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BURMA/POLITICS
DATE=5/23/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214697
TITLE=BURMA / POLITICS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MATTHEW CHANCE
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO; THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN BURMA HAVE DENIED ARRESTING
SUPPORTERS OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
DESPITE REPORTS THAT AT LEAST SIXTY MEMBERS OF HER OPPOSITION
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY -- N-L-D -- HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY. BUT AS MATTHEW CHANCE REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIAN
BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE OPPOSITION SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS
DETAINED 110 N-L-D MEMBERS.
TEXT: IN A STATEMENT RELEASED IN RANGOON, THE BURMESE MILITARY
SAYS ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO ARRESTS, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
FOR DEMOCRACY IS BEING CLOSELY WATCHED. THE STATEMENT SAYS
REGIONAL AUTHORITIES ACROSS BURMA HAVE BEEN REQUESTING THAT THE
N-L-D REFRAIN FROM -- IN ITS WORDS -- "TAKING ACTION GEARED TO
CREATING CHAOS IN THE COUNTRY".
ANALYSTS SAY THAT MAY BE A REFERENCE TO THE DECISION BY THE N-L-D
TO PRESS ON WITH PLANNED CELEBRATIONS TO MARK ITS 1990 ELECTION
VICTORY IN BURMA. THE PARTY WON MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN THAT ELECTION, BUT THE RESULT WAS IGNORED
BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE WAS NEVER
CONVENED.
DESPITE THE AUTHORITIES DENIAL THAT ANY ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS SAY AT LEAST SIXTY
N-L-D FIGURES -- INCLUDING SEVERAL ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
-- HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO MILITARY CUSTODY. OTHER OPPOSITION
ACTIVISTS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
THE PARTY'S TOP LEADERS, NUMBERING SOME THREE-HUNDRED ACTIVISTS,
ARE PLANNING TO HOLD CELEBRATIONS AT THE HOUSE OF AUNG SAN SUN
KYI ON MAY 27TH.
THE REPORTS OF A CLAMP-DOWN ON THE OPPOSITION GROUP IN ADVANCE OF
THE MEETING, HAVE SPARKED WIDE SPREAD INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF
THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES. PRESIDENT CLINTON -- WHO RECENTLY
IMPOSED TOUGH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON BURMA -- SAID THE ARRESTS
HAVE JUSTIFIED THE ACTION. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE ALSO BEEN
CALLING ON THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN RANGOON TO RELEASE ALL
THOSE IN CUSTODY.
THE BURMESE MILITARY HAS REACTED STRONGLY TO THE CRITICISMS,
SAYING IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT A GOVERNMENT IS BEING BLAMED FOR
TRYING TO KEEP LAW AND ORDER. (SIGNED)
NEB/MC/SFT/FC /MMK