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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)
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Source: Voice of America
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