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Reuters-Chronology-events since Suu



Chronology-events since Suu Kyi release in Myanmar 
11:20 p.m. Aug 22, 1998 Eastern 

YANGON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Following is a chronology of key events in
Yangon since National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner and daughter of independence hero Aung
San, was released from house arrest in July 1995. 

In her latest standoff with the military government, she has been stuck in
a minivan outside of Yangon since she was stopped by authorities on Aug 12
from travelling to the west of the country. 

July 10, 1995 - Government releases Suu Kyi after six years of house
arrest. 

July 11, 1995 - Suu Kyi says dedicated to restore democracy in Myanmar,
calls for dialogue on political reform with ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC). She urges foreigners not to invest in Myanmar
until democracy is restored. 

Nov 28, 1995 - Suu Kyi withdraws NLD from National Convention drafting
guidelines for new constitution, saying the exercise does not represent the
will of the people. 

May 20, 1996 - SLORC arrests NLD members planning to attend a party
congress at Suu Kyi's house coinciding with sixth anniversary of May 27,
1990 election victory. 

May 26, 1996 - NLD three-day congress begins despite arrests of at least
258 members who had planned to attend. SLORC says it detained the NLD
members to prevent anarchy. 

May 28, 1996 - Party meeting ends with NLD passing series of resolutions,
including controversial one giving NLD leadership power to draft version of
a constitution. 

May 28, 1996 - Government begins mass rallies condemning Suu Kyi and NLD as
destructive elements aimed at destabilising the country. 

June 7, 1996 - SLORC passes new law effectively muzzling NLD from saying or
doing anything contrary to planned constitution. Law says violators face up
to 20 years in prison. 

June 22, 1996 - James Leander Nichols, honorary consul to several European
nations and close friend of Suu Kyi, dies in Yangon jail. He had been
arrested for operating telephones and fax machines without permission. 

July 3, 1996 - Bomb explodes at the base of a propaganda billboard opposite
U.S. embassy in Yangon, no one injured. 

Sept 27, 1996 - Riot police man checkpoints barring access to road to Suu
Kyi's house to keep NLD congress from convening. 

Oct 1, 1996 - Officials say temporarily detained 559 activists since Sept
27, and will keep roadblocks in place to prevent unrest. Suu Kyi says up to
800 arrested. 

Nov 9, 1996 - Club-wielding, stone-throwing crowd attacks Suu Kyi's car and
others in a motorcade as she travels to meet supporters standing outside
barricades. Suu Kyi accuses SLORC of orchestrating attack. 

Dec 2/3, 1996 - Student street protests against police brutality and
demanding political freedom and rights. Police briefly arrest about 600
protestors. 

Dec 4, 1996 - SLORC restricts Suu Kyi's movements, requiring her to obtain
approval before she can leave home. 

Dec 7, 1996 - Soldiers and police use water cannons and batons to end
11-hour street protest, arrest 263 students and sympathisers. 

Dec 26, 1996 - Two bombs explode at Buddhist site outside Yangon, killing
five and wounding 17. SLORC blames exiles and Karen rebels; they deny
accusations. 

Dec 31, 1996 - Myanmar says arrests 34 Burma Communist Party members and 13
NLD members for involvement in unrest. 

Jan 4, 1997 - Suu Kyi holds celebration for Myanmar's 49th anniversary of
independence at her house, first major public gathering allowed since NLD
congress in May. SLORC allows invited guests through barricades. Suu Kyi
vows to increase efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar. 

Jan 6, 1997 - Top universities and colleges remained closed on date all
were scheduled to reopen following December holidays. Government says
universitites will stay closed until situation normalises. 

Jan 18, 1997 - Government sentences 20 people to seven years in prison each
for involvement in December street demonstrations, including six NLD
members. 

May 20, 1997 - Washington imposes economic sanctions on Myanmar, banning
all new U.S. investment as a public condemnation of the military regime's
human rights abuses. 

July 23, 1997 - Myanmar joins Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) along with Cambodia and Laos. 

Aug 20, 1997 - Myanmar reopens 38,800 schools but keeps closed some 30
universities and colleges. 

Oct 16, 1997 - Private U.S. delegation led by former ambassador to Japan
and the Philippines Michael Armacost meets with senior Myanmar officials,
urges them to open dialogue with Suu Kyi. 

Nov 15, 1997 - Myanmar government changes name to State Peace and
Development Council. The 19-member SPDC includes former SLORC chairman Than
Shwe and Secretary One and intelligence chief Khin Nyunt. 

Dec 10, 1997 - Government says sentenced seven NLD members, including two
elected MPs, to long prison terms over organisational trips planned by Suu
Kyi to NLD offices in townships on Yangon's outskirts. 

Dec 20, 1997 - SPDC cabinet reshuffle changes eight portfolios including
several key financial jobs. 

March 30, 1998 - Suu Kyi criticises Britain's Premier Oil Co for helping
prop up Myanmar's rulers by developing offshore gas reserves. 

May 28, 1998 - Suu Kyi and NLD demand government convene parliament by
August 2 in accordance with results of the 1990 election. Government
ignores her. 

July 24, 1998 - Authorities stop Suu Kyi's car at a bridge in a Yangon
suburb as she travels to meet NLD members outside the capital. She refuses
to return home and begins a car sit-in protest. 

July 29, 1998 - NLD says government security personnel force Suu Kyi to
return home, ending her sit-in protest after six days. 

Aug 12, 1998 - Suu Kyi again sets out to visit NLD members outside Yangon
and is stopped at same bridge. She and three aides begin another car
sit-in. 

Aug 21, 1998 - Government ignores NLD deadline for convening a parliament
of members elected in May 1990 polls, which it has never recognised. NLD
says it will shortly call a ``People's Parliament''