(12/04/88) Aung Gyi Ousted

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                           The Reuter Library Report

                       December  4, 1988, Sunday, PM cycle



HEADLINE: BURMESE OPPOSITION FIGURE RESIGNS IN ROW OVER COMMUNISM

BYLINE: By David Storey

DATELINE: BANGKOK, Dec 4


   The chairman of the main opposition group fighting for democracy in Burma
resigned at the weekend after a row over possible communist influence.

   The National League for Democracy issued a statement saying General Aung Gyi,
a collaborator-turned-critic of veteran leader Ne Win, resigned as chairman on
Saturday.
Reuters; December 4, 1988                           
                                                                                
   He left after fellow members of the League's 42-member central council voted 
to reject his charges against eight council members of being communist or
communist sympathisers, the statement, received in Bangkok, said.

   Aung Gyi, 70, had already established a separate group, the Union National
Democracy Party, and he was expected to register this with the election
commission to compete politically with the League, political sources in Rangoon 
said.

   The military authorities, who staged a bloody army takeover on September 18
after a popular uprising against one-party socialist rule, have said they would 
hold elections when they deem law and order have been restored.

   More than 150 parties have registered with the commission.

   There was no immediate comment from Aung San Suu Kyi, the 43-year-old
daughter of national hero Aung San and secretary general of the League, who
emerged as a focus of opposition hopes during months of mass demonstrations last
summer.

   A source close to Aung San Suu Kyi, said General Tin Oo, a 62-year-old former
defence minister and vice chairman of the League, would not be leaving the

group to join Aung Gyi. The three-way alliance was the driving force of the
group.

   The split in the League was considered by diplomats as a serious blow for the
emerging political opposition that sought a broad-based unity to combat the
small military elite under Ne Win that has ruled Burma for 26 years.

   But western diplomats said some League leaders expressed relief on the
departure of Aung Gyi whose close link with the military establishment was
considered a mixed blessing.

   While he could talk easily with army chiefs, his past raised suspicion with
the young activists who form the core of the League's support.

   League sources said Aung Gyi had accused eight members of the council,
including three of the 12-member national executive, of being communist or
having communist links.

   There was no immediate reaction from the ruling military council under
General  Saw Maung  which has complete control over the radio and television and
over the only two newspapers being published. 
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH