Press Release 4/98 of the Myanmar E

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

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> EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR                                             
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> PRESS   RELEASE   4/98         27 July 1998
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> NLD  Attempts to Provoke the Government
> 
> Resorts to Theatrics to Attract Attention of the International Community
> 
> It is regrettable that in recent weeks the National League for Democracy
(NLD)
> has redoubled its efforts to provoke a confrontation with the Government.
The
> NLD and its General-Secretary, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been orchestrating a
> series of incidents to attract attention and garner international sympathy
and
> support. Interestingly enough, such events are planned by the NLD to
invariably
> coincide with  the ASEAN ministerial meetings, the United Nations General
> Assembly and the re-opening of universities and institutes of higher
learning 
> in Myanmar. The NLD antics should be seen for what they really are --
> machivellian schemes to provoke a confrontation as a result of which the NLD
> would be perceived as the aggrieved party and the Government the aggressor.
> The latest incident involving Aung San Suu Kyi, U Hla Pe ( NLD Ayarwaddy
> Division Organizer) and her chauffeur demonstrates how low the NLD  stoops
to
> attract attention.  On 24 July, when Aung San Suu Kyi's car was stopped at a
> police check point west of Yangon, she and her companions  refused to
cooperate
> with the police. She refused to respond to their repeated  enquires about
her
> destination and instead decided not to budge eventhough she was completely
at
> liberty to head back home. She took a deliberate decision to remain in her
car.
> The decision is hers, and hers alone, and no one else should be held
> responsible for her obstinacy . 
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> 
> There are no barbwires, sand bags or other obstacles  placed around the car
,
> as reported , and nothing prevents her form ending her self-imposed
restriction
> and heading 
> home. Obviously this is a premeditated  act. She came well prepared with
> sufficient food and drink and other amenities to last her and her companions
> for a number of days and nights.  Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps in
> Yangon and the international press had the opportunity to visit the site and
> observe the situation first hand on  26 July .
> The NLD has been testing the waters over years to initiate these
provocations.
> In 1996 it attempted to convene a mass gathering despite the Government 's
> warning that it could not permit any activity that would result in igniting 
> inter-party rivalry and that would destroy public peace and tranquility. The
> Government holds that the safety and well-being of the nation is more
important
> than the welfare of a single party or an individual. When the NLD delegates
> ignored the Government's request not to convene the meeting, temporary
> restraining action had to be taken. The NLD made a mountain of a mole hill
and 
> protested.  As expected, some western countries made a hue and a cry. But
when
> the Government allowed the gathering of over 400 NLD delegates at Aung San
Suu
> Kyi's residence the following year, no recognition was given to the
Government
> for its tolerance. Again this year when the Government adopted  a
conciliatory
> approach and allowed the convening of over 300 NLD delegates at Aung San Suu
> Kyi's residence in May  to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the 1990
> elections, no appreciation was shown.
> The NLD, mistaking the Government's magnanimity for weakness issued an
> ultimatum calling for the convening of the parliament by  21 August,1998. 
> Eversince then Aung San Suu Kyi has been actively seeking ways to confront
the
> Government.
> It is the hope of the Government that Aung San Suu Kyi will realize the
folly
> of her uncompromising and belligerent stand and that foreign governments
will
> desist from fanning the flames. The sooner Aung San Suu Kyi mends her ways,
the
> sooner will the people of Myanmar  achieve their goal of a disciplined
> democracy.
> 
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