Junta lifts clamp on 300 from Leagu

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Junta lifts clamp on 300 from League 

Saturday  June 7  1997

Junta lifts clamp on 300 from League 

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Rangoon 
The junta has released more than 300 supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi who were 
prevented from attending an opposition party congress held last week, an aide 
to the pro-democracy leader announced yesterday.

"I've heard that everybody has been released," said the aide at Ms Aung San 
Suu Kyi's Rangoon residence.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) said on Thursday that although 
supporters had been unable to attend the congress, they had managed to approve 
21 resolutions through letters, word-of-mouth and group discussions.

In an 11-page statement, the NLD called on the military Government to release 
all political prisoners, convene a parliament and initiate talks with the 
political opposition and ethnic minorities.

International human rights watchdog Amnesty International says about 2,000 
people were detained last year in Burma in connection with calls for improved 
human and political rights.

The NLD aide said 316 party members had been confined to their homes or 
detained by authorities around the country in the run-up to the May 27-28 
congress.

Rangoon has denied any detentions occurred, but said local authorities had 
asked NLD members to stay at home.

Malaysia yesterday vigorously defended ASEAN's decision to admit Burma into 
its ranks next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said criticism of the decision and "talk 
of containment of certain Asian countries demonstrated a predilection to play 
to the gallery rather than face the realities of the region".

South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.