International Action Sought in Mya

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Subject: International Action  Sought in Myanmar


                                      International Action
                                      Sought in Myanmar
                                      Suu Kyi Asks United Nations
                                      for Response to Repression 

                                      Myanmar opposition leader Aung San
                                      Suu Kyi has sent a message to the U.N.
                                      Commission on Human Rights, calling
                                      1998 the worst year for repression in
the
                                      '90s and asking for help in restoring
                                      democracy to her country. (AP Photo)
                                                                  

                 By Robert Horn
                 The Associated Press
                 B A N G K O K,  Thailand,  April 9 ? Myanmar
                 opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called
                 1998 the worst year for repression by the
                 military government through most of the ?90s,
                 with hundreds of her party members in jail and
                 parts of their organization demolished. 
                      The Nobel laureate also characterized the military?s
                 actions against her followers as criminal. 
                      ?What we have suffered over the last year is far more
                 than what we have suffered over the last six or seven
                 years,? Suu Kyi said in a videotaped message to the
                 Geneva-based U.N. Commission on Human Rights. The
                 tape was released in Bangkok today. 
                      The 53-nation commission is holding its annual six-week
                 meeting in Geneva to call attention to human rights abuses
                 around the world. It also screened a videotape message
                 from Suu Kyi last year. 
                      Since late 1997, the Myanmar military, which closely
                 monitors Suu Kyi to prevent her from conducting public
                 political activities, has discouraged journalists from
meeting
                 with the opposition leader. Interviews with her are rare, and
                 supporters have smuggled out her videotaped messages,
                 including an address to the U.N. General Assembly last
                 year. 
                      In her latest message, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
                 winner appealed to the commission for a firm resolution to
                 protect human rights in Myanmar, also known as Burma. 

                 ?Our People are Suffering?
                 ?What we need now is more than just mere words. We
                 need concrete action because our people are suffering,?
                 Suu Kyi said. 
                      Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest from 1989-95
                 for leading the campaign for democracy in Myanmar,
                 which has been ruled by the military since 1962. She was
                 released from house arrest in 1995, but the regime has
                 refused to enter into a dialogue with her. 
                      Stonewalled, she and her National League for
                 Democracy ? which won an overwhelming election
                 victory in 1990 that the military has refused to honor ?
                 said last May they would convene the parliament. But her
                 defiant statement was met with a sharp escalation of
                 repression by the military. 
                      More than 1,000 party members were arrested,
                 including members of parliament. Suu Kyi said 150 of the
                 legislators are still in jail, as are about 300 to 400 party
                 members. 

                 Coerced by Soldiers
                 The military has said more than 10,000 National League for
                 Democracy members have resigned. Suu Kyi said the
                 resignations were coerced by soldiers. 
                      ?It has come to the point when the activities of the
                 regime are tantamount to criminal activities,? Suu Kyi said. 
                      The regime?s hard line was demonstrated last month
                 when it refused to grant a visa to Suu Kyi?s husband,
                 Michael Aris, who was terminally ill with cancer and
                 wanted to visit his wife before he died. The military told
                 Suu Kyi she should visit Aris in Britain. She declined,
                 certain the authorities would not allow her to return to
                 Myanmar. Aris died March 27 in a London hospital.