SLORC SENTENCES 1 OPPOSITION MEMBE

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: :SLORC SENTENCES 1 OPPOSITION MEMBER TO 4 YR IMPRISONMENT

DATE=5/26/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214796
TITLE=BURMA/ANNIVERSARY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER 
DATELINE=BANGKOK 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  BURMA'S RULING MILITARY COUNCIL SAID MONDAY IT HAS 
SENTENCED AN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN TO FOUR-YEARS IN PRISON FOR 
FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS.  REPORTS FROM RANGOON ALSO SAY TWO OTHER 
OPPOSITION POLITICIANS WERE TURNED AWAY FROM THE COMPOUND OF 
PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM
BANGKOK ON THE EVE OF AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY IN BURMA.

TEXT:  THE REUTER BUREAU IN BANGKOK SAID MONDAY IT RECEIVED A FAX
FROM BURMA'S STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL ON THE 
SENTENCING OF MYO KHIN, SECRETARY OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY FOR A RANGOON TOWNSHIP.

MYO KHIN WAS ARRESTED MAY 12TH AND CHARGED WITH ALTERING A FAMILY
REGISTRATION LIST AND A CITIZEN REGISTRATION CARD.

THE STATEMENT SAID THE ARREST AND SENTENCING OF MYO KHIN HAS 
NOTHING TO DO WITH A PLANNED GATHERING TUESDAY AT AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI'S LAKESIDE COMPOUND IN RANGOON TO MARK THE SEVENTH 
ANNIVERSARY OF HER PARTY'S VICTORY IN A 1990 ELECTION.

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL SANCTIONED THE ELECTION.  BUT WHEN 
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY CANDIDATES WON MORE THAN 80-PERCENT
OF THE SEATS IN THE PROPOSED PARLIAMENT, THE MILITARY IGNORED THE
RESULTS.  THE PARLIAMENT NEVER CONVENED.

REUTER ALSO REPORTED TWO NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY 
FOLLOWERS WERE TURNED AWAY MONDAY AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO ENTER AUNG
SAN SUU KYI'S LAKESIDE COMPOUND IN A RANGOON UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY SAYS 193 OF ITS MEMBERS -- MANY
OF THEM ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT -- HAVE BEEN DETAINED TO 
PREVENT THEM FROM ATTENDING TUESDAY'S GATHERING.

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL DENIES ANYONE HAS BEEN DETAINED.  IT 
SAYS POLITICAL ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO STAY AT HOME.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT SATURDAY AND NOW 
CIRCULATING ON THE INTERNET SAYS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY DELEGATES HAVE ONLY BEEN ASKED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO 
REFRAIN FROM TAKING ACTIONS DESIGNED TO CREATE CHAOS IN THE 
COUNTRY.

RANGOON WAS CALM MONDAY AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S GATHERING AT AUNG SAN 
SUU KYI'S  HOME, WHICH PARTY LEADERS SAY WILL GO AHEAD.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/RAE