Myanmar exiles join Aung San Suu Ky

[kyawkyaw@xxxxxxx]

BANGKOK, Aug 4 (AFP) - Exiled Myanmar students and ethnic minorities Tuesday
called on the ruling military in Yangon to convene parliament and open
dialogue with opposition parties.

In a statement issued in Bangkok, the Shan Democratic Union (SDU) urged the
junta to convene parliament in accordance with overturned 1990 elections won
in a landslide by opposition parties.

"The SDU also urges elected MPs to heed the people's mandate given them in
1990. The people want them in power and not the generals," said the
statement by the forum for exiled groups from Myanmar's Shan State.

It also called on the international community to put pressure on the junta
to recognise the results of the 1990 elections and to begin dialogue with
the opposition.

A group of some 20 exiled students also rallied outside the Myanmar embassy
Tuesday in support of opposition leader Aun San Suu Kyi, demanding her call
for a parliament to be convened before August 21 be met.

Chanting slogans and carrying posters bearing the image of National League
for Democracy chief Aung San Suu Kyi, they demanded she be given freedom to
visit supporters outside the capital.

The Nobel peace prize laureate remained in her car in a tense six-day
stand-off with the authorities last week when she was prevented from
visiting provincial party officials.

It was the third time she had been stopped trying to leave the capital in
three weeks.

Parliament has never met but the NLD has told the junta it must convene the
assembly by August 21 or face unspecified consequences.

Political tensions have escalated amid a series of sensitive anniversaries
during July and August, marking key events including military crackdowns on
pro-democracy demonstrators.

Foreign diplomats in Yangon said Tuesday the city was quiet, with no
noticeable increase in security.

They said the junta had allowed some diplomats and opposition supporters
access to Aung San Suu Kyi, who was suffering ill health following her
roadside standoff with the military.