[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Reuters : Suu Kyi's health question



Suu Kyi's health questioned on day six of sit-in 
04:14 a.m. Jul 29, 1998 Eastern 

By Sutin Wannabovorn 

BANGKOK, July 29 (Reuters) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is
running out of food and her health may be failing on the sixth day of a
silent protest in her car against government curbs on her travel, diplomats
said on Wednesday. 

But a government spokesman disputed the claim. 

He said Suu Kyi and three others with her still had boiled eggs, cakes and
other food in her car at Anyarsu village about 64 km (40 miles) southwest
of the capital Yangon. 

The group was blocked at the village on Friday and prevented from
travelling to Pathein township to meet supporters. Suu Kyi has since
refused to budge from where her car was stopped or to discuss the
government's request that she return to Yangon. 

Diplomats, however, said Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for
her efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar, was becoming weak with hunger
and stress. 

``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. 

The government spokesman said Suu Kyi and her fellow protesters were given
water on Wednesday morning. ``They asked for more drinking water this
morning. We gave it to them.'' 

``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. 

Another diplomat said the current standoff between Suu Kyi, who is general
secretary of the National League for Democracy political party (NLD), was a
psychological battle. 

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

Suu Kyi has been sitting defiantly in the car most of the time with a few
short breaks to stretch her legs. 

The government spokesman said Suu Kyi had now broken her silence and was
demanding that she be allowed by the military to travel freely around the
country. 

``Yes, she's now talking with negotiators and demanding that she be given
the right to travel all over the country to do party work,'' he said. 

``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
added. 

Asked if he expected the standoff with Suu Kyi to be prolonged, the
spokesman said: ``We have to wait and see when Madeleine Albright leaves
Asia. Maybe then she (Suu Kyi) will return. She should take care of her
health and return.'' 

U.S. Secretary of State Abright, a staunch supporter of Suu Kyi's cause, is
on a visit to Asia and has demanded that the Nobel laureate be allowed to
travel freely. 

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

Suu Kyi's protest has turned into a major political confrontation in recent
days with the United States, Japan and other countries urging the military
junta not to escalate the situation or jeopardise Suu Kyi's health or
safety. 

But the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has accused Suu
Kyi of deliberately seeking confrontation and has said she was pushing them
``inescapably'' into reacting. 

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

But the NLD disputed this and said it was an excuse used by the government
to curb the political activities of Suu Kyi and the party. 

The ruling council also accused her of trying to foment dissent ahead of
the planned reopening next month of universities and other institutions,
closed in December 1996 due to student unrest. 

Tensions between the SPDC 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. 

Diplomats said the car standoff was becoming more tense and that if
anything happened to Suu Kyi there could be protests by her supporters. 

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