Bangkok Post News (29/9/98)

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News headlines:

1):Opposition 'parliament' annuls laws
2):US envoy puts faith in sanctions
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1):Opposition 'parliament' annuls laws

'Repressive acts' come under attack

A self-styled parliament set up by Burma's pro-democracy opposition party
but not recognised by the ruling military announced yesterday it had
decided to repeal a number of repressive laws.
A group of opposition figures called the Committee Representing the
Parliament said they had revoked "repressive laws," including the 1950
Emergency Provisions Act and a 1975 decree "safeguarding the state from the
dangers of subversionists".
But the military regime has denounced the group and is unlikely to pay much
attention to any of its decisions.
The government has refused to convene the nation's actual parliament,
members of which were freely elected in 1990.
The 10-member committee, made up of supporters of the National League for
Democracy, met for the second time since it was formed on September 16,
according to a party statement.
Members include opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, eight senior officials
in her party and a delegate representing the country's ethnic minorities.
At its first meeting, the committee proclaimed that all laws passed by the
military government since it came to power in 1988 were invalid because the
violent takeover -  in which soldiers gunned down thousands - was illegal.
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2):US envoy puts faith in sanctions

A US envoy said yesterday maintaining sanction on Burma was an important
matter of principle even if it took time to bring results.
The US imposed unilateral sanctions on Burma in May 1997, including a ban
on American investment in that country. Canada also has formal sanctions in
place and, while few other countries have followed, several have restricted
trade.
"I think that  the sanctions on Burma have demonstrated that there is a
very strong committed view amount the international community for Burma to
respect the rights of its own people and the democratic principals that are
very precious to the rest of us," visiting US Assistant Secretary of State
for Economic and Business Affairs, Alan Larson, told a news conference in
Bangkok.
"I think that a policy of principle, our policy on Burma sometimes if a
policy that takes time to bear fruit, but that is not a reason not to
pursue a policy," he said.
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