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NLD Sues Khin Nyunt
- Subject: NLD Sues Khin Nyunt
- From: tinkyi@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 22:42:00
DATE=1/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244169
TITLE=BURMA / COURT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND THE
COUNTRY'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAVE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST
BURMA'S MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, ACCUSING HIM OF ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY
THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY. RON CORBENREPORTS FROM BANGKOK SOME
DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS SAY THE CASE WILL FOCUS THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON
THE ISSUE OF RULE OF LAW IN
BURMA.
TEXT: AUNG SAN SUU KYI, FIGHTING AGAINST EFFORTS BY THE MILITARYGOVERNMENT
TO DISMEMBER THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY OR N-L-D, HAS FILED A
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, GENERAL KHIN NYUNT.
THE COMPLAINT -- FILED WITH BURMA'S CHIEF JUSTICE -- ACCUSES
GENERAL KHIN NYUNT OF BEING BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN AGAINST THE
N-L-D IN RECENT MONTHS. ONE THOUSAND N-L-D MEMBERSHAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE
SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR AND FORCED TO RESIGN FROM THE PARTY.
THE CRACKDOWN BEGAN AFTER THE N-L-D'S PLEDGE TO CONVENE
PARLIAMENT AND HIGH PROFILE ATTEMPTS BY AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO MEET WITH PARTY
MEMBERS. THAT LED TO SEVERAL STAND-OFFS BETWEEN HER AND THE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT, WHEN SHE WAS PREVENTED FROM MEETING WITH PARTY MEMBERS OUTSIDE
RANGOON.
THE N-L-D'S COMPLAINT WAS LODGED ON DECEMBER 31ST, BUT DETAILS ONLY BECAME
PUBLIC ON THURSDAY. THE N-L-D CONTENDS THAT UNITS, UNDER MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE DIRECTION, HAVE USED THREATS, INTIMIDATION, AND ILLEGAL
FORCEFUL PRESSURE WITHOUT LEGAL JUSTIFICATION.
THE N-L-D, IN A STATEMENT, SAYS THAT BY USING SUCH THREATS THE MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITIES HAVE COMMITTED CRIMINAL
OFFENSES.
THE POWERFUL MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF IS VIEWED BY SOME
DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S NEMESIS. THE UNITS UNDER GENERAL
KHIN NYUNT'S CONTROL OVERSEE A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF SPIES AND INFORMERS,
WHO MONITOR DISSIDENTS AND ROOT OUT OPPOSITION TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
IN THE PAST, KHIN NYUNT HAS ACCUSED AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND PARTY MEMBERS OF
BEING TERRORISTS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL BURMA DEMOCRATIC STUDENTS FRONT, AUNG NAIGN OO, NOW
LIVING IN EXILE IN THAILAND, SAYS THE N-L-D FILED THE SUIT TO SHOW THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE PARTY ACTS WITHIN THE LAW WHILE THE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT ABUSES THE DUE PROCESS OF LAW.
DIPLOMATIC SOURCES WERE MIXED OVER THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT'S WIDER IMPACT.
WHILE SOME VIEW THE MOVE AS A GESTURE, OTHERS SAY IT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE
ABSENCE OF THE RULE OF LAW IN BURMA AND THAT THE GOVERNING MILITARY COUNCIL
IS ABLE TO ACT WITH IMPUNITY.
A RECENT U-S STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA ACCUSED
BURMA'S JUDICIARY OF FAILING TO BE INDEPENDENT. THE REPORT SAID PERVASIVE
BRIBE-TAKING AND MANIPULATION OF THE COURTS FOR POLITICAL ENDS HAS
CONTINUED TO DEPRIVE CITIZENS OF THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL AND RULE OF LAW.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GC/FC
14-Jan-99 5:23 AM EST (1023 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.