AFP-Myanmar arrests 110 more NLD me

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar arrests 110 more NLD members, opposition says
Tue 08 Sep 98 - 10:28 GMT 

YANGON, Sept 8 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta has arrested a further 110 members
of Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party,
bringing the total detained in the past three days to 220, opposition
officials said Tuesday.

The NLD said in a statement that 73 of those arrested in various parts of
the country since Sunday were members of parliament elected in the 1990
polls which the opposition won by a landslide.



"The NLD strongly condemns and protests these arrests and demands their
immediate release," the opposition party said in a statement.



The junta arrested some 110 NLD members on Sunday and Monday, opposition
officials said earlier.



Observers in Yangon said the arrests appeared to be a pre-emptive strike
following the NLD's announcement that it intends unilaterally to convene
the parliament elected in 1990 by the end of this month.



"I can't confirm exact figures but a large number have been detained," one
diplomat said Tuesday.



"There was no brutality, it was handled very smoothly. They are being held
in government guesthouses but their freedom of movement has definitely been
curtailed," the envoy added.



The military refused to hand over power after the election eight years ago.
It has rejected demands by the NLD-led opposition that the 1990 parliament
be convened, saying a new national constitution must be written first.