Reuter: stiff new law against oppon

[ider@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Reuter: stiff new law against opponents

071601 :BC-BURMA-SUUKYI-LAW
 Burma govt passing stiff new law against opponents
    RANGOON, June 7 (Reuter) - Burma's military government
passed a new law on Friday calling for prison sentences of up to
20 years for anyone found guilty of opposing the government's
constitution-writing process, state-run television reported.
    The new law, apparently aimed at Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy (NLD) party, prohibits anyone from
disrupting a convention of government-selected delegates who
have been drafting guidelines for a new constitution for the
past three years.
    The law also prohibits anyone or any organisation from
speaking out against the government in any way that would
disturb the current policies of the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), which has made writing a new
constitution the main foundation of its political strategy.
    Signed by SLORC chairman Than Shwe, the law bans any action
deemed to affect the peace, stability and solidarity of the
nation. It also prohibits anything that could "belittle and
create misunderstandings" among the public in connection with
the national convention.
    The military rulers' action follows recent blunt warnings,
mostly through official media, to the NLD that it could be
declared illegal if it followed through on plans announced after
a controversial three-day meeting last month to draft its own
constitution for a democratic Burma.
    Any organisation found guilty of violating the new law risks
being suspended, dissolved or declared an "unlawful association"
and could have its money and property confiscated by the state,
state television reported.