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NCGUB calls for protection of NLD l (r)




Press Release					Contact: Bo Hla-Tint

July 30, 1998					Tel: 202 393-7342

						Tel: 301 230 1569 (H)

						Fax: 202 393 7343


National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma

815 Fiftheenth Street, NW, Suite 910

Washington DC 20005

		

NCGUB calls for protection of NLD leader, arrested MPs


Dr. Sein Win, the Prime Minister of the National Coalition Government of
the Union of  Burma  (N.C.G.U.B.) condemned the ruling junta for
threatening to kill Aung San Suu Kyi and carrying out mass arrests of
elected members of parliament.  "I am alarmed that the junta has
threatened to assassinate our leader and is arresting elected
representatives." said Dr. Sein Win, who is also Aung San Suu Kyi's
cousin.  "Civilized governments do not behave this way and the
international community must act quickly to safeguard Daw Suu and my
fellow members of parliament or it could be too late."


In an article printed in the state-controlled New Light of Myanmar
newspaper, the regime warned that Aung San Suu Kyi could become another
Ngo Dinh Diem, a former President of South Vietnam was assassinated at
the direction of generals in the South Vietnamese army during a coup in
1963.


In the last 48 hours, military intelligence agents have also been
arresting MPs in Irrawaddy, Mandalay, Shan and Pegu Divisions and are
gathering around party headquarters in Rangoon, where more arrests appear
imminent.  The N.C.G.U.B. has confirmed the names of three of those
arrested and is trying to determine how many others have been taken.  
Elected M.P.s arrested thus far include Mahn Johny, (N.L.D., KyongPyaw
township), David Hla Myint, (N.L.D., Ngapudaw township and Dr. Tin Min
Htut, (N.L.D., Pantanaw township).


Burma is seeking Overseas Development Assistance from Japan, which would
be imperiled if Aung San Suu Kyi and the others are harmed.  The regime
in Burma is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations,  leading some members to reconsider their
long-held policy of not criticizing fellow members.


-----------------------------------------------


<italic>"I am alarmed that the junta has threatened to assassinate our
leader and is arresting elected representatives.  Civilized governments
do not behave this way and the international community must act quickly
to safeguard Daw Suu and my fellow members of parliament or it could be
too late." </italic>	


<italic>Prime Minister Sein Win

</italic> 

------------------------------------


Background:


The threat to kill Aung San Suu Kyi and the current arrests are the most
serious attacks on the National League for Democracy since November 1996,
when a mob acting at the direction of military intelligence agents
attacked her car with rocks and crowbars.  The incident led in part to
the imposition of U.S. sanctions on the military regime.



With the economy collapsing due to economic mismanagement and corruption,
a crisis has been steadily escalating, which accelerated on June 21, when
the National League for Democracy issued a demanded that the military
convene a parliamentary session of the elected members of the 1990
general elections by Aug. 21.  


On June 25, Aung San Suu Kyi was slightly hurt by military police as she
tried to escort a group of students past police lines into her home.  The
students had been regularly coming for study sessions for some months and
had planned to read a book on how democracy functions in the United
States.  To protest the student's treatment, Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin
Oo, another senior N.L.D. leader joined them as they staged a sit-in
demonstration during monsoon rains in the street outside her home.


On June 29, the regime threatened to take legal action against Aung San
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, implying that they would
be jailed for up to twenty years for causing people to "misunderstand"
the regime.  The regime itself is fighting possible legal actions, as
press reports indicate that it is waging a campaign, coordinated with
other pariah states to sabotage negotiations for an international
convention to form an International Criminal Court. (Gwynne Dyer, "An
International Criminal Court: Why the devil is in the details" The San
Diego Union-Tribune, June 21, 1998, pg. G-5.)