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(BBC) Burma authorities block Suu K



BBC World Service website
Thursday, 21 September, 2000, 12:55 GMT 13:55 UK

Burma authorities block Suu Kyi

The military authorities in Burma have again prevented the
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi leaving the capital,
Rangoon.

Miss Suu Kyi went to the main railway station, planning to
travel to the northern city of Mandalay.

But she has not been permitted to board a train, and reports
say she is still in the waiting room. with the station is surrounded
by a heavy security presence, preventing visitors from entering
the building.

Last time she attempted the journey, in 1996, her carriage was
disconnected from the rest of the train just before it left.
Officials blamed technical problems.

Accompanying Aung San Suu Kyi is the vice chairman of the
National League for Democracy (NLD), Tin Oo, and a number
of other party colleagues.

Reports say a number of opposition supporters have been taken
away from the station in military vehicles.

Earlier, the authorities blocked the road leading to her house,.

The move is the latest challenge to restrictions on opposition
movements imposed by the military authorities.

Test of wills

Earlier, Aung San Suu Kyi announced she was planning to leave
Rangoon by train to test the military government's resolve in
maintaining its restrictions on her.

Previous efforts by the authorities to prevent the NLD leader from
leaving the capital have provoked widespread international
condemnation.

United States President Bill Clinton has warned the Burmese
authorities against any further confrontation with the opposition,
saying the world is watching.

Residents near her home on Rangoon's University Avenue
reported that security forces had parked vans, cars and
motorcycles at both ends of the street in an effort to prevent
her leaving the house.

House arrest

The military authorities have maintained strict controls on
Aung San Suu Kyi's travel since freeing her from six years of house
arrest in 1995.

Last month she was involved in a nine-day stand-off with police,
after leaving her home and attempting to drive to a party
meeting outside the capital.

She and her supporters remained camped by the roadside until the
authorities ended the protest and placed her under virtual
house arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi announced last week that she was intending to
make another travel attempt.

"Stop us if you dare," she said in a challenge to the ruling military
council.

Last Sunday, the NLD issued another challenge to the
government by announcing plans to draw up a new constitution.

The decision contravenes a four-year-old law which forbids the
drafting of a constitution without government approval.

'Crushed without mercy'

An official Burmese newspaper quoted a senior official on Thursday
as saying that Aung San Suu Kyi would be "crushed" for
trying to draft the constitution.

"Anyone who tries to draft a new constitution in line with the
colonialists is the nation's common enemy and will be crushed
without mercy," said Lieutenant General Tin Oo.

The NLD won Burma's last democratic elections in 1990 by a
landslide but the military refused to hand over power.

Aung San Suu Kyi was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.