BBC-Burmese Government stays silent

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Saturday, August 22, 1998 Published at 12:29 GMT 13:29 UK 

Burmese Government stays silent 

The military government in Burma has not responded to an announcement by
the opposition that it will hold a parliamentary gathering of Burma's main
ethnic groups within the next few days. 

The National League for Democracy proposed the gathering after the
government failed to meet a Friday deadline for a new parliament to be
convened. 

About 30 exiled Burmese students in Thailand say they have begun a hunger
strike to demand that the military allow the meeting to take place. 

A parliament was elected in 1990, but Burma's military authorities have
never allowed it to meet. 

Since then the NLD - which won more than 80% of the seats - has campaigned
for a return to civilian rule. 



Suu Kyi's health improves 

Meanwhile, the health of Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is
said to be improving as she enters the 11th day of a stand-off with the
military authorities. 

Ms Suu Kyi and three of her party colleagues are encamped in a van outside
Rangoon since being stopped by the government from leaving the city to
visit supporters. 

Earlier there were concerns that Ms Suu Kyi's health was failing. 

The BBC South-East Asia correspondent says that despite opposition talk,
the evidence on the ground suggests that the army remains very much in
control, with the regime jailing, torturing and intimidating some of the
opposition supporters. 

But despite rumours of protest, the Burmese may be too frightened to take
to the streets, fearing a repeat of bloodshed 10 years ago when thousands
of people are thought to have died in clashes with the military. 

Possibly in an attempt to defuse any plans for protest, the military has
held the first talks with members of the NLD for more than a year. Ms Suu
Kyi was not present. 

The NLD has described the military's previous attempts at discussion as
insincere.