CLINTON / BURMA (S-O) By DAVID BORG

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Subject: CLINTON / BURMA (S-O) By DAVID BORG

/* Written  9:45 pm  Feb 16, 1994 by apakabar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:hrnet.asia-pac */
/* ---------- "CLINTON / BURMA (S-O) By DAVID BORG" ---------- */
## author     : apakabar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
## date       : 15.02.94

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DATE=2/15/94
TITLE=CLINTON / BURMA (S-O)
BYLINE=DAVID BORGIDA
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SENT A LETTER TO DETAINED
BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE
AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO OFFER HIS SUPPORT FOR HER EFFORTS ON
BEHALF OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA.  V-O-A'S
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS.

TEXT:   THE LETTER, DELIVERED TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN BURMA
BY VISITING U-S CONGRESSMAN BILL RICHARDSON, ASSURES THE
OPPOSITION LEADER OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUING
SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN BURMA.

IN THE LETTER, PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSES HIS DEEP CONCERN
ABOUT HER WELFARE AND APPLAUDS WHAT HE CALLS HER REMARKABLE
COURAGE IN PURSUING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN BURMA.
THE PRESIDENT STRONGLY CONDEMNS HER FOUR AND A HALF YEAR
DETENTION BY BURMESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THE PATH TO DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN BURMA
MUST BE WORKED OUT BY THE BURMESE THEMSELVES.  BUT HE SAYS
IN HIS LETTER HE REMAINS CONFIDENT HER CAUSE WILL PREVAIL.

A STATEMENT RELEASED AT THE WHITE HOUSE ALONG WITH THE
LETTER SAYS THE UNITED STATES URGES BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERS
TO BUILD ON CONGRESSMAN RICHARDSON'S MEETING WITH AUNG SAN
SUU KYI BY BEGINNING A DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION LEADER.

CONGRESSMAN RICHARDSON IS THE FIRST PERSON OUTSIDE OF HER
IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO MEET WITH HER SINCE SHE WAS PLACED UNDER
HOUSE ARREST IN 1989.  THE WHITE HOUSE  STATEMENT SAYS THE
PRESIDENT REGARDS HER CONTINUED DETENTION AS  UNACCEPTABLE
-- AND HE RENEWED HIS CALL FOR HER UNCONDITIONAL
RELEASE.(SIGNED)



NEB / DB / BD/PT

15-Feb-94 5:12 PM EST (2212 UTC) NNNN