BURMA-NLD NEWS...VOA

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=9/17/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-219995

TITLE=BURMA / N-L-D (L)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:  


INTRO: PROPOSED NEW TALKS BETWEEN BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS AND THE

PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAVE COLLAPSED JUST AS THEY WERE TO GET 

UNDER WAY.  THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE TWO SIDES HAD AGREED TO 

TALKS, BUT THAT THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, OR 

N-L-D, BACKED OUT BECAUSE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI 

WAS NOT INVITED.  VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS.


TEXT:  ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, BURMA'S POWERFUL MILITARY 

INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, LIEUTENANT GENERAL KHIN NYUNT, MONDAY INVITED

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE N-L-D, AUNG SHWE, AND OTHER N-L-D OFFICIALS, 

FOR TALKS.  A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT, RECEIVED IN BANGKOK, 

DESCRIBES AUNG SHWE'S REACTION AS "EXTREMELY DELIGHTED," AND SAYS

AN AGENDA WAS DISCUSSED.


HOWEVER, THE STATEMENT SAYS, AUNG SHWE ARRIVED FOR THE MEETING 

TUESDAY MORNING SAYING TALKS COULD NOT BE HELD WITHOUT AUNG SAN 

SUU KYI BEING PRESENT.  THE MEETING WAS THEN CALLED OFF.


THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT CALLED THE LAST-MINUTE REFUSAL "AN 

UNREASONABLE PRETEXT" AND ACCUSED AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF


TRANSFORMING THE N-L-D INTO A PRIVATE POLITICAL PARTY.


EFFORTS TO REACH AUNG SAN SUU KYI OR OTHER N-L-D OFFICIALS BY 

TELEPHONE TO GET THEIR ACCOUNT OF EVENTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.  A 

PHONE CONNECTION TO HER HOME WAS CUT BEFORE SHE COULD SPEAK.


THE N-L-D HAS LONG DEMANDED THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE WITH THE 

RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL, OR SLORC.


KHIN NYUNT AND AUNG SHWE HELD TALKS JULY 17TH -- THE FIRST SUCH 

TALKS BETWEEN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE N-L-D SINCE AUNG 

SAN SUU KYI WAS RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST IN 1995.  AUNG SAN SUU

KYI DID NOT PARTCIPATE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.  HOWEVER, SHE HAS 

SAID THOSE TALKS DO NOT REPRESENT THE BEGINNING OF A DIALOGUE 

WITH THE SLORC.  SHE DESCRIBED THAT MEETING AS "A SOUNDING OUT" 

TO SEE IF SUCH A DIALOGUE WAS POSSIBLE.


IT IS NOT KNOWN WHY THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TALKS AT THIS TIME, 

NOR WHAT WAS TO BE DISCUSSED. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT DELEGATION 

INCLUDED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONVENING COMMITTEE WRITING BURMA'S 

NEW CONSTITUTION; THE CHIEF JUSTICE; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND 

THE CHIEF OF THE RANGOON MILITARY COMMAND.


THE N-L-D HAS PLANNED A MEETING AT AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S RANGOON 

HOME SEPTEMBER 27TH AND 28TH TO MARK THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

PARTY.  WHEN THE N-L-D TRIED TO HOLD A SIMILAR GATHERING LAST 

YEAR, ACCESS TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME WAS BLOCKED AND HUNDREDS 

OF DELEGATES AND SUPPORTERS WERE TEMPORARILY DETAINED.  THE 

ROADBLOCKS ARE STILL IN PLACE.  (SIGNED)


NEB/GPT/EH


NEB/GPT/FC 


17-Sep-97 4:20 AM EDT (0820 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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