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STATEMENT BY U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT



Subject: STATEMENT BY U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ON SLORC'S ARRESTS OF DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION MEMBERS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
STATEMENT BY JAMES P RUBIN
"Burma: Arrests of Democratic Opposition Members"
August 19, 1997
On August 15, the Burmese authorities sentenced three associates of Aung San Suu
Kyi to 10 years in prison for unlawful association and allegedly assisting U.S.
nongovernmental organizations to smuggle 85,000 dollars to Aung San Suu Kyi. The
charges had been detailed by State Law and Order Restoration Council Secretary
1st Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt during a June 27 press conference. The SLORC
also announced that a fourth individual, Myo Aung Thant, was sentenced to
life in
prison for high treason, allegedly for trying to smuggle explosives into
Burma and for
purported involvement in terrorist attacks.
The U.S. strongly condemns the lack of due process in the trial and
sentencing of
these four individuals. The fact that these harsh sentences were imposed
after closed
trials once again illustrates the completely opaque judicial process in
Burma. We
again call on the SLORC to release all political prisoners immediately and
to begin a
dialogue aimed at national reconciliation with the National League for
Democracy,
including Aung San Suu Kyi, and with other democratic parties and the ethnic
minorities.
We understand that both Aung San Suu Kyi and the nongovernmental organizations
allegedly involved have strongly denied the accusations that U.S. NGOs funneled
money to Aung San Suu Kyi.
The U.S. also rejects once again the outrageous charge that the U.S. was
involved in
sponsoring terrorist attacks in Burma. The American people have been
victimized by
acts of terrorism and no country in the world has done more to fight the
international
scourge of terrorism than has the United States.
Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman August 19, 1997
[End of Document]