VOA-NLD WILL CONVENE PARLIAMENT ON

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=8/21/98
BURMA-POL -GARY THOMAS BANGKOK
 

INTRO:  BURMA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT SAYS (FRIDAY) IT WILL 
CONVENE PARLIAMENT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO DO SO.  THE 
DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAD SET TODAY (FRIDAY) AS THE DEADLINE FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE THE 1990 PARLIAMENT, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN 
ALLOWED TO TAKE OFFICE.  AS CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS 
FROM BANGKOK, THE CALL IS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT.

TEXT:  THE PATH WAS OPENED TO A MAJOR CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE 
RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION WHEN THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY SAID IT WILL CONVENE PARLIAMENT ON 
ITS OWN, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE N-L-D STATEMENT CAME AFTER THE DEADLINE, WITH NO SIGN FROM 
BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT IT WAS READY TO ACCEDE TO THE DEMAND 
FOR THE CONVENING OF THE 1990 PARLIAMENT.  THE MILITARY THREW OUT
THE 1990 ELECTION RESULTS AFTER THE N-L-D WON AN OVERWHELMING 
VICTORY.

THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.  IT HAS SAID
PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE CONVENED WITHOUT A NEW CONSTITUTION.  

AUTHORITIES HAVE RESPONDED TO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS BY THE N-L-D TO 
GATHER WITH MASS DETENTIONS OF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.

PERHAPS FEARING ANOTHER N-L-D CONVENTION OR MEETING, THE 
GOVERNMENT LAST MONTH IMPOSED NEW RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTED N-L-D 
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, REQUIRING THEM TO REPORT TO LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES TWICE A DAY AND BARRING THEM FROM TRAVELLING OUTSIDE 
THEIR HOME TOWNS.

PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI WAS STOPPED 10-DAYS AGO IN 
HER FOURTH ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL TO MEET WITH THE
N-L-D OFFICIALS.  SHE REMAINS IN A VAN BY THE ROADSIDE, 
32-KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON, REFUSING TO TURN BACK.  ACCORDING TO 
THE N-L-D, SHE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF JAUNDICE AND HER BLOOD 
PRESSURE HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI OFFERED LATE THURSDAY TO GIVE UP HER PROTEST IF 
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WOULD FREE NEARLY 100 N-L-D MEMBERS THE 
PARTY SAYS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR DETAINED SINCE MAY 27TH.

BURMESE POLITICAL EXILE GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR MASSIVE CIVIL 
DISOBEDIENCE. THE EXILE GROUPS ARE CONSIDERED MORE RADICAL THAN 
THE N-L-D, WHICH, DESPITE GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT, REMAINS A LEGAL 
POLITICAL PARTY.

THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' 
DEMOCRATIC FRONT, AUNG NOING OO, SAYS THERE ARE OTHER POLITICAL 
GROUPS INSIDE BURMA WILLING TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION EVEN IF THE 
N-L-D IS NOT.

                      // AUNG NOING ACT //

         AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE
         OF THE N-L-D.  AND, LIKE I SAID, IF THE N-L-D IS IN AN 
         AWKWARD POSITION BECAUSE OF THEIR POLICIES TO DO 
         SOMETHING, TO DO SOMETHING TO INITIATE A DRAMATIC 
         POLITICAL MOVEMENT, AND I THINK AND I AM SURE THAT 
         PEOPLE OF OTHER POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL START TO 
         INITIATE SOMETHING VERY SOON.

                          // END ACT //

ASSESSING THE TRUE SITUATION INSIDE BURMA IS DIFFICULT.  THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS TIGHTENED UP PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING TOURIST VISAS
AFTER TWO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WERE EXPELLED FOR ENTERING THE 
COUNTRY AS TOURISTS.  JOURNALISTS MUST OBTAIN SPECIAL VISAS, BUT 
VIRTUALLY NO SUCH DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN RECENT MONTHS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/RAE

21-Aug-98 7:34 AM EDT (1134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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