should be ''absolutely'' linked to democratization and
improvements in human rights.
     But she expressed gratitude for Tokyo's response to the
nationwide crackdown on the opposition.  ''We are very glad the
Japanese prime minister and foreign minister took a very strong
stance regarding the arrest of NLD members.  We all very much
appreciate it,'' she said.
     She said the fact that the seven-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), which pursues a policy of constructive
engagement with the junta, is moving toward accepting Myanmar as a
member, ''will not improve the image of ASEAN.''
     Myanmar, which has expressed the desire to become a full member
of ASEAN in 1998, will be officially welcomed as an observer at an
ASEAN ministerial meeting in mid-July.
==Kyodo
KWS-00:35-25-06-96