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27/8/98:AAP NEWS--DASSK TO RECEIVE



AAP NEWS
27/8/98: DASSK TO RECEIVE PEACE AWARD FROM MELB.UNI.
28/8/98: NLD TELL REGIME TO FREE OFFICIALS.
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BURMA-MELBOURNE VIC: BURMESE PEACE ACTIVIST TO RECEIVE 
MELBOURNE AWARD 
DATE: 14:34 27-Aug-98 
 VIC: BURMESE PEACE ACTIVIST TO RECEIVE MELBOURNE 
AWARD BURMA MELBOURNE (MELBOURNE)

 Burma's Nobel laureate opposition leader, AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
(PRON: Ahng Sahn Soo Chee) is to receive an award in
 absentia from the University of Melbourne for her public 
service next month.

 53-year-old SUU KYI has become an international symbol of 
the peaceful struggle for democracy and human rights.

 Earlier this week she ended a 13-day roadside stand-off 
with the military government over her right to travel outside
 Rangoon for health reasons.

 The University of Melbourne says SUU KYI's husband, Dr 
MICHAEL ARIS, will accept an honorary Doctor of Laws on
 his wife's behalf in the university's Wilson Hall on 
September 5.

 AAP RTV hmg/ra/rft/jn 

BURMA ASIA: SUU KYI'S PARTY TELLS REGIME TO FREE OFFICIALS 
DATE: 21:22 28-Aug-98 
 ASIA: SUU KYI'S PARTY TELLS REGIME TO FREE OFFICIALS 
BURMA (CARRIED EARLIER)

 RANGOON, Burma Aug 28 AP - Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's 
party demanded today that the government free seven
 members detained two weeks ago when they tried to check 
up on their leader during her latest roadside standoff against
 authorities.

 The National League for Democracy also demanded that 
the military government give Suu Kyi back her car, one of the
 vehicles the seven had been using. Its absence could make 
further attempted trips out of Rangoon more difficult.

 Suu Kyi, 53, spent 13 days in a mini-van on bridge 32 
kilometres outside of Rangoon, blocked by authorities from going
 further to meet party members in the provinces. She returned 
to her home Monday amid fears for her health.

 The detained party members include two women. The NLD said 
their detention shows that the authorities used excessive
 power and shows that they bear a grudge against the people.

 One of Suu Kyi's colleagues reported that her health has 
improved after the gruelling sit-in.

 "Her blood pressure is back to normal and her health has 
improved," said NLD vice-chairman Tin Oo.

 "She is still under medical care and is resting."

 Tin Oo said that more than 200 party members came to see her 
at her home yesterday.

 An official commentary attacked foreign diplomats today for 
allegedly sympathising with Suu Kyi and the NLD.

 "In any diplomatic relations there exist diplomatic ethics 
as prescribed in the Geneva Convention," said the Mirror
 newspaper.

 The commentary accused diplomats of aiding and abetting 
anti-government organisations, refusing to call the country
 Myanmar instead of Burma, and having a negative outlook toward 
the host country.

 The generals who came to power in 1988 after quelling an 
uprising against military rule changed the country's official name
 from Burma to Myanmar. The opposition refuses to recognise the 
change, claiming it was illegal.

 The commentary came a day after the government claimed it 
wants substantive talks with the opposition. The US Embassy
 said that it was sceptical the government was serious.

 Despite rhetoric about dialogue, the government continues to 
attach conditions that would keep Suu Kyi, recognised in the
 country and abroad as the leader of the pro-democracy opposition, 
from taking part in any meetings.

 International human rights groups, the United States, the 
European Union and Japan, and some of Burma's regional
 neighbours have all urged a dialogue with her to ease 
political tensions.

 But the government has failed to move toward democratisation, 
instead engaging in heavy-handed repression of dissent.

 Suu Kyi and the NLD have also been putting low-level but 
concerted pressure on the government to release political
 prisoners and convene a pro-democracy parliament whose members 
were elected in 1990 but never allowed to convene.

 The ruling State Peace and Development Council has been 
stressing that the NLD's recently announced plan to unilaterally
 call the parliament would upset attempts to hold a dialogue.

 At the same time, its briefings to foreign diplomats about 
the situation have included threats to arrest opposition members
 and to declare Suu Kyi's party illegal.

 AP bjm