New clamp on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

Saturday, May 17, 1997
New clamp on Suu Kyi 

Sydney Morning Herald
By MARK BAKER

Burma's military regime has imposed tough new restrictions in an attempt to 
stop the democracy leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi from having further access to 
foreigners and the international media.

Officials and journalists accompanying the Thai Prime Minister, Mr Chavalit 
Yong Chai Yudh, on a two-day visit to Rangoon have been ordered not to make 
contact with Ms Suu Kyi or even go near her house. The regime, smarting over 
fresh United States and European economic sanctions against its human rights 
abuses, has already cancelled monthly media briefings and imposed a freeze on 
most visas for foreign journalists.

The latest move, which has angered officials within the Thai Foreign Ministry, 
comes amid a barrage of attacks on the Nobel Peace laureate, who has been back 
under virtual house arrest since December.

A commentary in the official New Light of Myanmar newspaper yesterday 
indirectly described Ms Suu Kyi as a "traitoress maggot" and a foreign 
"stooge" who was seeking to destabilise the nation.