109 NLD's members detaibed

[dvb@xxxxx]

DATE=9/27/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-203753
TITLE=BURMA-CONGRESS (S)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN BURMA HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO PREVENT
A NATIONAL CONGRESS OF PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.  SECURITY FORCES 
FRIDAY BLOCKED ACCESS TO THE VENUE OF THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE OF
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY AND DETAINED MORE THAN 100 
PARTY ACTIVISTS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM 
OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES FANNED OUT ALONG UNIVERSITY 
AVENUE IN NORTHERN RANGOON FRIDAY TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM REACHING
THE HOME OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  SPEAKING BY TELEPHONE FROM 
RANGOON, A RANKING BURMESE MILITARY SOURCE SAID 109 N-L-D 
ACTIVISTS HAD BEEN, IN HIS WORDS, "PICKED UP FOR QUESTIONING."  
HE DENIED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND SAID THEY WOULD SOON 
BE RELEASED.

HE SAYS NONE OF THE N-L-D EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, INCLUDING 
AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WOULD BE DETAINED.

THE N-L-D HAD CALLED A THREE-DAY NATIONAL PARTY CONGRESS TO BE 
HELD AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME STARTING FRIDAY, WITH ABOUT 200 
N-L-D MEMBERS PLANNING TO ATTEND.

THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, WHO ASKED  NOT  TO BE NAMED, 
SAYS THE N-L-D MEETING WAS DESIGNED TO, IN HIS WORDS, "PUT THE 
GOVERNMENT INTO A CORNER."  HE CHARGES IT HAD BEEN ORGANIZED IN 
COLLABORATION WITH THE U-S EMBASSY IN RANGOON TO, AS HE PUT IT, 
"CREATE UNNECESSARY CONFUSION AND UNREST" IN THE COUNTRY.  HE 
ADDED THAT THE N-L-D HAD ALSO  NOT  OBTAINED PERMISSION FROM 
LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR SUCH A LARGE GATHERING.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/SFT/CF

27-Sep-96 5:30 AM EDT (0930 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America