SLORC bar Suu Kyi's public speech

[dvb@xxxxx]

07Jun96 BURMA'S SUU KYI HEADS FOR SHOWDOWN WITH MILITARY. 08:05 GMT  
By Deborah Charles
BANGKOK, June 7 (Reuter) - Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
appeared heading for a showdown with the military government on Friday after
members of her party said she would go ahead with weekend public gatherings
outside her home.
A senior government official told Reuters by telephone from Rangoon the
military had told Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party that
the weekend meetings disrupted traffic and should not be held outside.
"They can hold them but it has to be inside (Suu Kyi's) compound," he said,
denying reports the government had banned the gatherings which attract
thousands of democracy supporters.
"Over the past few weeks there have been a lot of traffic problems because
of the meetings, and many complaints. They have been informed to move them
inside," said the official, who requested anonymity.  But a senior NLD
member said the party planned to proceed with the weekend public speeches as
usual.  Tin Oo, deputy secretary general of the NLD, said by telephone from
Rangoon the government had not banned the popular gatherings.
"We haven't received any official message," he said.  Rumours swept Rangoon
on Thursday that the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
may have banned the weekend speeches, starting on Saturday.  The hour-long
speeches -- given by Suu Kyi on Saturdays and Suu Kyi, Tin Oo and deputy NLD
secretary general Kyi Maung on Sundays -- have gained in popularity since
they began after Suu Kyi was released from six years under house arrest last
July.
Crowds of up to 10,000 people have gathered each day over the past two
weekends to hear the speeches, delivered over the front gates of Suu Kyi's
home, and give support to the NLD, which has been the target of a new
crackdown by the SLORC.
The peaceful crowds chant slogans and cheer Suu Kyi but stay behind
barricades erected by traffic police to keep people from flowing out on to
busy University Avenue.
Tin Oo said he, Suu Kyi and Kyi Maung would speak as scheduled.
"We will if possible meet the people. The NLD is a party of the people...we
have met the people for 11 months already and have not been found guilty of
any violations of law and order.  "I hope Saturday will be normal as usual."
A reinvigorated NLD emerged confident from a three-day party congress in
late May, which was held despite sweeping arrests of democracy politicians
and intimidation by the SLORC.  The NLD won a landslide victory in a 1990
election, but the results were never recognised by the SLORC.
Separately, Burma's official media said the NLD risked being outlawed and
having its members jailed.  A commentary in the state-run New Light of
Myanmar newspaper on Friday said recent activities of Suu Kyi and her party
were a challenge to the government and an insult to the public, and if they
continued the party could become an "unlawful association".
"When it becomes an unlawful association, then members of unlawful
association will not be called in for questioning," the commentary said.
Burma's official media are tightly controlled by the SLORC.  Suu Kyi and the
NLD recently vowed to step up efforts to bring democracy to Burma. After the
May 26-29 party meeting, Suu Kyi said the NLD planned to write its own
version of a constitution for a new democratic Burma.  
(c) Reuters Limited 1996
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