Reuters-Myanmar strongman warns NLD

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Myanmar strongman warns NLD of stern action 
07:33 a.m. Sep 25, 1998 Eastern 

YANGON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military intelligence chief warned
the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) on Friday to refrain
from activity that could push the government into taking stern action
against it. 

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary One of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), said the party was trying to act as a parallel
government and this had placed it in direct confrontation with the nation's
military rulers. 

``Effective action will have to be taken if the NLD continues unlawful
activities to destroy peace and tranquility and national unity,'' he said
at the opening of a teachers' course in the outskirts of Yangon. 

But the NLD vowed in a defiant statement to strive on for democracy and
reiterated its demand that the military government convene a parliament of
elected representatives from the May 1990 general election to carry out
state duties. 

Earlier this month, the NLD led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, set up
a 10-member committee to act for the parliament elected in 1990. The
military has flatly refused to convene parliament and says a new national
constitution must be drawn up first before a parliament can be called. 

The NLD swept the 1990 election but the military, which seized power on
September 18, 1988 after suppressing pro-democracy street protests in
Yangon, ignored the results of that poll. 

The NLD's statement on Friday was issued by the party to mark the 10th
anniversary of its founding on September 27, 1988. It gave no details on
whether it planned to hold any event to commemorate the milestone. 

``The committee representing the People's Parliament has received the
mandate from most of the elected representatives,'' the statement said. 

``To resolve all problems it is essential to form a parliament representing
the people in order to carry out state duties. 

``The NLD will continue its struggle persistently in accord with democratic
ways, holding hands with the people till victory is achieved,'' the NLD
said. 

Hundreds of NLD members have been detained by the SPDC since the party
called for the convening of a parliament in May. 

The party added that the number of its elected representatives and members
nationwide detained by the SPDC since May and in a new crackown from last
month had risen to 921 from 912 cited on Thursday. 

Of the total, 200 were elected representatives, it said. 

On Thursday, the government which says the NLD members were ``invited
guests'' taken to ``government guesthouses for view-exchanges'' added it
had allowed seven of them to return home and expected more to leave soon in
coming weeks.