ABSDF statement on the SLORC's late

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Subject: ABSDF statement on the SLORC's latest crackdown on the NLD

                  All Burma Students' Democratic Front
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       ABSDF Statement On The SLORC's latest Crackdown On The NLD
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1. As a further indication of their uncompromising attitude
towards the Burmese democratic movement, the State Law and Order
Restoration council (SLORC) has again cracked down on the main
opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). In the
early hour of Friday morning, security forces blocked University
Avenue, confined Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to her house and barred her
supporters from entering the compound. Government forces also
detained the NLD representatives travelling from provincial towns
to participate in a meeting scheduled to be held on September
28th in commemoration of the 8th Anniversary of the formation of
the National League for Democracy.

2. The military regime used a similar tactics on May 27 earlier
this year to bar elected NLD representatives and members from
attending another NLD Conference. At that time, more than 260
representatives, NLD members and others political activists were
detained. Although some were later released, the most prominent
of those detained were sentenced to long terms in prison.

3. The ABSDF is greatly concerned about the safety of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi herself, and of other political detainess in this
latest crackdown by the SLORC.

4. The ABSDF condemns the SLORC in the strongest possible terms
for this outrageous violation of the right of an opposition party
to hold meeting.

5. The ABSDF demands that the SLORC ceases this violent
repression, and attempts to solve political problems through the
political means by entering dialogue with the NLD which is after
all a legal political party.

6. The ABSDF would like to call upon all the people of Burma to
fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD and participate
more actively in the struggle for democracy and human rights in
our country.

7. At the same time, the ABSDF would like to request that the
ASEAN ' Constructive Engagement' policy towards the SLORC be
reviewed and that Burma be stripped of its observer's status
within the regional forum, as this policy is abetting SLORC's
freedom to oppress its own people and thereby acting as a
deterrent to democratization in Burma.


Central Committee
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
Date: SEPTEMBER 27, 1996