Reuters : Myanmar offers to withdra

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar offers to withdraw Suu Kyi guards 
08:50 a.m. Aug 07, 1998 Eastern 

By Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government moved to settle a row with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Friday, the day before the 10th
anniversary of a bloody army crackdown on pro-democracy activists. 

The government said in a statement it was prepared to comply with a request
from Suu Kyi that it withdraw its security guards from the grounds of her
lakeside residence in Yangon. 

It said the Nobel Peace Prize winner had asked the authorities Thursday to
pull a state security team out of her residence in central Yangon. 

``The government was surprised at Ms ASSK (Aung San Suu Kyi)'s sudden
request, and she provided no explanation. However, the government is happy
to comply with her request and discussions are now under way about the
measures.'' 

Earlier Friday, witnesses said the number of security guards at Suu Kyi's
home had been doubled to about 15. 

They said the guards were still in place in Suu Kyi's grounds late Friday
afternoon. 

Myanmar opposition activists are widely expected to try to mark Saturday's
anniversary with a protest or other actions to draw attention to their
demand that the government convene a parliament of members elected at a
poll in May 1990. 

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won the poll by an big margin
but the result was ignored by the military. 

Opposition figures say several thousand people were killed in the crackdown
which followed the massacre on August 8, 1988. 

The government says the toll was a few dozen. 

The Myanmar-language Myanma Ahlin newspaper, a key mouthpiece of the ruling
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), warned Suu Kyi in a commentary
Friday to ``give up ill intentions'' this month. 

``Aung San Suu Kyi should not take advantage of the government's patience
and magnanimity,'' it said. ``You shouldn't let yourself go beyond the law,
no matter how great the external incitement is,'' it added. 

Guards have been posted in Suu Kyi's compound since the daughter of
Myanmar's late national hero and founding father Aung San was released from
six years of house arrest in 1995. 

Aung San led the country's independence struggle in the 1940s, but was
assassinated in 1947. Burma gained independence from Britain the following
year. 

At the time of her release from house arrest, the Nobel laureate said she
wanted the government's guards on the premises for her own safety, but her
party said Thursday Suu Kyi had officially asked them to leave. 

The NLD did not say why the guards had been asked to go but the request was
made shortly after a six-day car protest by Suu Kyi was forcibly ended by
government security men. 

Suu Kyi left her residence for the first time in a week late Friday and
made a 40-minute visit to the Yangon NLD headquarters, witnesses said. 

It was not clear who she met at the headquarters, which are located about
10 minutes drive from her house. 

Although Suu Kyi was released from house arrest three years ago, her
movements are closely monitored and all her visitors must sign in with the
guards at the gate before meeting her. 

Suu Kyi has used her lack of freedom as a weapon against the government,
escaping from the military's security cordon around her house three times
in recent weeks. 

Witnesses said the SPDC was continuing to allow supporters to enter Suu
Kyi's residence but the identities of all visitors were rigorously checked.