AP-Dow Jones: Suu Kyi Holds Pro-Dem

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Subject: AP-Dow Jones: Suu Kyi Holds Pro-Democracy Meeting

Burma's Suu Kyi Holds Pro-Democracy Meeting, Vows More

   RANGOON, Burma (AP-Dow Jones)--Throwing down a gauntlet to the militar=
y
regime, Aung San Suu Kyi opened an opposition congress Sunday that the
government had arrested hundreds of her supporters to stop - and she vowe=
d to
hold several more. 
   Suu Kyi's speech marked her biggest challenge to the ruling junta sinc=
e her
release from six years of house arrest last July, signaling she would =
no longer
allow the regime to simply ignore her repeated calls for dialogue. 
   Rather than be cowed by a week of mass arrests, Suu Kyi declared at =
the
meeting Sunday that her National League for Democracy would 'increase =
our
actions to fulfill the will of the people and bring about national
reconciliation.' 
   Though 300 supporters applauded every sentence and chanted 'Long Live =
Aung
San Suu Kyi,' only 17 were original delegates to the party congress, the
opposition's most important planned meeting in six years. 
   At least 238 other delegates languished in detention following a natio=
nwide
roundup to prevent the meeting, which marks the sixth anniversary of
parliamentary elections in 1990 when Suu Kyi's party won 392 of 458 conte=
sted
seats. 
   Another 24 ordinary party members were also in custody, bringing the =
total to
262, Suu Kyi said. Reports that one delegate had died in custody were
unfounded. 
   The gathering posed a symbolic challenge to the legitimacy of the ruli=
ng
State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, which refused to honor=
 the
election. Even before last week's arrests, many victorious candidates =
had been
killed, jailed or driven into exile. 
   Though the meeting might have passed largely ignored, the arrests last=
 week
catapulted Burma back into world headlines and put new scrutiny on the =
SLORC's
courting of foreign companies eager to profit by developing Burma's econo=
my,
destroyed during 34 years of military rule. 
   Wearing a traditional sarong, her hair tied back in jasmine flowers, =
Suu Kyi
indicated the opposition would keep the regime under pressure by holding
several more congresses - implicitly daring the junta to stop her and =
further
destroy its reputation. 
   'This is no longer a meeting of elected representatives of the NLD,' =
Suu Kyi
said. 'We have decided, therefore, this will be the first in a series =
of NLD
congresses.' 
   There was no immediate response from government officials. The
state-controlled press, which ignores Suu Kyi's remarks, reported on busi=
ness
deals and SLORC leaders visiting Buddhist shrines. 
   Diplomats from the United States, Japan, France, Britain and Australia
attended the meeting, evidence of a fresh wave of international support =
for
Burma's beleaguered opposition. 
   'She is in fact a moderating force,' one diplomat said on condition =
of
anonymity. 'The problem with this government is that the only way you =
can be
moderate for them is to shut up and keep quiet.' 
   Suu Kyi called for international support and declared that six years =
of
denied rights and suffering had merely strengthened the appetite of Burma=
's
people for democracy. 
   The party's chief policy would remain that the 1990 vote be fully hono=
red,
Suu Kyi said. But she held out an olive branch to the SLORC. 
   'We not only invite the people of our country, but also the authoritie=
s, to
join us,' Suu Kyi said. 'Because that is the only way we can bring good =
and
happiness to our land.' 
   Fears that the government would put up roadblocks around Suu Kyi's =
house
proved unfounded, and no unusual security presence was seen in the city. =

   Asked by reporters why the meeting was allowed at all, Suu Kyi said: =
'It's
always like that with the SLORC. They're not very consistent.' 
   (END) AP-DOW JONES NEWS 26-05-96
   1140GMT