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Reuters-Australia policy hinders My



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Reuters-Australia policy hinders Myanmar democracy-Suu Kyi 

Australia policy hinders Myanmar democracy-Suu Kyi
02:58 a.m. Sep 22, 1999 Eastern
By Jane Nelson

CANBERRA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Myanmar democracy campaigner and Nobel Peace
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has criticised Australia, saying its policy
towards her military-ruled homeland was hampering moves towards democracy.

In a 10-minute video address to the Australian parliament on Wednesday, Suu
Kyi condemned Australian Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti's visit last
month to Myanmar, saying it could be seen as endorsing Myanmar's military
rulers.

``We think the timing of the visit was wrong and that it was ill-advised. At
this time, when the military authorities are at their most oppressive, the
message could be misconstrued,'' said Suu Kyi in the video smuggled out of
Myanmar.

``It could be seen as endorsement of their policies. It could, in fact, be
seen as the tacit approval of what they are doing to the democratic forces
in Burma (Myanmar),'' she said.

International human rights groups have accused the Myanmar government of
widespread human rights abuses, including mass arrests and torture, against
political opponents since seizing power in 1988 by crushing a pro-democracy
uprising.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won elections in 1990 by a
landslide but the military has never recognised the result. Suu Kyi was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her campaign for democracy in
Myanmar.

Sidoti made a three-day visit to Myanmar in August to explore the
possibility of forming an independent human rights organisation in the
country, an idea first proposed by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer over a year ago.

Suu Kyi has previously condemned the scheme, saying it was unlikely to be
independent and comparing it to ``putting the foxes in charge of the
chickens.''

``Sometimes we are a little concerned that the policies of the Australian
government may not be such that would hasten the process of democratisation
in Burma,'' Suu Kyi said in the video.

It was the first time Suu Kyi, who was released from six years' house arrest
in 1995, had addressed a national parliament, the Australia Burma Council
told Reuters.

Suu Kyi asked the government of Australian Prime Minister John Howard to
carefully consider all contact with Myanmar.

``Contacts which could be construed as approval or support of the present
policies of the military regime could be very harmful to the movement for
democracy,'' she said.

``Contacts which are clearly made and made in such a way that there can be
no ambiguity with the intention of promoting support for democracy -- these
we do not object to.''

Australia Burma Council coordinator Amanda Zappia said Suu Kyi's address had
been provoked by Sidoti's visit, although she was already concerned about
Australia's position towards Myanmar.

``She would like to see Australia playing a much more high-profile role in
the region and introducing much tougher policies against the dictatorship
and more support for the NLD,'' Zappia told Reuters.