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VOA ON BURMA/ARRESTS



DATE=5/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214573
TITLE=BURMA / ARRESTS  (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MATTHEW CHANCE
DATELINE= BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:    

INTRO:  REPORTS FROM BURMA SAY THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES HAVE 
ARRESTED AT LEAST FIFTY LEADING OPPOSITION FIGURES.  MATTHEW 
CHANCE REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THE ARRESTS COME AS BURMESE 
PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNERS PREPARE TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF 
THEIR 1990 ELECTION VICTORY, WHICH WAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE 
MILITARY. 

TEXT:  THE REPORTS OF WIDE SCALE ARRESTS ARE BEING MADE BY A 
SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY -- OR N-L-D 
-- THE PARTY LED BY THE NOBEL LAUREATE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI. 

THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE BURMESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN 
STEPPING-UP ARRESTS OF OPPOSITION FIGURES IN RECENT DAYS, 
INCLUDING SEVERAL ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.  THE MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT -- KNOWN AS THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION 
COUNCIL -- IS REPORTED TO BE CLAMPING-DOWN ON OPPOSITION ACTIVITY
IN ADVANCE OF PLANNED CELEBRATIONS ON MAY 27TH,  MARKING THE 
N-L-D'S 1990 ELECTION VICTORY.  THE BALLOT RESULTS WERE NEVER 
ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS CONTINUED ITS 
RULE IN BURMA, WHILE SAYING IT IS PREPARING THE COUNTRY FOR 
DEMOCRACY.

THE ARRESTS COME AS THE UNITED STATES IMPOSES TOUGH ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS ON BURMA, SAYING THE COUNTRY'S RULERS ARE GUILTY OF 
SERIOUS ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS.  IN A SPEECH TO CONGRESS, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE SANCTIONS ARE IN RESPONSE TO A 
DEEPENING PATTERN OF SEVERE REPRESSION IN BURMA.  HE SAID THE 
COUNTRY'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPRESS DEMOCRACY AND
ALLOW A FLOW OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TO PASS THROUGH BURMA INTO THE 
INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRADE.

HOWEVER, STRIKING A NOTE OF CONCILIATION, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID 
BURMA'S ISOLATION FROM THE UNITED STATES IS  NOT  INEVITABLE. AND
HE HINTED THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES COULD 
EVENTUALLY IMPROVE.  ANALYSTS SAY WASHINGTON'S ATTEMPTS TO 
PRESSURE THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN BURMA WITH ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS MAY PRODUCE ONLY MIXED RESULTS.  SOME U-S BUSINESSES --
SUCH AS THE SOFT DRINK GIANT PEPSICO -- HAVE ALREADY PULLED OUT 
OF BURMA DUE TO ADVERSE PUBLIC OPINION.  BUT THE U-S SANCTIONS 
APPLY ONLY TO NEW INVESTMENTS AND WILL  NOT  NECESSARILY AFFECT 
COMPANIES ALREADY DOING BUSINESS IN BURMA. (SIGNED) 


NEB/MC/SFT/FC/MMK