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NLD Sues Khin Nyunt



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
 .