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'Un-Burmese' Slorc has failed to re



 Burma's Suu Kyi calls military government ``un-Burmese'' 

   BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, called a foreigner by the country's military government
for marrying a British academic, said Tuesday the government is
``un-Burmese'' in its treatment of elder statesmen.
   Suu Kyi made the comments in a syndicated newspaper column in
which she wrote about the courage and dedication of a group of
elderly statesmen who fought for Burma's independence against both
Japanese and British rulers.
   Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948.
   The veterans, most in their 80s, have written to the military
government several times urging it to open a dialogue with Suu Kyi
and her party to help solve the nation's political, economic and
social problems.
   They wrote to the government as recently as Aug. 5, and were
then summoned by the authorities, who warned them that ``action
could be taken against them,'' Suu Kyi wrote.
   ``Such communications usually result in a reprimand (most
un-Burmese, reprimanding men of such age and standing) from the
powers that be,'' Suu Kyi wrote.
   In the context of the column, the tone of the line was humorous
and the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner obviously enjoyed turning the
tables on the government.
   Burmese culture requires that great respect be given to elders,
and especially to war veterans and those who risked their lives to
win independence for the country.
   Military officials have argued that Suu Kyi cannot have any
political role in Burma because by being married to a foreigner,
she has essentially become a foreigner.
   They say she is out of touch with Burma's culture and the
desires of its people.
   The regime has included articles in its draft constitution _ not
yet passed _ that would bar Suu Kyi from elected office because she
is married to a foreigner.
090922 sep 97