Myanmar opposition demand junta rel

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

Myanmar opposition demand junta release detained members

Tue 15 Sep 98 - 08:49 GMT

YANGON, Sept 15 (AFP) - Myanmar's opposition Tuesday called on the ruling
military to release all its members and MPs detained in a bid to prevent the
party convening a parliament.

 In a statement, the main opposition National League for Democracyparty led
by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi also said its members
continued to be harassed.

 "The National League for Democracy condemns these unlawful arrests and
demands the immediate and
 unconditional release of all its members and holds the authorities
responsible for their wellbeing," it said.

 "Local authorities say they were being invited for discussions but in some
instances they were seen to be taken away in the middle of the night
handcuffed or blindfolded," the statement added.

 It said the detentions were unlawful and violated the human rights of NLD
party members.

 According to figures provided by the party, 783 members have been detained
in recent months, including 196 MPs elected in 1990 polls.

 The NLD-led opposition won the polls in a landslide, but the military has
refused to hand over power and rejected repeated calls for a parliament to
be convened.

 The opposition said Wednesday last week the military had arrested 108 of
its members, bringing the number
 detained since last Sunday alone to 328.

 The NLD statement said continuing harassment included local authorities
pressuring house owners to evict tennants who were NLD members or party
supporters.

 Observers in Yangon have said the arrests appeared to be a pre-emptive
strike following the NLD's announcement it intends to convene parliament by
the end of September.

 The junta had said the NLD members had merely been invited for a political
discussion. It said they were being
 housed in government guesthouses and had not been arrested.

 But the US embassy in Yangon said military officials had admitted they were
being detained to thwart the convening of parliament.


)AFP 1998