[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

South Korea Express Regret



Agence France Presse, February 10, 1997

                          February  10, 1997 10:08 GMT


HEADLINE: South Korea expresses regret over MP's deportation from  Burma

DATELINE: SEOUL, Feb 10

   The foreign ministry summoned  Burma's  ambassador to Seoul, U Phone Myiint,
on Monday to express "regret" over the deportation of a South Korean MP from
Rangoon, a ministry spokesman said.

   The ambassador was also asked by Asia-pacific Affairs director Ryu Kwang-Sok
to take steps to prevent a repeat of the incident in which the MP was bundled
aboard a plane despite having a diplomatic passport and a valid visa.

   U Phone Myiint said he would convey the regret and the demand to his
government, the spokesman said.

   Kim Sang-Woo, an opposition member of South Korea's national assembly and a
member of the foreign relations committee, was manhandled at Rangoon airport
when he tried to visit the country Thursday.

   Burmese military intelligence said in a statement at the time that he was
refused entry because he had a history of interfering in  Burma's  internal
affairs.

   Kim was one of a group of 102 opposition MPs who petitioned the South Korean
government to withdraw investment in  Burma  and make more efforts to support
the democratic movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

   In a press conference on arrival in Bangkok, Kim said he was "humilated and
manhandled" by military and plainclothes officials at the airport. He was
bruised but suffered no serious injuries, he added.

   "I wanted to try to see the political situation, which was quite alarming and
worrisome with the threat on the life of Aung San Suu Kyi and the arrest of the
students recently," Kim told the press conference.

   Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which
swept 1990 elections which were cancelled by the Burmese junta, has said a

government minister had suggested in a public address that she be killed.

   Burmese opposition sources said 27 students and about 100 NLD supporters were
still in detention following street protests in December.

   The Burmese military intelligence statement said that during previous visits,
Kim had "blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of  Myanmar (Burma)  and
also collaborated against the country with the anti-government elements residing
abroad."

   Kim countered that the authorities had refused to meet him or the
organisations he represented, despite repeated requests and their desire to get
a balanced view.