VOA-BURMA / POL -GARY THOMAS -BANGK

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=8/21/98
BURMA / POL -GARY THOMAS -BANGKOK


INTRO:  TODAY (FRIDAY) IS THE DEADLINE SET BY BURMA'S 
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT FOR THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE 
PARLIAMENT. AT THE THE SAME TIME, DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI IS REPORTED TO BE SUFFERING SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS STEMMING 
FROM HER ROADSIDE PROTEST.  AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS 
REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, A BURMESE EXILE POLITICAL GROUP IS CALLING 
ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO BREAK OFF HER PROTEST AND SEEK PROPER 
MEDICAL TREATMENT IF HER HEALTH IS IN DANGER.

TEXT:  THE FRIDAY DEADLINE CAME AND WENT WITH NO SIGN FROM 
BURMA'S  MILITARY GOVERNMENT THAT IT WAS READY TO ACCEDE TO THE 
DEMAND FOR THE CONVENING OF THE 1990 PARLIAMENT.  THE NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR N-L-D, HAD GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL 
FRIDAY TO MEET THE DEMAND OR FACE UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES.

THE MILITARY THREW OUT THE 1990 ELECTION RESULTS AFTER THE N-L-D 
WON AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY.

REUTERS NEWS AGENCY QUOTES N-L-D VICE-CHAIRMAN TIN OO AS SAYING 
THE N-L-D HAS THE RIGHT TO ACT ON ITS OWN IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES 
NOT COMPLY, BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT ACTION IT WILL TAKE.

HOWEVER, THE CAPITAL WAS QUIET.  LIKE THE ANNIVERSARY EARLIER 
THIS MONTH OF THE SUPPRESSED 1988 PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING, FRIDAY 
PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY.  SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE
A MEETING BETWEEN N-L-D  CHAIRMAN AUNG SHWE AND LIEUTENANT 
GENERAL KHIN NYUNT, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL GENERALS IN THE 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT, MAY HAVE HELPED TEMPER A RISING POLITICAL 
TEMPERATURE.

PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI PASSED THE DEADLINE IN A 
VAN 32 KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON, WHERE SHE IS IN A STANDOFF WITH 
AUTHORITIES OVER HER RIGHT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL TO MEET 
WITH N-L-D OFFICIALS. ACCORDING TO THE N-L-D, SHE IS SHOWING 
SIGNS OF JAUNDICE AND HER BLOOD PRESSURE HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY 
AFTER 10 DAYS ON THE ROADSIDE.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI OFFERED LATE THURSDAY TO GIVE UP HER PROTEST, IF
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WOULD FREE NEARLY 100 N-L-D MEMBERS THE 
PARTY SAYS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR DETAINED SINCE MAY 27TH.  THE 
OFFER WAS RELAYED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE MEETING BETWEEN AUNG 
SHWE AND GENERAL KHIN NYUNT.

BUT A BURMESE EXILE GROUP IS SAYING THAT IF HER HEALTH IS TRULY 
IN DANGER,  SHE SHOULD BREAK OFF THE PROTEST TO SEEK PROPER 
MEDICAL TREATMENT.  AUNG  NOING, FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF THE
ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT, SAYS SHE IS TOO IMPORTANT 
TO THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT TO BE ALLOWED TO FALL ILL.

                                          // AUNG NOING ACT //

          IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE REMAINS HEALTHY AND SHE 
         CONTINUES HER WORK IN REAL GOOD HEALTH.  THAT'S WHY WE 
         ARE ASKING HER TO SEEK PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A 
         PROPER MEDICAL CENTER. WHETHER SHE WANTS TO GO HOME OR 
         NOT IS HER OWN DECISION.  WE CANNOT INFLUENCE THAT. WE 
         ARE JUST ASKING HER TO SEEK PROPER MEDICAL ATTENTION.

                                             // END ACT //

THE A-B-S-D-F AND OTHER EXILE GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR MASS CIVIL  
DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT.  THE EXILE GROUPS 
ARE CONSIDERED MORE RADICAL THAN THE N-L-D, WHICH, DESPITE 
GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT, REMAINS A LEGAL POLITICAL PARTY.

                                             // REST OPT //

AUNG NOING SAYS THERE ARE OTHER POLITICAL GROUPS INSIDE BURMA 
WILLING TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION EVEN IF THE N-L-D IS NOT.

                                    // AUNG NOING ACT //

         AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE
         OF THE N-L-D.  AND, LIKE I SAID, IF THE N-L-D IS IN AN 
         AWKWARD POSITION BECAUSE OF THEIR POLICIES TO DO 
         SOMETHING, TO DO SOMETHING TO INITIATE A DRAMATIC 
         POLITICAL MOVEMENT, AND I THINK AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE
         OF OTHER POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL START TO INITIATE 
         SOMETHING VERY SOON.

                                       // END ACT //

MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TIGHTENED UP PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING
TOURIST VISAS.  TWO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WERE EXPELLED THIS WEEK 
AFTER BEING CAUGHT ENTERING THE COUNTRY ON TOURIST VISAS.  
JOURNALISTS MUST OBTAIN SPECIAL VISAS, BUT VIRTUALLY NO SUCH 
VISAS HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN RECENT MONTHS. (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/GC/FC

21-Aug-98 5:53 AM EDT (0953 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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