VOA-BURMA-PROTEST-DAVID BUTLER-BANG

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/23/98
BURMA-PROTEST-DAVID BUTLER-BANGKOK


INTRO:  BURMA'S STATE-RUN MEDIA TODAY (SUNDAY) ACCUSED 
PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNER AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF BEING A TOOL OF 
FOREIGN POWERS.  AS DAVID BUTLER REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA 
BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE CHARGE COMES ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF MS. SUU
KYI'S LATEST ROADSIDE STANDOFF WITH THE AUTHORITIES OUTSIDE 
RANGOON.

TEXT:  AN EDITORIAL IN SUNDAY'S "NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NEWSPAPER" 
SAID -- NEO-COLONIALISTS AND THEIR LAP DOGS ARE WORKING FOR A 
RECURRENCE OF THE UNREST THAT SWEPT BURMA 10-YEARS AGO THIS 
MONTH.

IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1988, BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS FORCEFULLY
SUPPRESSED NATIONWIDE PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS.  THOUSANDS OF 
PEOPLE WERE KILLED, JAILED OR DRIVEN INTO EXILE.

BURMA'S RULING MILITARY COUNCIL FREQUENTLY REFERS TO AUNG SAN SUU
KYI AND HER FOLLOWERS AS TOOLS OF FOREIGN POWERS.  SUNDAY'S 
EDITORIALS IN THE STATE-RUN MEDIA SAID THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT --
WILL DENY THE DISSIDENTS' FOREIGN MASTERS THE LUXURY OF SEEING 
THE COUNTRY DISINTEGRATE.

MEANWHILE, A LEADING FIGURE IN AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S "NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY" PARTY ACCUSED THE MILITARY OF REFUSING 
PERMISSION FOR MS. SUU KYI'S DOCTORS TO MEET HER.  N-L-D 
VICE-CHAIRMAN TIN OO SAID A REQUEST FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S 
DOCTORS TO SEE HER SATURDAY WAS IGNORED.  HE SAID THE REQUEST WAS
BEING REPEATED SUNDAY.

TIN OO QUOTED DOCTORS WHO VISITED MS. SUU KYI LAST WEEK AS SAYING
SHE IS SUFFERING FROM UNSPECIFIED KIDNEY PROBLEMS.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND THREE PARTY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT 
A MILITARY ROADBLOCK 32-KILOMETERS WEST OF RANGOON SINCE AUGUST 
12TH.
 
AS IN A SIMILAR PROTEST LAST MONTH, THE OPPOSITION LEADER IS 
ATTEMPTING TO MEET WITH HER SUPPORTERS IN THE CITY OF BASSEIN, 
150-KILOMETERS WEST OF RANGOON.  THAT CONFRONTATION ENDED AFTER 
SIX-DAYS, WHEN AUTHORITIES SEIZED HER TOYOTA SEDAN AND FORCED HER
BACK TO THE CAPITAL.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS SAID SHE WILL RETURN TO HER LAKESIDE HOME IN
RANGOON IF THE GOVERNMENT RELEASES 97 OF HER FOLLOWERS IT HAS 
DETAINED SINCE MAY.

THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL HAS IGNORED THAT REQUEST AND HAS 
MOCKED THE PROTEST AS A PICNIC.  IT HAS SENT HER A BEACH UMBRELLA
AND FOLDING CHAIRS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

23-Aug-98 8:18 AM EDT (1218 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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