AFP-Junta warns Myanmar opposition

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Junta warns Myanmar opposition breaking law, as Suu Kyi's health fails
Sun 23 Aug 98 - 12:07 GMT 

YANGON, Aug 23 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta Sunday warned that an opposition
decision to convene its own parliament was illegal, as the health of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was said to be deteriorating on the
12th day of a stand-off with the military.

"Such a move by any individual political party would be in contravention of
Myanmar law and seems designed to derail the ongoing discussions between
the government and the NLD," a junta spokesman said in a statement.

The National League for Democracy, lead by Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi, Friday said it would convene the parliament elected in 1990 in
polls which were won in a landslide by opposition forces. The junta has
since refused to relinquish power.

The NLD, meanwhile, said Aung San Suu Kyi's health was deteriorating as she
spent a 12th consecutive day in a roadside stand-off with the junta.

"Her personal doctor went to examine her on the 21st of August, after which
he sent a medical report to the authorities stating that her general health
condition was getting worse, that her blood pressure going down and that
she was suffering from giddiness," the NLD said in a statement.

"She has had no food intake for 10 days, and is suffering from constipation
and can go into shock at any time," it quoted the doctor as reporting,
adding that the medic had been refused permission by the junta to examine
Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday.

"The NLD is complaining about the prevention of medical treatment being
provided to a citizen. If anything happens to her the authorities will be
held totally responsible."

Aung San Suu Kyi was committed to staying at the site of the stand-off
until all NLD members detained or subject to travel restrictions in recent
months were released, the statement said.

She has been camped out on a bridge in a minibus 25 kilometres (15 miles)
northwest of Yangon since being blocked from travelling to meet provincial
supporters. It was her fourth failed bid to travel outside Yangon in little
over a month.

The junta, sensitive to international criticism, has been at pains to
demonstrate it is concerned for her welfare and says it has provided her,
as well two drivers and an NLD official accompanying her, with food, water
and even music cassettes and outdoor furniture. A government ambulance has
also been deployed at the scene in case she falls ill, it said.

In a statement Sunday the junta repeated its assertion that it was too
dangerous for her to continue her journey, citing threats of violence
against "prominent persons" by rebel groups.

The junta has repeatedly urged Aung San Suu Kyi to return to Yangon.

A junta spokesman Sunday said the NLD decision to convene parliament would
jeapordise fledgling negotiations between the usually bitter foes, noting
senior officials from both sides held talks last Tuesday for the first time
this year.

Sunday's comment was the first official reaction to the NLD announcment on
convening parliament.

The junta spokesman said officials hoped to continue talks with the NLD.

"It is the government's view that those talks marked the beginning of a
period on conciliation, cooperation and mutual help in building a better
future for the people of Myanmar, and the government would be disappointed
if radical and provocative actions by NLD leaders made further discussions
impossible."

The spokesman said the economic crisis gripping Asia made it particulalrly
important for the country to unite "rather than to play politics."

"The government encourages the NLD to join the governemnt in a meaningful
discussion and to avoid actions which would disrupt national peace,
stability and development."

Exiled Myanmar opposition groups, however, have called for a campaign of
mass civil disobedience and expressed full support for the NLD in its bid
to covene parliament.

Yangon was calm Sunday, but in Bangkok some 30 exiled Myanmar students
maintained their vigil outside Yangon's embassy in a protest now underway
for two weeks.

A protest spokesman said demonstrators would petition Thai Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai to let them remain outside the embassy after officials said
they could be forced to move, even if only across the road to improve
access to the mission.