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Martyrs' Day March in Tokyo



Japan Times, Monday, July 20, 1998

MYANMAR DISSIDENTS RALLY IN TOKYO

Myanmar dissidents in Tokyo echoed calls Sunday by Aung San Suu Kyi's party
demanding that Myanmar's ruling junta convene a parliament of members
elected in the last elections.

Taking advantage of the country's national day of mourning for leaders
assassinated in 1947, about 60 Myanmar dissidents and sympathizers walked
past the closed gate of the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo, calling on the junta
to convene the parliament as demanded by the prodemocracy National League
for Democracy.

An NLD ultimatum called on the junta to convene by Aug. 21 a parliament of
lawmakers mandated by the 1990 elections, in which the NLD won a landslide
victory but the junta failed to honor the results.

A joint statement by dissident groups also called on the junta to free all
political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and to enter into
constructive dialogue with prodemocracy groups led by Suu Kyi.

"We see the NLD movement as heading not toward confrontation, but toward
dialogue," said Ye Htut, who heads the NLD Japan Branch, a support group of
Suu Kyi's NLD.