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Burma Dissident's Car Attacked



11/09:  Burma Dissident's Car Attacked

 .c The Associated Press 

RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- A mob of about 200 people today attacked cars carrying
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her two top aides, witnesses said.
It was not known whether anyone was hurt. 

The attack was almost certainly organized by Burma's military government,
which otherwise strictly enforces a ban on public gatherings. Soldiers stood
by and did not intervene. 

Witnesses said the attack took place this afternoon as Suu Kyi and two other
top leaders of her National League for Democracy, Kyi Maung and Tin Oo, left
Kyi Maung's house in two cars. 

The mob began beating the cars with fists and sticks, smashing the windows of
Tin Oo's car and denting its sides. It was not clear what damage was done to
the first car, carrying Suu Kyi and Kyi Maung. 

Other mobs were seen roaming the streets from intersection to intersection,
led by men with walkie-talkies who appeared to be from military intelligence.


Only security personnel are allowed to carry such radios in Burma, where
unregistered possession of even a fax machine or modem is punishable by
several years' imprisonment. 

Burma's military government, which came to power in 1988 after violently
suppressing pro-democracy street demonstrations, deals harshly with all
dissent and keeps a tight control on law and order. 

The authorities have barred people from coming to listen to Suu Kyi in front
of her house, where up until about six weeks ago she addressed several
thousand of her supporters every weekend. She began the meetings in July 1995
after being released from six years of house arrest. 

After their cars were attacked, Suu Kyi and her associates drove to an
intersection where they managed to speak briefly to a small crowd of
supporters. 

Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring democracy to
Burma, also known as Myanmar. 

AP-NY-11-09-96 0801EST 

Copyright 1996 The Associated Press.  The information  contained in the AP
news report may not be published,  broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without  prior written authority of The Associated Press. 
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