News from India (r)

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             MYANMAR JUNTA IGNORES SUMMIT CALL
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BANGKOK,  June 23.  Myanmar has dismissed a joint call from
nations  at  the Denver  Summit of  the Eight  for Yangon's
military  leaders  to open  a  dialogue with  the country's
democratic opposition and ethnic minorities.

A  senior government  official reached  in Yangon yesterday
claimed  a "meaningful dialogue" was already in progress in
the form of the long-running national convention to frame a
new constitution.

"The  main problem is the West's  refusal to give Myanmar a
chance to prove itself and Constant interference is causing
unnecessary problems," he said.

Ms.  Aung San Suu Kyi's main Opposition National League for
democracy,   which swept  the last pulled  held in Myanmar,
has  pulled out of the convention because it would enshrine
a military presence in any future parliament.

The  official contended that the  appeal on Saturday by the
Foreign  Ministers of the eight leading world powers at the
Denver summit was motivated by domestic concerns of some of
the eight.

The U.S.  which in May adopted investment sanctions against
Myanmar   in  protest   at  human   rights  violations  and
suppression   of   democracy   was  using   Myanmar   as  a
"sacrificial lamb to please her own voters."

He  argued  that  the  junta,   the  State  Law  and  Order
Restoration  Council  (SLORC),  had  made  "positive steps"
towards the goal of multi party democracy.

These included dumping the forma\er socialist
constitution,    introducing  a  free  market  economy  and
bringing  16 ethnic insurgent  groups into the "legalfold."

The  official declined  to comment  on the  G-8's statement
that  it would hold the Myanmarese regime "accountable" for
the  safety of Ms.  Suu Kyi,  whose movements in Yangon and
political activities remain severely restricted.

In  Denver,  the  G-7  nations,  Britain,  Canada,  France,
Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. plus Russia, also called
on  Asean nations to  use their "influence  to encourage an
early return to democracy."


              ACTIVIST GROUP DECRIES ARRESTS
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In a related development,  a southeast Asian activist group
condemned  the  junta for  using  a video  the organization
made of Ms.  Suu Kyi as a pretext for arresting five of her
supporters.

In  the video,  Ms.  Suu Kyi  appealed to Asean leaders not
admit   Myanmar's  military  government   to  the  regional
grouping   until  there  is   progress  towards  democracy.
Altsean, the alternative Asean network on Myanmar, released
the tape on May 28.

Days  later,   Asean  ignored the  1991  Nobel  Peace Prize
winner's  plea and voted  to admit Myanmar  along with Laos
and Cambodia in July.

Last  week,  Myanmar's military government arrested four of
Ms.  Suu Kyi's relatives and her photographer for allegedly
smuggling the video out of the country.

"We  condemn these  arrests and interpret  them as cowardly
acts.   We are sure that those arrested did not smuggle the
video   aborad,"  said  Ms.   Debbie  Stothard,   Altsean's
coordinator.

"We  are deeply  concerned about the  safety and well-being
of  the people arrested and we call for their immediate and
unconditional release," she said.

Those arrested were Cho Aung Than Ms.  Suu Kyi's cousin and
personal  secretary his sister and  her husband,  Ohn Myint
Ms.  Suu  Kyi's  uncle  and  Ko  Sunny,  her  photographer.
(AFP,AP)

                                     The Hindu 24 June 1997
     News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League

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