Wired News on Mar. 26 & 27, 1995

[FreeBurma@xxxxxxx]

Attn: Burma Newsreaders
Re: Wired News on March 26 & 27, 1995
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Burma Cuts  Prisoners' Sentences to Mark Forces Day

      By Deborah Charles 

    RANGOON, March 26 (Reuter) - Burma's military government said it has cut
by one-third the sentences of more than 23,000 prisoners in honour of the
50th celebration of Armed Forces Day, official media reported on Sunday. 

    The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the Minister of Home Affairs,
Lieutenant-General Mya Thinn, issued a decree reducing the sentences of
inmates who have worked on projects that were completed in time for the
celebration on Monday. 

    ``As a gesture hailing the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day, one-third of
their sentences... has been reduced,'' the order said, without adding whether
this meant that any of the prisoners would walk free. 

    But state-run newspapers, television and radio made no mention of any
leniency towards Aung San Suu Kyi, a co-founder of the opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD) who has been under house arrest in Rangoon since
July 1989. 

    There have been renewed rumours in diplomatic circles and among residents
of Rangoon that Suu Kyi may be set free soon. 

    Top officials of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) have been busy cutting ribbons and inaugurating a highway, several
bridges, a beach resort and television channel -- all to be ready in time for
Monday. 

    Armed Forces Day marks the anniversary of the date in 1945 when the
Burmese rose to end Japan's World War Two occupation. 

    Burma officially has no political prisoners, although dissidents,
diplomats and human rights groups abroad say several thousand people are in
jail for political offences. 

    On March 15, the government announced the release of 31 prisoners,
including leading dissidents Tin Oo and Kyi Maung. 

    Diplomats described them as the two most prominent opposition figures to
be set free since the house arrest of former prime minister U Nu was lifted
in April 1992. 

    Former defence minister Tin Oo, 68, was a co-founder with Suu Kyi of the
NLD in 1988 and became its first chairman. He was arrested with her in July
1989 and imprisoned on a charge of stirring discord. 

    Kyi Maung, 76, a former colonel, led the NLD to an overwhelming election
victory in 1990 but the SLORC, the ruling body of the Burmese armed forces,
ignored the result and has retained power ever since. 

    Their release could mean a revival of the dialogue started between the
SLORC and Suu Kyi last September which apparently has stalled since October,
diplomats said. 

    Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burmese independence hero General Aung San, has
said she wants her release to be unconditional and that she will make no
secret deals with the generals to win her freedom. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-03-26 02:53:07 EST
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Burma Leaders says Army must stay strong

      By Deborah Charles 

    RANGOON, March 27 (Reuter) - Burma's military government on Monday
celebrated its 50th Armed Forces Day with the commander in chief calling for
a strong army that can keep fighting to safeguard Burma's independence and
sovereignty. 

    General Than Shwe, who is also Burma's prime minister and chairman of the
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), made the comments in
an address to about 4,500 troops and guests in Rangoon's Resistance Park. 

    Thousands of people lined streets around the park from soon after dawn to
watch a military parade and hang garlands of jasmine around the necks of
3,300 singing soldiers, airmen and sailors as they marched past the golden
Shwedagon Pagoda into the park. 

    The troops joined 1,500 invited guests, including about two dozen foreign
military attaches, to hear Than Shwe's speech commemorating the military's
``anti-fascist resistance'' of 1945. 

    ``Just as the Tatmadaw (army), in concert with the people, regained the
nation's independence, it is also duty-bound to continue to preserve
independence and sovereignty,'' Than Shwe said in a 40-minute speech under a
blazing morning sun. 

    ``With the changing situation in the international arena today, it is
essential to remain ever vigilant and safeguard independence and sovereignty.
Therefore it has become necessary to build up the Tatmadaw to be modern and
strong.'' 

    Burma's armed forces have in recent years been expanded to some 300,000
men, equipped with arms from China and elsewhere. 

    Speaking at the same spot as independence hero General Aung San did when
he rallied the troops against a Japanese army of occupation 50 years ago,
Than Shwe also said the army and the SLORC must play a key political role in
Burma. 

    ``To this day, our Tatmadaw, as is the SLORC, is still discharging the
duties of the state,'' he said. ``In essence, the Tatmadaw should be able to
participate, with general goodwill, in the national political leadership role
of the future of Myanamr.'' 

    Myanmar is the name the SLORC, formed in 1988, gave to Burma following
the brutal suppression of nationwide pro-democracy protests that left
thousands dead or imprisoned. 

    Ironically Burma's most prominent political prisoner is the daughter of
independence martyr Aung San, and lives under house arrest just a few km
(miles) from where Than Shwe spoke. 

    Depite urgings from abroad, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
is still detained at her house on the shore of Rangoon's Inya Lake where she
has been held since 1989. 

    Suu Kyi, who had two highly-publicised meetings with top SLORC officials
late last year, has said her release must be unconditional and she will not
make any secret deal with the SLORC in exchange for her freedom. 

    Rumours were swirling in diplomatic and media circles that Suu Kyi, 49,
might be released to mark Armed Forces Day. But although SLORC earlier this
month freed two leading dissidents it has not said when Suu Kyi will be
released. 

    On Sunday 2,874 prisoners were released after the government announced it
was reducing by one third the sentences of 23,901 convicts in honour of Armed
Forces Day. 

    During his speech Than Shwe said the SLORC was working on reconciling
ethnic differences in Burma, and it wants to make peace with different armed
rebel groups. 

    ``There are 14 armed national groups which have realised the Tatmadaw has
always left its door open to welcome the remaining armed groups. 

    ``I would like to confirm here once again that the Tatmadaw is always
welcoming the armed groups in the jungles,'' he said. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-03-27 04:50:37 EST
-----------------------------END.