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AFP- Suu Kyi at risk, says Burmese



The Nation 12 July 1998
Suu Kyi at risk, says Burmese junta

RANGOON -- The Burmese junta on Saturday warned that opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi's safety was at risk and suggested there could be rioting if
she was harmed. 

Certain parties intended to cause the Nobel peace laureate ''some form of
bodily harm'', a statement prepared by Burma's Canadian Embassy and
distributed in Rangoon said, without identifying the plotters. 

''The government of the Union of Myanmar [Burma] has always had a deep
concern for the personal security of all politicians, including Ms Suu Kyi,
as there are known elements who are trying to create political unrest by
putting her to some form of bodily harm,'' it added. 

The statement came amid escalating political unrest and just three days
after authorities blocked the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader
from travelling outside Rangoon to meet supporters. 

''The recent request to make her return to Yangon [Rangoon] was meant to
forestall undesirable events similar to ones currently taking place in a
major African nation following the death of a prominent politician,'' the
statement said, in an apparent reference to Nigeria. 

There has been rioting in Nigeria following the death in custody of
opposition leader Moshood Abiola this week. 

The NLD-led Burmese opposition won 1990 polls by a landslide, but the junta
has refused to relinquish power. 

The NLD has given the junta an ultimatum to convene Parliament by Aug 21 or
face unspecified consequences and has repeatedly called on the military
rulers to engage in dialogue. 

Another opposition group meanwhile called for the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean) to take a tough stand against Burma's junta when
foreign ministers from member states met later this month. 

The Thailand-based All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) said it had
always been opposed to Burma's admission to the Asean regional grouping in
July last year. 

But the ABSDF added that now that Burma was in the grouping its partners
should use their influence to force change. 

''They should make it Asean policy to pressure Burma's military regime into
dialogue with the opposition,'' ABSDF foreign affairs secretary Aung Naing
Oo said. 

''They should completely scrap 'constructive engagement', which they all
know is not working,'' he added, referring to the Asean policy of avoiding
confrontation between members. 

Aung Naing Oo said his organisation expected the Asean foreign ministers to
take a firmer line on Burma when they met in Manila but that they would not
go far enough. 

''We, over the years, have pointed out that bringing Burma into the fold
will not benefit Asean,'' he added. 

''But they did it, and now I think they are realising Burma is not
complying with what is proper behaviour.'' 

The opposition official added that ABSDF supported a call by Thailand for
Asean to replace its ''constructive engagement'' policy with one of
commenting openly on members' internal affairs when they had impact
elsewhere in the region. 

''We support Thailand's call for a more open Asean,'' he said. ''It would
be great if they could pursue openness to solve internal problems.'' 

The Thai proposal has received a lukewarm response from other Asean
members, except the Philippines. 



Agence France-Presse