VOA : AMNESTY/ BURMA - GARY THOMAS

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

VOA : AMNESTY/ BURMA - GARY THOMAS (BANGKOK)
DATE=7/16/98

    //// FIXES TIN OO TITLE IN LAST GRAF OF CR2-235542. /////

INTRO:  THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY 
INTERNATIONAL IS URGING BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS TO IMPROVE ITS 
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD SO AS TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH THE 
PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.  THE GROUP MADE THE APPEAL IN AN OPEN 
LETTER TO THE CHIEF OF BURMA'S RULING JUNTA, GENERAL THAN SHWE.  
CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU 
IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  IN THE LETTER, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR BURMA TO 
DEFUSE TENSIONS BEFORE THE UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTRY'S 
FAILED DEMOCRATIC UPRISING, BY IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS.

THE LETTER, SIGNED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL 
PIERRE SANE, SAYS THE GROUP IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE 
POTENTIAL FOR FRESH CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND 
DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.

AUGUST EIGHTH MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING, WHICH 
WAS RUTHLESSLY CRUSHED BY THE MILITARY.  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 
NOTES THE ANNIVERSARY HAS WHAT IT CALLS -- GREAT SYMBOLIC 
SIGNIFICANCE -- FOR BOTH THE BURMESE PEOPLE AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY.

A BURMA SPECIALIST IN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S LONDON 
HEADQUARTERS, DONNA GUEST, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE SOME 
CONCILIATORY GESTURES TO LOWER THE TENSION LEVEL.

                         // GUEST ACT //

         FOR EXAMPLE, THEY COULD RELEASE PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE 
         WHO ARE SICK OR ELDERLY.  THEY COULD CERTAINLY IMPROVE 
         PRISON CONDITIONS.  AND THEY COULD  MAKE A START AT 
         REDUCING FORCED LABOR, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY ENDEMIC IN 
         THE ETHNIC MINORITY STATES.  THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL 
         SUFFERING, ESPECIALLY THE SHAN AND THE KAREN.

                          //END ACT //

TENSIONS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE IN BURMA IN RECENT WEEKS.  IN 
ADDITION TO THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY HAS CALLED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE THE
PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990.  THE PARLIAMENT NEVER MET BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT NULLIFIED THE RESULTS AFTER AN OVERWHELMING ELECTORAL 
VICTORY BY THE N-L-D.

AS A RESULT, THE RULING GENERALS ARE JITTERY.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS
IMPOSED NEW RESTRICTIONS ON OPPOSITION POLITICIANS, ORDERING THEM
TO STAY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TOWNSHIPS AND TO REPORT TO LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES TWICE A DAY.

MS. GUEST SAYS ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE RUMOR FROM 
FACT, IT IS CLEAR THE CAMPAIGN OF HARASSMENT HAS INTENSIFIED.

                         // GUEST ACT //

         OF COURSE, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RUMORS FLYING AROUND 
         RANGOON.  IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH EXACTLY WHAT HAS 
         HAPPENED.  I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXAGGERATIONS.  
         BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR  
         DEMOCRACY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT-ELECT HAVE BEEN BRIEFLY 
         DETAINED.  THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED WELL, AS WE 
         UNDERSTAND.  BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THEY HAVE HAD TO  
         REGISTER TWICE A DAY, THEY ARE UNDER SURVEILLANCE, THEY 
         CAN NOT MOVE AROUND.  SO THEY ARE BEING INTIMIDATED AND 
         HARASSED.

                          // END ACT //

REUTER NEWS AGENCY QUOTES N-L-D VICE CHAIRMAN TIN OO AS SAYING 
LEGAL EFFORTS IN THE SUPREME COURT TO GET THE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.  THE N-L-D HAS NOT SAID HOW IT PLANS TO
MARK THE AUGUST EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY.   (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/RAE

16-Jul-98 7:05 AM EDT (1105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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