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VOA-BURMA POL -GARY THOMAS BANGKOK
DATE=8/18/98
BURMA POL -GARY THOMAS BANGKOK
INTRO: A SENIOR BURMESE OFFICIAL HAS MET WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF
THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY. DETAILS OF THE
MEETING ARE NOT AVAILABLE. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, PRO-DEMOCRACY
LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHO IS ENGAGED IN A STANDOFF WITH THE
GOVERNMENT, WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MEETING.
TEXT: A BURMESE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SAYS LIEUTENANT GENERAL
KHIN NYUNT, SECRETARY-ONE OF THE RULING STATE PEACE AND
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS MET FOR 45-MINUTES
WITH AUNG SHWE, CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.
THE STATEMENT QUOTES THE PARTICIPANTS AS SAYING THE MEETING AS --
OPEN, FRANK, AND CORDIAL.
GENERAL KHIN NYUNT SAID THE MEETING WAS FRUITFUL AND THE
GOVERNMENT HOPES IT WILL BE THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE N-L-D.
FURTHER DETAILS WERE NOT RELEASED, AND OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.
ABSENT FROM THE MEETING WAS N-L-D LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI. SHE
IS IN THE SEVENTH DAY OF A ROADSIDE STANDOFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OVER THEIR REFUSAL TO LET HER TRAVEL OUTSIDE RANGOON TO MEET WITH
LOCAL OFFICIALS OF HER PARTY.
BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN IF SHE WOULD HAVE EVEN BEEN INVITED. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS LONG SAID IT IS WILLING TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE
N-L-D -- BUT WITHOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/RAE
18-Aug-98 8:18 AM EDT (1218 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.