BBC : Burmese agree to pull back gu

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Friday, August 7, 1998 Published at 19:27 GMT 20:27 UK 
World: South Asia

Burmese agree to pull back guard 

Burma's military government says it is prepared to withdraw security guards
from the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winning
leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NDL) party. 

She asked the authorities to pull out the guards on Thursday. 

The offer comes on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the uprising against
military rule in Burma. 

A government statement said: "The government was surprised at Ms ASSK (Aung
San Suu Kyi)'s sudden request and she provided no explanation. However, the
government is happy to comply with her request and discussions are now
under way about the measures." 

Earlier, the NLD condemned the guards' presence, describing it as an
unlawful restriction. 

Security personnel have been stationed in Aung San Suu Kyi's compound since
she was released from house arrest in 1995, but the government says the
guards were provided at her request. 

Diplomats say, however, that the guards are supposed to report on Aung San
Suu Kyi's movements and have even stopped her at times. 

In a separate development, Aung San Suu Kyi's party rejected an invitation
to meet senior members of the government on Saturday. 

The NDL said it could not accept the invitation as Aung San Suu Kyi herself
was not allowed to be present. 

"Since the purpose of the meeting was not mentioned in the letter and also
because the party cannot accept the conditions ... the invitation was
declined by the party," said an NDL statement. 

One report said that the military has described Ms Suu Kyi as selfish and
stubborn for insisting that no meeting with her party be held without
herself. 





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