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BBC-BURMA ARRESTS-RON CORBEN-BANGKO
DATE=9/9/98
BURMA ARRESTS-RON CORBEN-BANGKOK
INTRO: BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT FACED INTERNATIONAL
CONDEMNATION WEDNESDAY AS IT CONTINUED WITH A POLICY OF DETAINING
MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY OR N-L-D.
RON CORBEN REPORTS FROM BANGKOK THE GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING OVER
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY N-L-D SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING MORE THAN SIXTY
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
TEXT: BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT WEDNESDAY CONTINUED TO
MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
- OR N-L-D - THROUGH FRESH ARRESTS ADDING TO THE NUMBERS OF
SUPPORTERS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS NOW BEING HELD AT GOVERNMENT
GUEST HOUSES.
THE DETENTIONS, WHICH BEGAN EARLIER THIS WEEK, OFTEN TAKING
PLACE AT THE HOMES OF N-L-D SUPPORTERS IN THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS, ARE AIMED AT PREVENTING N-L-D PARTY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU
KYI FROM CARRYING OUT HER CALLS TO CONVENE A SITTING OF THE
PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN MAY, 1990.
THE NLD WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY AT THOSE POLLS, BUT THE
OUTCOME HAS NEVER BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
THERE IS ALSO NO CLEAR INDICATION FROM THE MILITARY WHEN THE
DETAINED PEOPLE WOULD BE RELEASED. AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS SAID THE
BID TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT WOULD TAKE PLACE SOMETIME THIS MONTH.
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS LABELLED SUCH MOVES AS
UNCONSITUTIONAL.
THE LATEST CRACKDOWN HAS BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED. U-S
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID THE DETENTIONS WERE A
VIOLATION OF THE BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE
AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS.
MR RUBIN SAID RESOLUTION OF THE POLITICAL IMPASSE IN BURMA
REQUIRES REAL, SUBSTANTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
OPPOSITION, INCLUDING AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
ETHNIC GROUPS.
WASHINGTON IS URGING THE MILITARY TO RELEASE THOSE BEING HELD
IMMEDIATELY, WITH THE ARBITRARY DETENTIONS UNJUSTIFIABLE, MR
RUBIN SAID, AND ONLY ADDING TO POLITCAL CRISIS.
NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ADDED ITS WEIGHT TO THE
CRITICISM OF THE CRACKDOWN, SAYING THE MOVES APPEARED HEADING
TOWARD BANNING THE NLD ALTOGETHER.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAID THE INCREASED REPRESSION WOULD ONLY
CREATE CONTINUED INSTABILITY AND LEAD TO BURMA'S FURTHER
ISOLATION INTERNATIONALLY.
THE GROUP CALLED ON JAPAN, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MEMBERS OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS - OR ASEAN - WHOSE
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN NEW YORK LATER THIS MONTH, TO URGE
BURMA TO ALLOW ALL ITS CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE FREELY IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NRB/RC/PLM/GE
09-Sep-98 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.