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

VOA : ALBRIGHT / BURMA -GIL BUTLER(



Voice of America
DATE=7/30/98
ALBRIGHT / BURMA 
GIL BUTLER(SYDNEY)
  

INTRO:  SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS AGAIN STRUCK AT
THE  GOVERNMENT OF BURMA FOR ITS TREATMENT OF PRO-DEMOCRACY 
ACTIVIST AUNG  SAN SUU KYI.  THE BURMESE ACTIVIST IS BACK IN HER 
COMPOUND IN RANGOON, AFTER A LONG STANDOFF WITH AUTHORITIES THAT 
KEPT HER CONFINED TO HER CAR FOR DAYS.  SECRETARY ALBRIGHT MADE 
HER COMMENTS IN A SPEECH IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.  VOA'S GIL BUTLER 
HAS MORE.

TEXT:  SECRETARY ALBRIGHT WAS ADDRESSING THE AUSTRALASIA CENTER 
IN  SYDNEY AND TOLD HER AUDIENCE AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAD BEEN 
RETURNED TO RANGOON AGAINST HER WILL, AFTER A SIX DAY STANDOFF.

         /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///

 TODAY AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHO WAS MARKING HER SIXTH DAY IN A 
STANDOFF WAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN, TAKEN IN HER CAR BY A MILITARY 
DRIVER BACK TO RANGOON, AND THEREBY FORBIDDEN FROM EXERCISING A 
BASIC HUMAN RIGHT -- WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL FREELY IN 
YOUR OWN COUNTRY. 

 WE THINK THAT THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE VIOLATION OF HER HUMAN 
RIGHTS  AND WILL ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FURTHER ISOLATION OF 
BURMA, A COUNTRY  WHOSE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE 
GOVERNMENT IS NOT MOVING IN A  WAY TO HAVE THE KIND OF DIALOGUE 
AND DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE THAT IS NECESSARY.

           /// END ACT ///

A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO DEAL.  THE OFFICIAL 
CITED THE TOP AMERICAN DIPLOMAT IN RANGOON AS REPORTING THAT AUNG
SAN SUU KY WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE AND HE WAS 
DENIED ACCESS TO THE ACTIVIST.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT TOLD HER AUSTRALIAN AUDIENCE THAT EVENTUALLY 
BURMA'S POLITICAL CONDITIONS WILL CHANGE.

         /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///

 CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE CAN MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE 
REGIME TO RESIST REFORM.  DIPLOMACY CAN OFFER IT FACE-SAVING WAYS
TO COMPROMISE AND OUR NATIONS SHOULD PURSUE BOTH TRACKS AND 
DEEPEN OUR COOPERATION ON THIS ISSUE.

          /// END ACT ///

AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE NOW WAITING TO SEE IF AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS 
ALLOWED TO HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO GIVE HER VERSION OF THE 
STANDOFF.(SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/FC 

30-Jul-98 12:59 AM EDT (0459 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
 .