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BURMA /COURT [VOA]
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 CORBEN
REPORTS 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 MILITARY
GOVERNMENT 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 MEMBERS
HAVE 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)
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Source: Voice of America
.