UN/BURMA Report

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ATE=1/20/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225522

TITLE=U-N / BURMA (L ONLY)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS ENVOY HAS ARRIVED IN BURMA FOR TALKS.  

THE ENVOY -- A SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI 

ANNAN -- IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH BOTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND 

LEADERS OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.  VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY 

THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.


TEXT: U-N SPECIAL ENVOY ALVARO DE SOTO ARRIVED IN RANGOON TUESDAY

TO START A THREE-DAY VISIT EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON POLITICAL REFORM 

AND HUMAN RIGHTS.


MR. DE SOTO IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OHN GYAW 

ON  WEDNESDAY.  THE REST OF HIS SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN DISCLOSED, 

BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH SENIOR GENERALS OF THE RULING 

STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI, 

LEADER OF BURMA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.


BURMA'S RULERS HAVE RESISTED ANY VISITS TO THEIR COUNTRY BY HUMAN

RIGHTS MONITORS.  PERMISSION FOR THE TRIP WAS GRANTED IN A 

DECEMBER MEETING BETWEEN GENERAL THAN SHWE AND U-N SECRETARY KOFI

ANNAN IN KUALA LUMPUR.


MR. DE SOTO IS EXPECTED TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN TALKS WITH

THE  DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, SPEED UP THE WRITING OF A NEW 

CONSTITUTION, AND TO HOLD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.


THE LAST ELECTION, HELD IN 1990, WAS OVERWHELMINGLY WON BY AUNG 

SAN SUU KYI'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, BUT THE GENERALS 

THREW OUT THE ELECTION RESULTS.  SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNMENT HAS 

FIRMLY HELD ON TO POWER AND KEPT A TIGHT REIN ON POLITICAL 

ACTIVITY.


THE LEADER OF ONE BURMESE EXILE ORGANIZATION IS QUOTED AS SAYING 

THAT  BURMA DOES NOT NEED NEW ELECTIONS, BUT NEEDS THE RESULTS OF

THE 1990 POLLS REINSTATED.  HOWEVER, SOME RANGOON-BASED 

DIPLOMATIC ANALYSTS SAY THAT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL SINCE MANY OF

THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE DIED, GONE INTO EXILE, ARE

IN FRAIL HEALTH, OR HAVE RESIGNED THEIR SEATS -- OFTEN UNDER 

GOVERNMENT PRESSURE.


IN AN OPEN LETTER, THE ALL BURMESE STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT 

ALSO URGED MR. DE SOTO TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO RE-OPEN SCHOOLS 

AND UNIVERSITIES CLOSED BECAUSE OF STUDENT UNREST, TO RAISE THE 

ISSUE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND TO SPUR THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD 

A DIALOGUE WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.  (SIGNED)


NEB/GPT/FC


20-Jan-98 5:28 AM EST (1028 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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