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BBC-Concern over Suu Kyi's health-1



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

Concern over Suu Kyi's health 

The opposition National League for Democracy in Burma says the authorities
have prevented doctors from visiting the opposition leader, Aung San Suu
Kyi, who is in the 12th day of a stand-off with the military government. 

The NLD says Ms Suu Kyi is suffering from kidney problems and low blood
pressure. 

She and three colleagues remain inside a van on a roadside, 32km west of
the capital, Rangoon. 

They are protesting against the authorities' refusal to allow her to travel
to the city of Bassein, to meet her supporters. 

Simon Ingram: "There is good reason to be concerned about her health"
Meanwhile, the government has still not responded to an announcement by the
NLD that they are to 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 an opposition deadline for a new parliament to be
convened. 

Parliament never met 

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. 

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.