VOA-BURMA ARRESTS -RON CORBEN-BANGK

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=9/8/98
BURMA ARRESTS -RON CORBEN-BANGKOK
 

INTRO:  FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF OVER 100 MEMBERS OF BURMA'S 
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, 
STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA ARE CALLING FOR ACTION AGAINST OPPOSITION 
LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THE 
UNITED STATES IS OFFICIALLY PROTESTING THE ARRESTS, AND CALLING 
FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS.

TEXT:  AMID HEIGHTENED POLITICAL TENSIONS IN BURMA, TWO 
STATE-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPERS ARE CALLING FOR THE DEPORTATION OF 
OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI. 

THE NEWSPAPERS ACCUSE AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF TRYING TO DE-STABILIZE 
BURMA.  THEY SAY SINCE SHE IS MARRIED TO A BRITON, SHE IS A 
FOREIGNER, AND THUS SHOULD BE DEPORTED.

DIPLOMATS IN RANGOON SAY ANY SUCH MOVE AGAINST AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
WOULD CAUSE AN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY.  THEY DOUBT THE MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT WOULD MOVE TO EXPEL HER.  

THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED TO DIPLOMATS IN THE BURMESE
CAPITAL THAT IT HAS ROUNDED UP 110 MEMBERS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S 
OPPOSITION MOVEMENT -- THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR 
N-L-D.

THOSE DETAINED INCLUDE 50 N-L-D MEMBERS VOTED INTO PARLIAMENT IN 
A LANDSLIDE ELECTION VICTORY BY THE OPPOSITION IN 1990.  THE 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED TO HAND OVER POWER OR CONVENE THE
PARLIAMENT, IGNORING A DEADLINE SET BY AUNG SAN SUU KYI LAST 
MONTH.  THE ARRESTS APPARENTLY ARE AIMED AT BLOCKING ANY 
OPPOSITION ATTEMPT TO HOLD A SESSION OF PARLIAMENT LATER THIS 
MONTH.

THE SENIOR U-S DIPLOMAT IN BURMA MET WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT 
MEMBERS TUESDAY, LODGING AN OFFICIAL PROTEST OVER THE ARRESTS AND
CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL DETAINEES.

POLITICAL TENSIONS IN BURMA HAVE BEEN ESCALATING IN RECENT WEEKS,
SINCE AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- THE N-L-D'S SECRETARY GENERAL -- WAS 
PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING OUTSIDE RANGOON TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF 
HER PARTY.

THE CURRENT MILITARY GOVERNMENT, IN POWER FOR THE PAST DECADE, 
SAYS IT IS MAKING CONTINUED EFFORTS TO DEVELOP MUTUAL 
UNDERSTANDING AND CONFIDENCE WITH THE N-L-D.  BUT DIPLOMATIC 
SOURCES SAY THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPTS AT CONFIDENCE-BUILDING ARE 
BEINGUNDERMINED BY CONTINUED ARRESTS AND HARRASSMENT OF 
OPPOSITION MEMBERS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RC/WTW 

08-Sep-98 4:42 AM EDT (0842 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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