NLD -meeting was not the begging of

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/19/98
BURMA POL -GARY THOMAS-BANGKOK
 

INTRO: BURMA'S LEADING OPPOSITION PARTY SAYS TUESDAY'S MEETING 
BETWEEN  PARTY LEADERS AND THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WAS NOT THE 
BEGINNING OF A  DIALOGUE.  THE PARTY SAYS IT IS STICKING TO ITS 
DEMAND THAT ANY DIALOGUE MUST INCLUDE PARTY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI.  AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST
ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS STILL IN A ROADSIDE 
STANDOFF WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

TEXT:  TIN OO, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF BURMA'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY, DASHED ANY HOPES THAT TUESDAY'S MEETING BETWEEN THE 
N-L-D AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WAS THE START OF A DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE TWO OPPOSING CAMPS.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED IN RANGOON, TIN OO SAID IT WAS ONLY AN 
"INFORMAL  MEETING" AND REITERATED THAT THERE COULD BE NO 
DIALOGUE WITHOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI BEING PRESENT.

NEWS OF THE MEETING -- THE FIRST SUCH HIGH-LEVEL CONTACT IN OVER 
A YEAR -- CAME LATE TUESDAY IN A BRIEF GOVERNMENT STATEMENT.  
LIEUTENANT GENERAL KHIN NYUNT, ONE OF THE SENIOR-MOST GENERALS 
AND HEAD OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, MET FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WITH 
N-L-D CHAIRMAN AUNG SHWE.  KHIN NYUNT CALLED THE MEETING 
"FRUITFUL" AND SAID HE HOPED IT WOULD LEAD TO CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE N-L-D.

NEITHER SIDE HAS REVEALED WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING.  
HOWEVER, THE N-L-D HAS GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL AUGUST 21ST TO 
CONVENE THE PARLIAMENT  THAT WAS ELECTED IN 1990 OR FACE 
UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES.  THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO 
RECOGNIZE THE ELECTION RESULTS AFTER THE N-L-D SCORED AN 
OVERWHELMING VICTORY, WINNING 82 PER CENT OF THE SEATS.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS IN THE EIGHTH DAY OF HER STANDOFF WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT  OVER HER RIGHT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL.  SHE 
REMAINS IN A VAN, ALONG WITH THREE COMPANIONS, AT THE SPOT SOME 
30 KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON WHERE SHE WAS STOPPED FROM PROCEEDING 
FURTHER.

AUTHORITIES HAVE PROVIDED AMENITIES, SUCH AS AN UMBRELLA, CHAIRS,
SNACKS AND PORTABLE TOILET FACILITIES.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED 
TO MAKE LIGHT OF IT, PORTRAYING IT IN A SERIES OF STATEMENTS AS A
"CAMPING TRIP."  HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO SEE HER 
EXCEPT FOR HER PERSONAL PHYSICIANS, WHO WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT 
BECAUSE OF CONCERNS RAISED BY THE N-L-D ABOUT HER HEALTH.  
RANGOON-BASED JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SEE HER HAVE BEEN
TURNED BACK.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED AND 
DEHYDRATED AT THE END OF HER PREVIOUS ROADSIDE CONFRONTATION WITH
THE GOVERNMENT.  THAT STANDOFF LASTED SIX DAYS AND ENDED JULY 
29TH WHEN POLICE TOOK CONTROL OF HER CAR AND FORCIBLY TOOK HER 
BACK TO RANGOON.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/PLM

19-Aug-98 4:59 AM EDT (0859 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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