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Aung San Suu Kyi in 7th day of dead
- Subject: Aung San Suu Kyi in 7th day of dead
- From: byva@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 08:34:00
Aung San Suu Kyi in 7th day of deadlock with Myanmar junta
Tue 18 Aug 98 - 12:19 GMT
YANGON, Aug 18 (AFP) - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
Tuesday spent a seventh day in a battle
of wills with the junta on a rural bridge, while her National League
for Democracy (NLD) and the junta held
landmark talks in Yangon.
"It's way to early to say there is any rapprochement, but it is
progress," said one Western diplomat.
National League for Democracy chairman Aung Shwe met for nearly an hour
with junta intelligence chief Lieutenant
General Khin Nyunt, widely seen as number two in the military
heirarchy, the NLD and junta said in separate
statements.
The junta described the talks as "open, cordial and frank."
"We hope this is the first in a series of confidence-building talks
between the government and the NLD," Khun Nyunt
was quoted as saying.
"We have had a fruitful meeting and we also have appreciated the NLD's
acceptance of our offer of a meeting."
The NLD had declined previous invitations for talks as they excluded
party secretary general Aung San Suu Kyi and
other key members.
Diplomats and residents said the capital was calm but reported
widespread rumours there would be unrest on
Friday, when the Nobel peace prizewinner has demanded the parliament
elected in 1990 meets for the first time.
The NLD expressed concern about Aung San Suu Kyi's health and asked
that her doctor be allowed to examine her.
"Their food is running low and this could adversely effect her health,"
the party said late Monday, adding the doctor
had seen her and would make daily examinations.
The party has also demanded the release of two NLD supporters -- Thein
Oo and Ohn Hla -- who it said were
detained when they tried to visit the site of the stand-off on a small
bridge linking a highway to rice paddies 25
kilometres (15 miles) from Yangon.
Aung San Suu Kyi, along with two drivers and an NLD official, was
stopped by authorities last Wednesday as she
tried to travel to meet supporters outside Yangon. It was her fourth
failed bid to visit provincial supporters in a little
over a month.
The junta has played down the latest stand-off as a "camping"
expedition and has repeatedly said it is doing all it
can to ensure her welfare.
The NLD held the junta responsible for Aung San Suu Kyi falling ill
following the last confrontation, which ended
after six days on July 29 when she was forcibly driven back to Yangon.
Officials have said she has been provided with food, a mobile bathroom
and even "a beach umbrella" and "garden
chairs," as well as reading material, a cassette player and tapes by
Michael Jackson and Madonna.
"Her only options are to stay put or go home. I would expect she would
return home before August 21 because the
deadline will lose a lot of its impact if she isn't even there," said a
Western diplomat.
The NLD-led opposition won the 1990 polls by a landslide but the junta
has refused to give up power.
The NLD has not said what action it will take if parliament is not
convened but other opposition groups have called
for a mass campaign of civil disobedience.
Residents expect small shops and businesses will stay closed Friday.
"There's a lot of talk of trouble, but nobody has any details," said
one diplomat.
But analysts said there was little chance of serious confrontation. A
limited protest by the NLD was seen as the most
likely scenario if the junta, as is expected, ignores the deadline.
"I think we might see some form of protest by the NLD but that could
just be a meeting at her house," said an Asian
envoy.
"It would likely be something very low key, but there are these other
groups out there who might try something else."
Exiled Myanmar student groups Tuesday pledged their support for Aung
San Suu Kyi's stand-off and the demand that
parliament be convened.
"We hereby denounce the regime for still barring Daw (honorific) Aung
San Suu Kyi from freedom of movement,"
the Thailand-based groups said in a statement.
"The regime has not shown any signs to convene a democractic parliament
that must be convened within four days.
"We therefore will need to prepare to stand by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to
make her able to convene a democratic
parliament herself."
The statement was issued by the Overseas National Students Organisation
of Burma, the All Burma Basic Education
Students Union, and the Burmese Students Association.
If the junta fails to convene parliament, some opposition groups have
said Aung San Suu Kyi may unilaterally
declare a new government. However diplomats said such a move would be
largely symbolic as the junta retains
firm control.
©AFP 1998
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