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270 BURMESE DISSIDENTS JAILED




270 Burmese dissidents jailed
>From AP
23jan99

STUDENT dissidents opposed to the military regime in Burma reported
yesterday that at least 270 people have been sentenced to long prison terms
for demanding a parliament elected in 1990 finally be convened. 

Burma's Government started detaining an estimated 1000 supporters of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for
Democracy, in September but there had previously been little word of prison
sentences. 

The All-Burma Federation of Student Unions, a Bangkok-based exile group,
reported that 270 student activists and NLD members in Burma were sentenced
to prison this month. 

Political and security trials in Burma are secret and word of sentencing
normally filters out only slowly. 

Those sentenced included more than 200 students sentenced to 14 years each.
Exceptionally long sentences of 52, 38, 23 and 21 years were handed down to
four activists. Most of the rest received seven years. 

"These people and students tried to support the parliament convening demand
by the NLD and called for dialogue," the group said in a statement. "So they
were arrested and tortured by military intelligence ... " 

There was no immediate government comment. 

Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, stepped up her stalemated
campaign against the military regime last year by launching new calls to
convene the parliament, which was never allowed to meet after her party
overwhelming won the elections. 

The Government responded with a worsening crackdown against her party that
led to mass detentions and the closing of some 40 offices of the party.
Pro-government rallies have urged her deportation and called for the party
to be outlawed. 

In Rangoon, the media yesterday reported a "mass rally" held December 15 to
denounce a key colleague of Suu Kyi on a 10-man committee the party
symbolically formed last year to represent the parliament. 

According to the accounts, more than 50,000 people gathered in Taungtha
township near Burma's second-largest city, Mandalay, to ask for the recall
of Than Tun, elected as their MP eight years ago. 

The report could also represent a response to the NLD and Suu Kyi filing a
criminal complaint last week against military intelligence chief Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt for attempting to destroy the party. 

The lawsuit has no more chance of succeeding that the calls to convene
parliament. 


The Government has said that the NLD members are "guests" invited for an
exchange of political views. Those who quit the party and renounce politics
are released. 

The military has ruled Burma since 1962. Suu Kyi is permitted almost no
political activities.