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VOA : BURMA / STAND-OFF - RON CORBE
Voice of America
DATE=7/28/98
BURMA / STAND-OFF
RON CORBEN (BANGKOK)
INTRO: THERE ARE FRESH CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF HEALTH OF
BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, AS HER STAND-OFF
WITH AUTHORITIES CONTINUES INTO A FIFTH DAY OUTSIDE RANGOON. RON
CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS SAID TO BE
TAKING ONLY WATER, WHILE STILL REFUSING TO TALK TO BURMESE
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
TEXT: THERE ARE NOW INCREASING CONCERNS OVER THE WELFARE OF
BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, IN HER STAND-OFF
WITH BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, ON A ROAD SOUTHWEST OF RANGOON.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES FRIDAY,
PREVENTING HER FROM MEETING WITH PARTY MEMBERS. DIPLOMATS SAY
THE OPPOSITION LEADER, NOW OUTSIDE THE CAR, IS TAKING ONLY
LIQUIDS, HAVING EXHAUSTED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD THE VEHICLE HAD
BEEN CARRYING AT THE OUTSET OF THE JOURNEY.
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS DISPATCHED A MEDICAL TEAM ALONG WITH
HER OWN DOCTOR TO THE SCENE, SOME 40 KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON.
EARLIER, IN MANILA, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
EXPRESSED HER GRAVE CONCERNS OVER THE STATE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S
HEALTH.
MS. ALBRIGHT WARNED OIF A DANGEROUS STATE OF TENSION IN BURMA,
AND SAID THE UNITED STATES DEPLORES THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S
REFUSAL TO LET THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
TRAVEL FREELY INSIDE THE COUNTRY.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO VISIT PARTY MEMBERS WEST
OF RANGOON WHEN SHE WAS STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES. HER CAR IS NOW
SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS AND BARBED WIRE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME
THIS MONTH SHE HAS BEEN PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING TO MEET WITH
FELLOW PARTY MEMBERS. SIMILAR STAND-OFFS EARLIER ENDED WITH
AUTHORITIES BRINGING THE PARTY MEMBERS TO SEE HER.
IN RANGOON, THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HIT BACK AT SECRETARY
ALBRIGHT'S CRITICISM, ACCUSING THE UNITED STATES OF CARRYING OUT
A WITCH HUNT AGAINST BURMA, ACTING AS JUDGE, JURY AND
EXECUTIONER. (SIGNED)
NEB/RC/FC/WTW
28-Jul-98 4:22 AM EDT (0822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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