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VOA : BURMA / MEDIA (r)
Voice of America
DATE=7/31/98
BURMA / MEDIA
RON CORBEN
BANGKOK
INTRO: FRIDAY,BURMA'S MILITARY-CONTROLLED MEDIA LASHED OUT AT
AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- EVEN AS THE OPPOSITION LEADER VOWED TO
CONTINUE HER CAMPAIGN TO MEET WITH PARTY MEMBERS OF HER NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY. RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THE WAR
OF WORDS COMES AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM HER
SIX-DAY ORDEAL, BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN END BY THE MILITARY.
TEXT: IN A RENEWED CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOTH AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED AN
ATTACK ON THE OPPOSITION LEADER FRIDAY. STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA
ACCUSED HER OF BEING ON THE PAYROLL OF THE BRITISH AND UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENTS.
THE STATE-OWNED "NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR" NEWSPAPER ACCUSES AUNG SAN
SUU KYI, REFERRING TO HER FATHER, INDEPENDENCE LEADER, THAKIN
AUNG SAN, OF CARRYING OUT PAID WORK ASSIGNED BY BRITAIN AND THE
UNITED STATES.
BURMA WAS A COLONY OF BRITAIN UNTIL ITS INDEPENDENCE IN 1948,
AND THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR AN END TO
MILITARY RULE IN BURMA EVER SINCE 1962.
THE PAPER, IN A FRONT PAGE COMMENTARY, ENTITLED "HANDS OFF OUR
NATION," REFLECTED THE REGULAR WAR OF WORDS THE MILITARY LAUNCHES
AGAINST AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHO WAS FORCIBLY RETURNED TO RANGOON WEDNESDAY
EVENING, ENDING A SIX-DAY STANDOFF WITH THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT,
HAS VOWED TO CARRY ON THE CAMPAIGN ONCE SHE RECOVERS.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS CALLED THE FORCED
RETURN OF THE N-L-D LEADER TO RANGOON, AN UNACCEPTABLE VIOLATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
//OPT//
AUNG SAN SUU KYI TRAVELED OUT OF RANGOON THREE TIMES THIS MONTH
TO MEET WITH N-L-D PARTY MEMBERS, IN RESPONSE TO MOVES BY THE
MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN ON THE PARTY. THE NEW HARD
LINE FOLLOWED THE OPPOSITION LEADER'S CALL FOR THE RECONVENING OF
PARLIAMENT ON AUGUST 21ST.
THE U-S EMBASSY IN RANGOON HAS ACCUSED THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF
LYING TO BOTH THE LOCAL DIPLOMATS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
ABOUT THE STATE OF HEALTH OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI DURING THE
STAND-OFF. THE EMBASSY ALSO SAID BURMESE OFFICIALS HAD WILLFULLY
WITHHELD FOOD AND WATER FROM AUNG SAN SUU KYI, AS PART OF A
STRATEGY TO BREAK HER WILL DURING THE IMPASSE AND FORCE HER
RETURN TO RANGOON. IN THE END, THE AUTHORITIES COMMANDEERED HER
CAR, WITH POLICE OFFICERS BRINGING AUNG SAN SUU KYI BACK TO THE
BURMESE CAPITAL IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
AN N-L-D STATEMENT ACCUSED THE MILITARY OF COMMITTING A CRIMINAL
ACT, BY ABDUCTING THE N-L-D LEADER.
//END OPT//
THE INCIDENT CAME AS TENSIONS WERE RISING IN BURMA, IN ADVANCE OF
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN EARLY OF THE BRUTAL 1988 CRACK DOWN
AGAINST PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS, THAT LEFT THOUSANDS DEAD AND
INJURED AND FORCED MANY STUDENTS TO FLEE THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RC/GC/FC
31-Jul-98 5:37 AM EDT (0937 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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