Suu Kyi vows to greater fights (The

[aungsan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Suu Kyi vows to greater fights (The Asian Age, 5/1/97)

Pro-democracy parties in Burma to step up struggle against junta despite 
restrictions

Suu Kyi vows greater fights
The Asian Age, 5/1/97 (New Delhi)
 
BY DEBORAH CHARLES
 
Rangoon, Jan. 4: Burmese Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked the 
nation's 49th anniversary of Independence on Saturday with a vow to step 
up efforts to bring democracy to Burma despite restrictions on her and 
her supporters.
 
"We are going to continue with the work we have set out for ourselves, 
which is to achieve democracy for Burma," said Ms Suu Kyi, daughter of 
General Aung San who was killed as he was finalising of Burma's 
Independence from Britain.
 
"My father did not give up his life that Burma might be crushed under the 
military's boot," Ms Suu Kyi told a news conference during an 
Independence Day celebration. "He gave up his life that Burma might be 
free ... because he thought that only in a free Burma would people be 
able to realise their full potential. We are confident that without 
democracy, Burma can never be the kind of country that the fathers of 
Independence envisaged," she said.
 
The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council made a surprising move 
on Saturday when it allowed Ms Suu Kyi and her National League for 
Democracy party to hold celebrations at her residence.
 
For the past month Ms Suu Kyi has been under close scrutiny, and 
virtually confined to her house as the military government restricted her 
movements and visitors in the wake of a series of student street 
demonstrations and bombings in the capital.
 
Although she said she appreciated the fact the SLORC allowed about 1,500 
NLD members, invited guests and media to pass through barricades blocking 
access to her street to attend the celebration, she blasted the 
government for its restrictive measures and crackdowns on the democracy 
movement.
 
"A little bit more co-operation on the side of the authorities would mean 
a lot of co-operation on our side," she said. She added, the party 
planned to actively recruit new members this year, despite a 1991 law 
banning political parties from increasing in size.
 
The NLD won a landslide victory in a 1990 election, but has never taken 
power because the government refused to recognise the results of the 
poll. (Reuter)