Burma: SUU KYI PROTESTS (L) [2] By

[DEBRA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Burma: SUU KYI PROTESTS (L) [2] By DAN ROBINSON/BANGKOK

## author     : apakabar@xxxxxxxxx
## date       : 19.07.94

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DATE=7/19/94
TITLE=SUU KYI PROTESTS (L)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  BURMA'S DEMOCRACY LEADER AND 1991 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
RECIPIENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, BEGINS HER   SIXTH   YEAR UNDER
HOUSE ARREST WEDNESDAY IN RANGOON.  AROUND THE WORLD, HUMAN
RIGHTS AND BURMESE DISSIDENT GROUPS STAGED DEMONSTRATIONS.
V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON IN BANGKOK REPORTS ON ONE SUCH
DEMONSTRATION IN THE THAI CAPITAL THAT TOOK PLACE DESPITE
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO DISCOURAGE SUCH PROTESTS:

TEXT:  BURMESE STUDENTS LIVING AS REFUGEES IN THAILAND HAVE
BEEN FEARFUL OF BEING ARRESTED SHOULD THEY PARTICIPATE IN
ANY PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION.

THAT DID NOT STOP ABOUT 10 OF THEM FROM DEMONSTRATING
OUTSIDE THE BURMESE EMBASSY IN BANGKOK, SHOUTING SLOGANS
CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND DEMOCRACY IN
BURMA:

                   // ACT OF DEMONSTRATION //

THAI POLICE AND SECURITY OFFICIALS ALLOWED THE DEMONSTRATION
TO PROCEED.  ONE REPORT SAID POLICE ARRESTED ONE PROTESTER
FOR ALLEGEDLY BEING WITHOUT PROPER IDENTIFICATION PAPERS.

EARLIER, FOUR FOREIGN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS DEMONSTRATED
OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY GATE.  THEY WORE PAPER CHAINS
SYMBOLIZING WHAT THEY CALLED THE SUFFERING OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS AND BURMESE CITIZENS.

KEN KAWASAKI, REPRESENTING A GROUP CALLED BURMESE RELIEF
CENTER IN JAPAN, READ A STATEMENT:

                       // KAWASAKI ACT //

         AS WE STAND HERE IN FRONT OF THE SLORC EMBASSY IN
         BANGKOK, WE JOIN WITH THE BURMA YOUTH VOLUNTEER
         ORGANIZATION IN TOKYO AND MANY OTHER GROUPS IN
         CALLING ON THE WORLD TO CRY OUT IN PROTEST AGAINST
         THE INJUSTICE OF HER DETENTION, UNWARRANTED EVEN BY
         THE MILITARY JUNTA'S OWN ARBITRARY RULES.
         SYMBOLICALLY MANACLED AND CHAINED WE WISH TO
         DEMONSTRATE OUR SOLIDARITY WITH  THE THOUSANDS OF
         OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS INSIDE BURMA.

                          // END ACT //

THAI AUTHORITIES HAVE WARNED AGAINST DEMONSTRATIONS THAT
MIGHT HAVE A DISRUPTIVE EFFECT ON MEETINGS IN BANGKOK OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN).

// OPT // A RADIO NEWSCAST FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S INFORMATION
DEPARTMENT SAID :

                         // RADIO ACT //

THAILAND HAS PLANNED TIGHT SECURITY MEASURE FOR PARTICIPANTS
IN THE ASEAN MEETINGS IN BANGKOK FROM JULY TWENTY SECOND TO
THE TWENTY EIGHTH, 1994.  AUTHORITIES ARE FULLY PREPARED TO
DEAL WITH UNTOWARD (UNRULY) INCIDENTS WHICH ARE MOST
UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN HERE.

                          // END OPT //

THE THAI GOVERNMENT HAS COME UNDER HEAVY CRITICISM FOR
ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK A SEMINAR BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS THAT
WOULD FOCUS ON THE SITUATIONS IN BURMA AND IN EAST TIMOR.

THAI OFFICIALS SAY THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF NOT
ALLOWING GROUPS TO USE ONE ASEAN COUNTRY AS A PLATFORM TO
CRITICIZE ANOTHER.

BUT IN A CLEAR CHALLENGE TO AUTHORITIES, ACTIVISTS VOWED TO
GO AHEAD WITH THEIR MEETING.  THEY SAY THE ARREST OR
DEPORTATION OF FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS WOULD SHOW THAT THAILAND
DOES NOT VALUE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/FA/HVS

19-Jul-94 6:55 AM EDT (1055 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America