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News from India Newspaper (r)



  'Junta and NLD can exist in harmony'
 May rally helped both sides, says Suu Kyi

Rangoon, June 8: Burmese Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says it is
too early to declare if ties with the ruling military junta have thawed
just because it allowed her political party to hold a controversial
gathering last month.
 But she noted both sides had benefited mutually from the military's
permission for the National League for Democracy party to hold the May
27-28 meeting. the gathering marked the eighth anniversary of the NLD's
1990-election victory, which was never officially recognized.
 "I hope this has made the authorities realized that we are prepared to
cooperate with them and if they are prepared to cooperate with us there
is no reason why we cannot achieve harmony," Ms Suu Kyi said in a video
interview recorded in Rangoon on Friday. The video was brought to
Thailand over the weekend.
 "I think it is too early to say whether the arrangements of May mean
that the authorities have become so flexible that they are prepared to
go for dialogue," Ms Suu Kyi added.
 The ruling State Peace and Development Council, which had in the past
banned gathering to mark the sensitive NLD polls victory, made a
surprise move by letting 400 NLD members take part in the gathering in
Ms Suu Kyi's residence in the capital.
 In May 1997, THE military drew international criticism when it detained
hundreds of NLD members to prevent them from attending a similar
gathering.
 The NLD has charged that the military abuses human rights on a large
scale and has curbed political activities.
 Political analysts and diplomats had speculated soon after the
gathering was allowed last month that it could be the harbinger of
dialogue between the two sidesdialogue that has been elusive in the
past few years.
 Before last month's gathering there was little evidence to suggest the
SPDC was taking a softer line, Ms Suu Kyi said.
 "Since last September, repression has increasing, repression of our
political party has increased a great deal so you cannot say that just
because things worked out well with the congress that the military
regime is more flexible," she said.
 "But I hope that because now they had have quite a bit of experience of
dealing with us they will be able to understand better we are not being
just difficult," Ms Suu Kyi added.
 The NLD has frequently asked for a dialogue with the ruling junta but
the SPDC has said it will only open talks with the Opposition if Ms Suu
Kyi does not represent the NLD.
 But the NLD has refused this condition. (Reuter)

"THE ASIAN AGE"
Date June 9, 1998.



  "2 opposition activities get 14 years"

Bangkok, June 8: Two pro-democracy activities have been sentenced by
Burma's military regime to 14 years' imprisonment for distributing a
letter from a rebel army.
 The two pro-democracy activities were handing out copies of the letter,
which was addressed to Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the head of military
intelligence, during a meeting in late March at the home of Nobel Peace
Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
 Sources in Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said a court had
passed sentence on the pair last Monday.
 The letter was from the Shan State Army, a rebel group of the ethnic
Shan minority. Its contents have no been released. (AFP)

"THE ASIAN AGE"
Date June 9, 1998.