VOA 5/28

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DATE=5/28/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-197812
TITLE=BURMA TUESDAY (L)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, HAS ENDED A 
THREE-DAY CONFERENCE OF HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY WITH A 
NEW DEMAND FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THE RULING MILITARY JUNTA.
V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS, THE MILITARY HAS SPONSORED RALLIES 
AGAINST THE DEMOCRACY LEADER AND HAS STEPPED UP CRITICISM OF HER 
IN THE OFFICIAL PRESS:

TEXT:  POLITICAL RALLIES IN BURMA USUALLY INVOLVE MEMBERS OF A 
MASS POLITICAL FRONT ORGANIZATION SET UP FOUR YEARS AGO TO 
GENERATE SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY JUNTA'S POLICIES.

JUDGING FROM STATE-RUN MEDIA REPORTS, ANALYSTS SAY THE MAIN JUNTA
OBJECTIVE RIGHT NOW APPEARS TO BE TO MAKE THE BURMESE PEOPLE 
BELIEVE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY AND ITS LEADER -- AUNG 
SAN SUU KYI -- ARE A THREAT TO THE NATION.

NEWSPAPERS CARRIED LENGTHY ATTACKS ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI, REFERRING
TO HER AS A "DESTRUCTIONIST."  THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN INCREASE IN
CRITICISM OF FOREIGN RADIO BROADCASTS, WHICH PEOPLE DEPEND ON FOR
UN-CENSORED NEWS.

THE N-L-D CONGRESS WAS THE MOST DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE MILITARY 
SINCE IT RELEASED AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM HOUSE ARREST LAST YEAR.

AMONG THE RESOLUTIONS IS A NEW DEMAND THAT THE MILITARY CONVENE 
THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990.  IN THAT ELECTION, THE N-L-D WON 
82 PERCENT OF THE 485 SEATS AT STAKE.

HOWEVER, THE JUNTA IGNORED THE RESULT AND IN 1993 BEGAN A 
TIGHTLY-CONTROLLED CONVENTION IT SAYS IS AIMED AT MULTI-PARTY 
DEMOCRACY.

THE N-L-D ALSO SAYS THE MILITARY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL BY 
A CIVILIAN PARLIAMENT.  THAT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO THE ARMY, 
WHICH HAS RESERVED FOR ITSELF A DOMINANT POLITICAL ROLE -- 
INCLUDING A LARGE NUMBER OF APPOINTED SEATS IN A FUTURE 
PARLIAMENT.

IN ANOTHER MOVE, THE N-L-D SAYS IT WILL DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION.
NEWS AGENCIES QUOTED AUNG SAN SUU KYI AS SAYING (TUESDAY) THE 
PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS IF THEY FEEL IT WOULD BE FOR THE
GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

IN WHAT OBSERVERS SAID WAS A CONCILIATORY GESTURE, THE N-L-D 
DESCRIBES THE ARMY AS -- AN HONORABLE INSTITUTION WHICH SHOULD 
DEFEND THE NATION AND DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

BURMA'S MILITARY HAS STILL NOT SAID WHEN IT WILL RELEASE N-L-D 
MEMBERS IT DETAINED BEFORE THE PARTY CONGRESS.  AMONG THEM ARE 
KEY ASSOCIATES OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  SHE HAS SAID THE JUNTA MIGHT
HOLD SOME N-L-D MEMBERS INDEFINITELY. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/FC

28-May-96 7:07 AM EDT (1107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America