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Chronology--events After Suu Kyi Re



Chronology-events since Suu Kyi release in Myanmar

YANGON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Following is a chronology of key events in Yangon
since National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1993
Nobel Peace Prize winner and daughter of independence hero Aung San, was
released from house arrest in July 1995. 

In her latest standoff with the military government, she has been stuck in a
minivan outside of Yangon since she was stopped by authorities on Aug 12 from
travelling to the west of the country. 

July 10, 1995 - Government releases Suu Kyi after six years of house arrest. 

July 11, 1995 - Suu Kyi says dedicated to restore democracy in Myanmar, calls
for dialogue on political reform with ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC). She urges foreigners not to invest in Myanmar until democracy
is restored. 

Nov 28, 1995 - Suu Kyi withdraws NLD from National Convention drafting
guidelines for new constitution, saying the exercise does not represent the
will of the people. 

May 20, 1996 - SLORC arrests NLD members planning to attend a party congress
at Suu Kyi's house coinciding with sixth anniversary of May 27, 1990 election
victory. 

May 26, 1996 - NLD three-day congress begins despite arrests of at least 258
members who had planned to attend. SLORC says it detained the NLD members to
prevent anarchy. 

May 28, 1996 - Party meeting ends with NLD passing series of resolutions,
including controversial one giving NLD leadership power to draft version of a
constitution. 

May 28, 1996 - Government begins mass rallies condemning Suu Kyi and NLD as
destructive elements aimed at destabilising the country. 

June 7, 1996 - SLORC passes new law effectively muzzling NLD from saying or
doing anything contrary to planned constitution. Law says violators face up to
20 years in prison. 

June 22, 1996 - James Leander Nichols, honorary consul to several European
nations and close friend of Suu Kyi, dies in Yangon jail. He had been arrested
for operating telephones and fax machines without permission. 

July 3, 1996 - Bomb explodes at the base of a propaganda billboard opposite
U.S. embassy in Yangon, no one injured. 

Sept 27, 1996 - Riot police man checkpoints barring access to road to Suu
Kyi's house to keep NLD congress from convening. 

Oct 1, 1996 - Officials say temporarily detained 559 activists since Sept 27,
and will keep roadblocks in place to prevent unrest. Suu Kyi says up to 800
arrested. 

Nov 9, 1996 - Club-wielding, stone-throwing crowd attacks Suu Kyi's car and
others in a motorcade as she travels to meet supporters standing outside
barricades. Suu Kyi accuses SLORC of orchestrating attack. 

Dec 2/3, 1996 - Student street protests against police brutality and demanding
political freedom and rights. Police briefly arrest about 600 protestors. 

Dec 4, 1996 - SLORC restricts Suu Kyi's movements, requiring her to obtain
approval before she can leave home. 

Dec 7, 1996 - Soldiers and police use water cannons and batons to end 11-hour
street protest, arrest 263 students and sympathisers. 

Dec 26, 1996 - Two bombs explode at Buddhist site outside Yangon, killing five
and wounding 17. SLORC blames exiles and Karen rebels; they deny accusations. 

Dec 31, 1996 - Myanmar says arrests 34 Burma Communist Party members and 13
NLD members for involvement in unrest. 

Jan 4, 1997 - Suu Kyi holds celebration for Myanmar's 49th anniversary of
independence at her house, first major public gathering allowed since NLD
congress in May. SLORC allows invited guests through barricades. Suu Kyi vows
to increase efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar. 

Jan 6, 1997 - Top universities and colleges remained closed on date all were
scheduled to reopen following December holidays. Government says universitites
will stay closed until situation normalises. 

Jan 18, 1997 - Government sentences 20 people to seven years in prison each
for involvement in December street demonstrations, including six NLD members. 

May 20, 1997 - Washington imposes economic sanctions on Myanmar, banning all
new U.S. investment as a public condemnation of the military regime's human
rights abuses. 

July 23, 1997 - Myanmar joins Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
along with Cambodia and Laos. 

Aug 20, 1997 - Myanmar reopens 38,800 schools but keeps closed some 30
universities and colleges. 

Oct 16, 1997 - Private U.S. delegation led by former ambassador to Japan and
the Philippines Michael Armacost meets with senior Myanmar officials, urges
them to open dialogue with Suu Kyi. 

Nov 15, 1997 - Myanmar government changes name to State Peace and Development
Council. The 19-member SPDC includes former SLORC chairman Than Shwe and
Secretary One and intelligence chief Khin Nyunt. 

Dec 10, 1997 - Government says sentenced seven NLD members, including two
elected MPs, to long prison terms over organisational trips planned by Suu Kyi
to NLD offices in townships on Yangon's outskirts. 

Dec 20, 1997 - SPDC cabinet reshuffle changes eight portfolios including
several key financial jobs. 

March 30, 1998 - Suu Kyi criticises Britain's Premier Oil Co for helping prop
up Myanmar's rulers by developing offshore gas reserves. 

May 28, 1998 - Suu Kyi and NLD demand government convene parliament by August
2 in accordance with results of the 1990 election. Government ignores her. 

July 24, 1998 - Authorities stop Suu Kyi's car at a bridge in a Yangon suburb
as she travels to meet NLD members outside the capital. She refuses to return
home and begins a car sit-in protest. 

July 29, 1998 - NLD says government security personnel force Suu Kyi to return
home, ending her sit-in protest after six days. 

Aug 12, 1998 - Suu Kyi again sets out to visit NLD members outside Yangon and
is stopped at same bridge. She and three aides begin another car sit-in. 

Aug 21, 1998 - Government ignores NLD deadline for convening a parliament of
members elected in May 1990 polls, which it has never recognised. NLD says it
will shortly call a ``People's Parliament'' 

23:20 08-22-98