VOA : BURMA/ OPPOSITION -GARY THOMA

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

VOA:DATE=7/17/98

BURMA/ OPPOSITION -GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)


INTRO: BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS DENIED THAT IT HAS 
ARRESTED OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IN RECENT WEEKS AND ACCUSES THE 
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT OF RUMOR MONGERING. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  IN A STATEMENT RECEIVED IN BANGKOK, BURMA'S RULING STATE 
PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL DENIES ALLEGATIONS BY EXILE GROUPS 
OF WHOLESALE ARRESTS OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS.

THE STATEMENT SAYS NOT ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED, AND THAT THE
OPPOSITION POLITICIANS HAVE ONLY BEEN "TEMPORARILY PREVENTED," AS THE
GOVERNMENT PHRASES IT, FROM LEAVING THEIR TOWNSHIPS.  IT SAYS THE
RESTRICTION ON MOVEMENT WAS IMPOSED  SO THAT CLASSES AT INSITUTIONS OF
HIGHER LEARNING CAN PROCEED WITHOUT, AS  THE GOVERNMENT PUTS IT, "BEING
DISTURBED AND POLITICALLY EXPLOITED BY CERTAIN QUARTERS."

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED POLITICIANS OF THE 
NATIONAL  LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME TOWNS AND TO REPORT
TO  AUTHORITIES TWICE A DAY.  EXILE GROUPS ALSO SAY 
THOSE WHO DID NOT COMPLY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED BECAUSE OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S FEARS OF POSSIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS EARLY NEXT MONTH ON THE TENTH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABORTIVE DEMOCRACY 
UPRISING.  THE 1988 RISING WAS RUTHLESSLY CRUSHED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

IN FRIDAY'S STATEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT ACCUSES THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR
DEMOCRACY OF FOSTERING RUMORS OF IMPENDING UNREST TO FORCE THE GOVERNMENT
INTO A DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION.  IT LABELS THE N-L-D'S STANCE 
"IRRESPONSIBLE, UNREALISTIC, AND EMOTIONAL," SAYING IT COULD LEAD BURMA 
INTO BECOMING A "BOSNIA OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION", AS THE STATEMENT PUTS
IT.

THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THIS 
WEEK URGED  THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE CONCESSIONS TO THE OPPOSITION TO LOWER
THE LEVEL OF TENSION IN ADVANCE OF THE AUGUST EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY.  (SIGNED)

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