Myanmar junta says Aung San Suu Kyi (r)

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

Myanmar junta says Aung San Suu Kyi same as a child abuser

Tue 15 Sep 98 - 10:46 GMT

YANGON, Sept 15 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta Tuesday stepped up its propaganda
assault on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing her of tax evasion
and likening her to a child abuser.

The official media maintained the Nobel peace laureate was a "foreigner,"
despite denials by London's embassy here she had ever held British
citizenship, and cited her marriage to Briton Micheal Aris as evidence she
was not committed to Myanmar.

"It would amount to just watching troubled people with folded arms and
neglecting their trouble if the government continues to forgive foreigner
Daw (honorific) Aung San Suu Kyi, alias Mrs. Michael Villiancourt Aris,"
said a commentary signed by "a parent" in the New Light of Myanmar daily.
"In other words, it would be rather like the parents watching a stranger
persecuting their children in their own home," the commentary in the
English-language daily added.

A separate commentary in the same newspaper accused the National League for
Democracy (NLD) leader of tax evasion, charging she paid taxes in Britain
but not in Myanmar, were she has lived since 1988, although under house
arrest from 1989 to 1995.

"Why has the so-called general secretary of the National League for
Democracy paid income tax to the British
government instead of the Myanmar government?," it asked.

The commentary then wrote about a supposed discussion between the
commentator and a friend who was a tax official. "I would like to know what
provisions are in force on taxation since the lady, or so-called party
leader, in our country is paying income tax to another country without
paying ours."

The writer's friend advised Aung San Suu Kyi was a Myanmar citizen under law
but was failing to met her tax
obligations, the commentary said.

"...if she pays the income tax to to the British government instead of
paying to the Myanmar government, then she feels herself to be a British
subject, although she may be a Myanmar citizen under law."

The tax official then went on to accuse Aung San Suu Kyi of breaching
several tax and currency laws and saying she had received more than one
million dollars in honorariums including the Nobel award.

"This is a case in which severe action has to be taken according to law.
Maybe it is because of certain reasons, the higher authorities have forgiven
her.

"But it will get worse with the passage of time."

The commentator responded: "The way she is behaving is tantamount to
infringing the law, and she is rather
irresponsible and shameless in terms of moral conduct and dignity of a
Myanmar citizen."

The junta has repeatedly claimed Aung San Suu Kyi's marriage to a Briton
meant she was no longer a Myanmar national and has intensified its campaign
in recent days.

The junta has effectively thwarted plans by the opposition to convene a
parliament this month by detaining most of its members, according to foreign
diplomats.

The NLD claims more than 700 members and supporters have been detained over
the last week, but some foreign envoys said fewer than 200 detentions had
been confirmed.

The opposition won 1990 polls by a landslide, but the junta has refused to
relinquish power.


)AFP 1998