BURMA'S TYRANNY

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## Original in: /HRNET/ASIA&PACIFIC
## author     : apakabar@xxxxxxxxx
## date       : 16.09.94

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DATE=        SEPTEMBER 18, 1994
NUMBER=      0-06064
TITLE=       BURMA'S TYRANNY

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR
BROADCAST SEPTEMBER 18, 1994.

ANNCR:
    NEXT, AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF THE U.S.
    GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    TODAY [SEPTEMBER 18TH] IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC
    EVENTS THAT BROUGHT THE CURRENT MILITARY REGIME TO POWER
    IN BURMA.

    SIX YEARS AGO, MILLIONS OF BURMESE TOOK TO THE STREETS
    TO DEMAND DEMOCRACY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.  THE
    UNPRECEDENTED UPRISING CAME AFTER YEARS OF ECONOMIC
    STAGNATION AND POLITICAL REPRESSION.  THE REPRESSION HAD
    BEGUN IN 1962, WHEN A MILITARY JUNTA ESTABLISHED THE
    DICTATORSHIP OF THE BURMA SOCIALIST PROGRAM PARTY.
    UNDER ITS MISRULE, BURMA WAS REDUCED TO A LEAST
    DEVELOPED COUNTRY.  IT HAD ONCE BEEN ONE OF THE RICHEST
    IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

    IN RESPONSE TO THE NATIONWIDE UNREST IN AUGUST AND
    SEPTEMBER OF 1988, BURMESE TROOPS FIRED ON PEACEFUL
    DEMONSTRATORS IN RANGOON.  ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1988, THE
    BURMESE ARMY TOOK FORMAL CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY AND
    ABOLISHED THE FEW REMAINING CIVIL LIBERTIES.  THE MASS
    DEMONSTRATIONS WERE RUTHLESSLY SUPPRESSED. THOUSANDS OF
    MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED.

    CONFIDENT THAT THEY COULD PREVENT ANY SERIOUS CHALLENGE
    TO THEIR RULE, THE BURMESE JUNTA PERMITTED PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS IN MAY 1990.  THE BURMESE PEOPLE TOOK FULL
    ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMAND AN END TO
    DICTATORSHIP.  DESPITE HARASSMENT AND THE ARREST OF ITS
    LEADERS, THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
    WON OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SEATS.

    REJECTED OVERWHELMINGLY AT THE BALLOT BOX, THE JUNTA
    TURNED AGAIN TO POLICE-STATE TERROR.  HUNDREDS OF
    OPPOSITION LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WERE
    DETAINED.  THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT'S PRINCIPAL LEADER,
    NOBEL LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KY, IS NOW IN HER SIXTH YEAR
    OF HOUSE ARREST.

    IN RECENT MONTHS, THE REGIME HAS RELEASED SOME POLITICAL
    OPPONENTS, BUT IMPRISONED OTHERS.  IT SPEAKS OF
    POLITICAL "DIALOGUE," WHILE HOLDING THE LOGICAL PARTNERS
    TO A DIALOGUE IN INDEFINITE DETENTION.  IT TALKS OF
    CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT -- AND WIELDS ARBITRARY
    DESPOTIC POWER.  THE UNITED STATES CALLS ON BURMA'S
    MILITARY TO FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS, CEASE ITS
    REPRESSION, AND PERMIT THE BURMESE PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH
    THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT SO LONG DENIED THEM.

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF THE U.S.
    GOVERNMENT.

16-Sep-94 12:23 PM EDT (1623 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America