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BURMA/SUU KYI



DATE=7/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235118
TITLE=BURMA / SUU KYI
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   BURMESE AUTHORITIES SAY POLICE HAVE PREVENTED OPPOSITION
LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM CONTINUING ON A TRIP SHE IS MAKING 
OUTSIDE OF THE BURMESE CAPITAL.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR
SAYS U-S OFFICIALS HAVE REACTED TO THE INCIDENT BY CRITICIZING 
BURMA FOR RESTRICTING HER MOVEMENTS.

INTRO:   THE INCIDENT BEGAN LATE TUESDAY WHEN THE NOBEL LAUREATE 
AND ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES (CHAIRMAN AUNG SHWE OF THE NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY) APPARENTLY ELUDED HER NORMAL GOVERNMENT 
SECURITY ESCORT.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAID SHE WAS STOPPED ABOUT 80 KILOMETERS 
NORTH OF RANGOON (AT THE TOWN OF SHWE MYA YAR) AND WAS ASKED TO 
RETURN TO THE CAPITAL.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN IN 
WASHINGTON, THE OPPOSITION LEADER INSISTED ON CONTINUING HER 
JOURNEY. SHE WAS PLANNING TO VISIT ONE OF HER POLITICAL PARTY 
OFFICIALS WHO WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN 1990.  SHE WAS 
REPORTED TO HAVE REMAINED IN THE TOWN OVERNIGHT.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN CRITICIZED THE BURMESE 
AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

                         ///RUBIN ACT///

         BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, WE CONDEMN THE APPARENT 
         ABRIDGEMENT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF 
         MOVEMENT AND HER RIGHT TO VISIT WHOMEVER SHE CHOOSES.  
         ALL BURMESE SHOULD ENJOY THESE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.  THE 
         RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ARE ILLEGAL UNDER BURMESE LAW AND, 
         IN OUR VIEW, ARE IN ANY CASE, CLEARLY AN INFRINGEMENT OF
         THE BASIC RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.

                          ///END CUT///

THE SPOKESMAN SAYS U-S EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN RANGOON HAVE SOUGHT 
CLARIFICATION OF THE INCIDENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

BURMESE AUTHORITIES ISSUED A STATEMENT LATE TUESDAY SAYING AUNG 
SAN SUU KYI WAS STOPPED FOR HER OWN SECURITY AND TO PREVENT HER 
FROM CREATING POLITICAL UNREST.

THE INCIDENT COMES AS TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED BETWEEN THE 
OPPOSITION AND THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

                         ///REST OPT///

IT CAME ON THE SAME DAY AS AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY OF A 
CRACKDOWN ON STUDENT PROTESTERS IN 1962.  THE GOVERNMENT 
STATEMENT ACCUSED AUNG SANG SUU KYI OF TRYING TO USE THE 
ANNIVERSARY TO CREATE AN UNWANTED CONFRONTATION.

IN THE PAST FEW DAYS OFFICIALS HAVE RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF 
MEMBERS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S POLITICAL PARTY.  THERE WAS ALSO AN
INCIDENT IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE LATE LAST MONTH IN WHICH MEMBERS 
OF THE YOUTH WING OF HER POLITICAL GROUP WERE BLOCKED BY POLICE 
FROM HOLDING A MEETING. (SIGNED)



NEB/DWD/PT

07-Jul-98 5:04 PM EDT (2104 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
 .