League seeks prisoner release

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Monday  September 29  1997

League seeks prisoner release 
AGENCIES in Rangoon 
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi pressed yesterday for the release of 
political prisoners held by the ruling military junta and urged it to open 
political talks with her party.
"There is no means to solve the nation's problems other than a meaningful 
dialogue," the party announced at the end of its first successful congress in 
years.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi estimated there were more than 1,000 political prisoners 
being held by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
Her National League for Democracy also demanded the SLORC honours the party's 
sweeping victory in Burma's 1990 general election.
The meeting, held in a tent in the grounds of her Rangoon homeand attended by 
700 delegates, marked the ninth anniversary of the party's founding.
It was held with the blessing of the SLORC, and the Nobel laureate, noting it 
was the first time in seven years the party had been able to hold a congress 
with complete nationwide representation, requested such co-operation continue.
"I am firmly convinced that the National League for Democracy and the 
authorities will be able to co-operate holding hands together to work for the 
country," she said.
In November 1995 the party walked out of a government-appointed assembly 
convened to draft a new constitution. Since then the SLORC has been at 
loggerheads with the party and has curbed its political activities.
Earlier this month, a meeting sought by powerful junta secretary Lieutenant 
General Khin Nyunt with senior party leaders fell through because the League 
insisted Ms Aung San Suu Kyi should be present.
The League reiterated yesterday that it had mandated key representatives of 
the party for all important matters to be its chairman, Aung Shwe, and 
secretary general, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
Analysts and diplomats said the SLORC - under pressure following the country's 
admission in July to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - allowed the 
two-day meeting to take place because it did not want to provoke western 
criticism by creating new incidents.