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UN/BURMA Report
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ATE=1/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225522
TITLE=U-N / BURMA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS ENVOY HAS ARRIVED IN BURMA FOR TALKS.
THE ENVOY -- A SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN -- IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH BOTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
LEADERS OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT. VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY
THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.
TEXT: U-N SPECIAL ENVOY ALVARO DE SOTO ARRIVED IN RANGOON TUESDAY
TO START A THREE-DAY VISIT EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON POLITICAL REFORM
AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
MR. DE SOTO IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OHN GYAW
ON WEDNESDAY. THE REST OF HIS SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN DISCLOSED,
BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH SENIOR GENERALS OF THE RULING
STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
LEADER OF BURMA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.
BURMA'S RULERS HAVE RESISTED ANY VISITS TO THEIR COUNTRY BY HUMAN
RIGHTS MONITORS. PERMISSION FOR THE TRIP WAS GRANTED IN A
DECEMBER MEETING BETWEEN GENERAL THAN SHWE AND U-N SECRETARY KOFI
ANNAN IN KUALA LUMPUR.
MR. DE SOTO IS EXPECTED TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN TALKS WITH
THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, SPEED UP THE WRITING OF A NEW
CONSTITUTION, AND TO HOLD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
THE LAST ELECTION, HELD IN 1990, WAS OVERWHELMINGLY WON BY AUNG
SAN SUU KYI'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, BUT THE GENERALS
THREW OUT THE ELECTION RESULTS. SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
FIRMLY HELD ON TO POWER AND KEPT A TIGHT REIN ON POLITICAL
ACTIVITY.
THE LEADER OF ONE BURMESE EXILE ORGANIZATION IS QUOTED AS SAYING
THAT BURMA DOES NOT NEED NEW ELECTIONS, BUT NEEDS THE RESULTS OF
THE 1990 POLLS REINSTATED. HOWEVER, SOME RANGOON-BASED
DIPLOMATIC ANALYSTS SAY THAT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL SINCE MANY OF
THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE DIED, GONE INTO EXILE, ARE
IN FRAIL HEALTH, OR HAVE RESIGNED THEIR SEATS -- OFTEN UNDER
GOVERNMENT PRESSURE.
IN AN OPEN LETTER, THE ALL BURMESE STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
ALSO URGED MR. DE SOTO TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO RE-OPEN SCHOOLS
AND UNIVERSITIES CLOSED BECAUSE OF STUDENT UNREST, TO RAISE THE
ISSUE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND TO SPUR THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD
A DIALOGUE WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC
20-Jan-98 5:28 AM EST (1028 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.