BURMA /COURT [VOA]

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=1/14/99

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-244169

TITLE=BURMA / COURT (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=RON CORBEN

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:  


 INTRO: BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND THE 

COUNTRY'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT HAVE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT 

AGAINST BURMA'S MILITARY INTELLIGENCE  CHIEF, ACCUSING HIM OF 

ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY.  RON CORBEN

REPORTS FROM BANGKOK SOME DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS SAY THE CASE WILL 

FOCUS THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON THE ISSUE OF RULE OF LAW IN 

BURMA.  


TEXT: AUNG SAN SUU KYI, FIGHTING  AGAINST EFFORTS BY THE MILITARY

GOVERNMENT TO DISMEMBER THE NATIONAL  LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY 

OR N-L-D,  HAS FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT  AGAINST MILITARY 

INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, GENERAL KHIN NYUNT. 


THE COMPLAINT --  FILED WITH BURMA'S CHIEF JUSTICE --  ACCUSES 

GENERAL KHIN  NYUNT  OF BEING BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN 

AGAINST  THE N-L-D IN RECENT MONTHS.   ONE THOUSAND N-L-D MEMBERS

HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR AND  FORCED TO  

RESIGN FROM THE PARTY. 


THE CRACKDOWN BEGAN AFTER THE N-L-D'S PLEDGE TO CONVENE  

PARLIAMENT AND HIGH PROFILE ATTEMPTS BY AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO MEET 

WITH PARTY MEMBERS.  THAT LED TO SEVERAL STAND-OFFS BETWEEN HER 

AND THE  MILITARY GOVERNMENT, WHEN SHE WAS PREVENTED FROM MEETING

WITH PARTY MEMBERS OUTSIDE RANGOON. 


THE N-L-D'S COMPLAINT WAS LODGED ON DECEMBER 31ST, BUT DETAILS 

ONLY BECAME PUBLIC ON THURSDAY.  THE N-L-D CONTENDS THAT UNITS, 

UNDER  MILITARY  INTELLIGENCE DIRECTION,  HAVE USED THREATS, 

INTIMIDATION, AND ILLEGAL  FORCEFUL PRESSURE WITHOUT LEGAL 

JUSTIFICATION. 


THE N-L-D, IN A STATEMENT, SAYS THAT BY USING SUCH THREATS THE  

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITIES HAVE COMMITTED CRIMINAL 

OFFENSES. 


THE POWERFUL MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF IS VIEWED BY SOME 

DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS AS AUNG SAN  SUU KYI'S NEMESIS. THE UNITS 

UNDER GENERAL KHIN NYUNT'S CONTROL  OVERSEE A NATIONWIDE NETWORK 

OF SPIES AND INFORMERS, WHO MONITOR  DISSIDENTS AND ROOT OUT 

OPPOSITION TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. 


IN THE PAST, KHIN NYUNT HAS ACCUSED AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND PARTY  

MEMBERS OF BEING TERRORISTS.   


THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL BURMA DEMOCRATIC STUDENTS FRONT, AUNG 

NAIGN  OO, NOW LIVING IN EXILE IN THAILAND, SAYS THE N-L-D FILED 

THE SUIT TO SHOW  THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE PARTY ACTS 

WITHIN THE LAW WHILE THE  MILITARY GOVERNMENT ABUSES THE DUE 

PROCESS OF LAW. 


DIPLOMATIC SOURCES WERE MIXED OVER THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT'S  

WIDER IMPACT.  WHILE SOME VIEW THE MOVE AS A GESTURE, OTHERS SAY 

IT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ABSENCE OF THE RULE OF LAW IN BURMA AND 

THAT THE GOVERNING MILITARY COUNCIL IS ABLE TO ACT WITH IMPUNITY.


A RECENT U-S STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA  

ACCUSED BURMA'S JUDICIARY OF FAILING TO BE INDEPENDENT.  THE 

REPORT  SAID PERVASIVE BRIBE-TAKING AND MANIPULATION OF THE 

COURTS FOR  POLITICAL ENDS HAS CONTINUED TO DEPRIVE CITIZENS OF 

THE RIGHT TO A  FAIR TRIAL AND RULE OF LAW. (SIGNED)


NEB/GC/FC


14-Jan-99 5:23 AM EST (1023 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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