SCMP-Dialogue 'must include Aung Sa

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

South China Morning Post
Thursday  August 20  1998

Dialogue 'must include Aung San Suu Kyi' 

REUTERS in Rangoon 
The main opposition party said yesterday it told the military Government in
a rare meeting that formal talks must include its charismatic leader Aung
San Suu Kyi.

National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung Shwe and Burma's head of
military intelligence, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, met in Rangoon on
Tuesday, the first meeting between the two sides in more than a year.

As they met, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi remained in a mini-van on a country bridge
30km southwest of the capital. She has been there since August 12, having
been prevented from going to western Burma.

NLD vice-chairman Tin Oo said yesterday that the meeting was informal.

"It was not dialogue. The NLD stated clearly and decided by a democratic
vote that no dialogue could take place without Aung San Suu Kyi being
present," he said.

"Our stance on this has always been clear and understood."

Neither the junta nor the NLD has revealed what was discussed at the talks,
which came ahead of tomorrow's deadline set by the NLD for the convening of
a Parliament of members elected at a general election in 1990.

The NLD won the poll but the Government ignored the result.

General Khin Nyunt called the meeting "fruitful" and said he hoped it would
be the first in a series of confidence-building talks between the
Government and NLD.

Diplomats say Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's protest has highlighted her lack of
freedom of movement and the deadline for convening Parliament.

A commentary in all three government newspapers yesterday appeared to hold
out an olive branch, hinting she might be able to participate in the
"national task".

"I hope that if she has a clear and objective view on holding a dialogue
with the Government, the people's desires and the Government's
nation-building endeavours, the entire public and the . . . Government will
wholeheartedly welcome her approach to participate in the national task,"
it said.

But recently state newspapers and the Government have appeared to blow hot
and cold towards the NLD.

The same commentary accused Ms Aung San Suu Kyi of "trying to corner the
nation" by demanding that Parliament be convened and embarrass it overseas
by staging protests.

It also accused her of trying to whip up anti-government sentiment.

The Government has ignored the NLD's call for a Parliament.

It described her protest yesterday as a camping visit at "a small but
scenic village a few kilometres outside Rangoon alongside a gently flowing
stream".