VOA : BURMA-ANNIVERSARY

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/8/98

BURMA-ANNIVERSARY
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK

INTRO:  SATURDAY MARKS THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRO-DEMOCRACY
UPRISING IN BURMA THAT WAS RUTHLESSLY CRUSHED BY THE MILITARY.  
THE COUNTRY WAS CALM AS THE PROTESTS THAT HAD BEEN RUMORED WOULD 
TAKE PLACE -- DID  NOT  MATERIALIZE.  AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY
THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE 
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE CURRENT MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE 
DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT WAS VERBAL.

TEXT:  BURMA WAS EERILY QUIET SATURDAY.  WHETHER OUT OF 
REVERENCE, FEAR, OR INDIFFERENCE, THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
DEMOCRACY UPRISING WAS NOT PUBLICLY MARKED IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE WERE NO DEMONSTRATIONS AND BUSINESS PROCEEDED NORMALLY, 
ALTHOUGH TRAFFIC WAS LIGHTER THAN NORMAL. TRADE AT LOCAL MARKETS 
WAS ALSO REPORTED TO BE LIGHT.

ABOUT THE ONLY OVERT SIGN WAS AN INCREASED PRESENCE OF SECURITY 
AGENTS OUTSIDE THE HOME OF PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.
THE SECURITY MEN INSIDE HER COMPOUND -- WHO BOTH GUARD THE NOBEL 
LAUREATE AND SPY ON HER --  WERE PULLED OUT FRIDAY AT HER 
REQUEST.

THE WAR WAS ONE OF WORDS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SATURDAY.  THE 
POWERFUL CHIEF OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, LIEUTENANT GENERAL KHIN 
NYUNT, WAS QUOTED IN STATE-RUN MEDIA AS ACCUSING DEMOCRACY 
ACTIVISTS OF CONSPIRING WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND WESTERN 
MEDIA TO UNDERMINE THE GOVERNMENT.

IN A TAPED MESSAGE SMUGGLED OUT OF BURMA, AUNG SAN SUU KYI CALLED
ON HER FOLLOWERS TO NEVER GIVE UP THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY.

ELSEWHERE, BURMESE EXILES STAGED VIGILS AND PROTESTS OUTSIDE 
BURMESE EMBASSIES.

TEN YEARS AGO, TROOPS OPENED FIRE ON PROTESTERS DEMANDING THE 
INSTALLATION OF DEMOCRATIC RULE.  THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE 
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED, WOUNDED, OR IMPRISONED AS THE 
MILITARY RUTHLESSLY CRUSHED THE PROTESTS.

TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR  
DEMOCRACY -- THE N-L-D -- OVERWHELMINGLY WON ELECTIONS.  HOWEVER,
THE MILITARY THREW OUT THE RESULTS AND HAS CLUNG TO POWER SINCE 
THEN.

RANGOON-BASED DIPLOMATS SAID THEY REALLY DID NOT EXPECT MUCH 
ACTIVITY ON THE ANNIVERSARY.  MORE WORRISOME, THEY SAY, IS 
ANOTHER DATE ON THE AUGUST CALENDER.

THE N-L-D HAS DEMANDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONVENE THE PARLIAMENT
ELECTED IN 1990 BY AUGUST 21ST.  THE PARTY HAS NOT SAID WHAT 
ACTION IT WILL TAKE IF THAT DEMAND IS NOT MET.  BUT MANY ANALYSTS
FEAR BOTH SIDES ARE HEADING TO A SHOWDOWN AROUND THE AUGUST 21ST 
DEADLINE.

THE GOVERNMENT OFFERED FRIDAY TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE N-L-D, BUT  
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED AUNG SAN SUU KYI FROM THE INVITATION.  THAT
STIPULATION GUARANTEED THAT THE N-L-D WOULD REJECT THE OFFER, 
WHICH IT DID.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/GPT/TMD/JO

08-Aug-98 9:04 AM EDT (1304 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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