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Reuters : World concern grows on da



World concern grows on day six of Suu Kyi protest 
08:48 a.m. Jul 29, 1998 Eastern 

By Rajan Moses 

BANGKOK, July 29 (Reuters) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was
running out of food on Wednesday, the sixth day of a sit-in protest in her
car against travel curbs imposed by the military government, diplomats
said. 

A government spokesman denied the report and said Suu Kyi would be given
food if she needed it. But the junta said it was not ready to discuss
growing demands from her party and leading nations that she be allowed to
travel freely. 

In Manila, Myanmar Foreign minister Ohn Gyaw told reporters his government
had rejected requests by several countries to give U.S. and Japanese envoys
immediate access to the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 

Western diplomats in turn vowed to maintain pressure on the junta until it
heeded their calls for democratic reform 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) on Wednesday condemned the
restrictions on her travel, saying it was an attempt to curb her political
activity. 

``It is illegal confinement to bar the general secretary and (her) party
from going from specially designated areas to other places,'' it said in a
statement. 

Security officials on Friday stopped the car carrying Suu Kyi and three
others at a bridge near Anyarsu village, 64 km (40 miles) from Yangon. They
said she could not go to western Pathein township to meet supporters and
should return to Yangon. 

But Suu Kyi refused. She has since stayed in the car except for short
breaks to stretch. 

The government said Suu Kyi was stopped because she did not have her
security team with her and it was concerned she might be harmed by
anti-government elements, leaving authorities open to blame. 

Suu Kyi is the daughter of the late Aung San, revered as the country's
founding father. 

The government has also accused her of trying to foment dissent ahead of
the planned reopening next month of universities and other institutions
closed in December 1996 after student unrest. 

Tensions between the junta and the NLD escalated after Suu Kyi urged the
government to convene by August 21 a parliament comprising members elected
in may 1990. The NLD swept that poll but the military has ignored it. 

``The latest information we have from her party members is that she is
running out of food and medical supplies,'' a diplomat told Reuters by
telephone from Yangon. 

Other diplomats said Suu Kyi was becoming weak with hunger and stress. 

But a government spokesman on Wednesday said Suu Kyi still had boiled eggs,
cakes and other food in the car. 

``They asked for more drinking water this morning. We gave it to them.'' he
said. 

``As to her health, her two personal physicians checked her up yesterday
and we have a medical team on standby. These people are just trying to
sensationalise the issue,'' he said. 

The government had arranged for two physicians to give Suu Kyi daily checks
as recommended by her personal doctors, he added. 

``It is psychological warfare,'' another diplomat said. ``The military
won't touch her but won't allow anyone to get close either.'' 

The government said members of the public and the NLD would not be allowed
to meet Suu Kyi, and urged foreign governments to stop ``fanning the fire''
by backing the NLD. 

The government spokesman also said Suu Kyi, who earlier refused to talk to
negotiators, had broken her silence and demanded to be allowed to travel
freely. 

``But the government position is that we can discuss that later. Not at the
present site. Return to Yangon and we can talk about this later,'' he said.


Asked if he expected a prolonged stand-off, he said: ``We have to wait and
see when (U.S. Secretary of State) Madeleine Albright leaves Asia. Maybe
then (Suu Kyi) will return.'' 

Albright, who is visiting Asia, has demanded Suu Kyi be allowed to travel
freely. 

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson urged the same on
Tuesday. 

And in New Delhi, dozens of Myanmar students marched through the streets on
Wednesday, demanding freedom of travel for Suu Kyi. 

Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw said his government had many ways to end the
stand-off, and rebuffed requests to let U.S. and Japanese envoys meet Suu
Kyi. 

``At this juncture, the meeting with (the) Japanese ambassador and U.S.
charge d'affaires is not urgently needed. Authorities will comply with the
request when necessary,'' he said. 

Diplomats said the stand-off was becoming more tense and there could be
protests by her supporters if anything happened to Suu Kyi. 

``The situation seems to be calm on the surface, but actually it is quite
tense because the stand-off is ongoing,'' one said. ``The supporters of
Aung San Suu Kyi seem to be ready to turn up in full force if anything
happens to her.''