BURMA ANNIVERSARY

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=9/18/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220057

TITLE=BURMA-ANNIVERSARY (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:   


INTRO: TODAY (THURSDAY) MARKS THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

MILITARY TAKEOVER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF BURMA.  THE GOVERNMENT 

HAILED THE EVENT AS A TURNING POINT THAT RETURNED STABILITY TO 

BURMA.  PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS  ALSO VIEW IT AS A TURNING POINT 

-- BUT IN A VERY DIFFERENT LIGHT.  VOA  CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS

REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN  BANGKOK. 


TEXT:  OFFICIAL BURMESE NEWSPAPERS CARRIED SPECIAL ARTICLES 

THURSDAY HAILING THE 1988 MILITARY TAKEOVER OF THE GOVERNMENT.  

ARTICLES SAID BURMA IS A BETTER  NATION AND THAT A NEW ERA OF 

WHAT THEY CALL "DEMOCRACY BASED ON  DISCIPLINE" IS STARTING. 


THE MILITARY TOOK POWER IN 1988 AFTER MONTHS OF DEMONSTRATIONS BY

ACTIVISTS DEMANDING DEMOCRACY.  THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED 

OR  IMPRISONED DURING THE PROTESTS, AND THOUSANDS MORE FLED THE 

COUNTRY IN  FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES. 


THE NAME OF BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT SUMS UP THE 

OFFICIAL  VERSION OF THE EVENTS OF 1988 -- THE STATE LAW AND 

ORDER RESTORATION  COUNCIL.  IN ITS OWN EYES, THE SLORC, AS IT IS

COMMONLY KNOWN, RESTORED  LAW AND ORDER IN 1988 AFTER MONTHS OF 

WHAT IT OFFICIALLY CALLS "ANARCHY."  IT CLAIMS CREDIT


FOR NEGOTIATING CEASEFIRES WITH THE COUNTRY'S ETHNIC MINORITIES, 

MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YEARS FOR INDEPENDENCE OR 

AUTONOMY FROM RANGOON.   


BUT BURMESE EXILES CALL THAT VIEW INSULTING.  THEY SAY THE 

VIOLENT SEIZURE  OF POWER WAS AN ACT OF SUPPRESSION, NOT 

SALVATION. 


TO THE MILITARY, UNITY IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN INDIVIDUAL 

RIGHTS.  BUT  IN ITS PURSUIT OF AN ORDERLY SOCIETY, THE SLORC HAS

LOGGED A TRACK RECORD  ON HUMAN RIGHTS THAT HAS WON IT WIDESPREAD

CONDEMNATION, ESPECIALLY AMONG  WESTERN NATIONS. 


TWO YEARS AFTER TAKING POWER, ELECTIONS WERE HELD, BUT THE 

GOVERNMENT THREW OUT THE RESULTS AFTER THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 

DEMOCRACY, LED BY AUNG  SAN SUU KYI, WON BY AN OVERWHELMING 

MARGIN.  HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF  LEAGUE MEMBERS AND 

SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PRISON FOR LENGTHY JAIL TERMS FOR 

SUCH OFFENSES AS UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF A FAX MACHINE. 


AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS PUT UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR SIX YEARS.  SHE 

WAS  RELEASED IN 1995, BUT THE GOVERNMENT CLAMPED DOWN AGAIN A 

YEAR AGO, SETTING UP ROADBLOCKS IN FRONT OF HER RANGOON HOME. 


THIS HAS LED TO A DEADLOCK BETWEEN THE SLORC AND THE 

PRO-DEMOCRACY  MOVEMENT.  THE N-L-D HAS DEMANDED A DIALOGUE WITH 

THE SLORC.  PERIODIC FEELERS AT TALKS, THE LATEST BEING ONLY THIS

WEEK, HAVE GONE NOWHERE.  THE  SLORC ADAMANTLY REFUSES TO HAVE 

ANYTHING TO DO WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI --  AND THE N-L-D JUST


AS ADAMANTLY REFUSES TO TALK TO SLORC UNLESS AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS 

INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. 


THIS STALEMATE HAS LED TO WHAT ONE RANGOON-BASED WESTERN DIPLOMAT

LABELS A  "BUNKER MENTALITY" AMONG BURMA'S RULERS, BOTH 

INTERNALLY AND IN ITS  DEALINGS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.  THE 

GOVERNMENT LOOKS FOR FRIENDS WHERE IT CAN FIND THEM, AND SCORED A

SIGNIFICANT VICTORY WHEN IT WON ADMISSION  TO THE ASSOCIATION OF 

SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IN JULY. 


THE ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE SHOCKWAVES FROM

OTHER  SOUTHEAST ASIAN FINANCIAL CAPITALS AND IN PART BECAUSE OF 

ECONOMIC  PRESSURE FROM THE WEST.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO 

WOO FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND TOURISTS, BUT WITH LUKEWARM SUCCESS. 

BRAND-NEW HOTELS SIT NEARLY EMPTY IN THE CAPITAL. 


DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS ABROAD HAVE WAGED A RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN 

AGAINST  COMPANIES THAT EITHER DO BUSINESS IN BURMA OR PLAN TO DO

SO.  BUT THE GAP CREATED BY WESTERN FIRMS THAT PULL OUT OF BURMA 

IS OFTEN FILLED BY ASIAN  BUSINESSES FROM SINGAPORE OR MALAYSIA. 

(SIGNED)


NEB/GPT/FC/EH  


18-Sep-97 6:55 AM EDT (1055 UTC)




Source: Voice of America

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