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                Junta leaders, Suu Kyi in regular contact

The Hindu (New Delhi)
February 19, 2001

By Amit Baruah

YANGON, FEB. 18. Myanmar's military authorities are maintaining a
regular process of engagement with the National League for Democracy
(NLD) general secretary, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to informed sources, a deputy to the Secretary-I of the State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and chief of the Director of
Defence Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, has been having
weekly sessions with Ms. Suu Kyi.

The first contacts between the Nobel laureate and the military
authorities started in October last year and have now blossomed into a
couple of sessions every week.

The sources told this correspondent that two issues were currently under
discussion - what to do regarding the results of the 1990 elections (in
which the NLD emerged the winner) and the drafting of a new Constitution
for the country.

They said the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi, who remains confined to her
University Avenue home, but is allowed to visit relatives from time to
time for social occasions, remains at a confidence- building stage.

However, the sources maintained that the dialogue process appeared to be
``irreversible'', but no one wanted to put any time-frame to the talks,
which have been welcomed by the world at large.

It would appear that at this stage, Ms. Suu Kyi has two choices - stick
to her position of the principled democrat or eventually arrive at a
compromise with the military Government - and don the role of a
practical politician.

The sources were also of the opinion that the dialogue between Ms. Suu
Kyi and the military authorities was principally home- grown, though the
U.N. Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Razali Ismail, had
facilitated the process by carrying regular messages between the two
parties.

For the SPDC, the fact that the country's economy is still not taking
off and it receives absolutely no funding from international monetary
institutions has become a very serious issue.

Also, the prospective sanctions from the International Labour
Organisation (currently in abeyance) seem to have influenced the
decision of the Government to agree to the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi.

The sources believe that by this dialogue, the Government has finally
recognised the popular NLD leader as an interlocutor - a major
concession in itself.

The military authorities are aware that an influential section of the
international community, which has been following a policy of non-
engagement, is holding back further action on account of the current
dialogue.

However, the sources are quick to point out that despite all the
problems, the military is firmly entrenched in the country, especially
following agreements with a clutch of insurgent outfits that have
plagued the country since its independence.

Clearly, the process of dialogue itself will allow both parties to make
assessments of each other. The sources believe that there are no
discussions on power-sharing as yet and it is difficult to visualise the
military packing the bags and returning to the barracks. They have no
reason to do so.

The country, overall, remains quiet - there are no challenges to the
authority of the military. There is an atmosphere of a quiescence, a
situation that suits the Government just fine.

The sources stress that there are actually three parties involved - the
military, the NLD and the insurgent groups. Finally, any constitutional
arrangement must meet the demands of the numerous ethnic groups that
want a place in the Sun in Myanmar.

Opinion is divided here on whether the dialogue is part of a
pressure-receiving tactic by the military or the process is for real.
Finally, it would all depend on the content of the dialogue, which is
taking place away from the public eye.

Many believe that the decision of the two sides to keep their lips
sealed on the talks is a positive sign. There has so far been nothing
for the press apart from the confirmation from both sides that they have
engaged.

Given the fact that the decade of the 1990's was barren and the country
moved no closer to reconciliation, the talks in themselves can only be
welcomed.

For the sake of this country, its well-wishers can only hope and pray
that the talks lead to a solution that is acceptable to all the parties.





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<center><b><font color="#0000FF"><font size=+2>Junta leaders, Suu Kyi in
regular contact</font></font></b></center>

<p><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>The Hindu (New Delhi)</font></font>
<br><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>February 19, 2001</font></font>
<p><font size=+1>By <font color="#800000">Amit Baruah</font></font>
<p><font size=+1><font color="#CC0000">YANGON, FEB. 18. </font>Myanmar's
military authorities are maintaining a regular process of engagement with
the National League for Democracy (NLD) general secretary, Ms. Aung San
Suu Kyi.</font>
<p><font size=+1>According to informed sources, a deputy to the Secretary-I
of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and chief of the Director
of Defence Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, has been having
weekly sessions with Ms. Suu Kyi.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The first contacts between the Nobel laureate and the
military authorities started in October last year and have now blossomed
into a couple of sessions every week.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The sources told this correspondent that two issues were
currently under discussion - what to do regarding the results of the 1990
elections (in which the NLD emerged the winner) and the drafting of a new
Constitution for the country.</font>
<p><font size=+1>They said the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi, who remains confined
to her University Avenue home, but is allowed to visit relatives from time
to time for social occasions, remains at a confidence- building stage.</font>
<p><font size=+1>However, the sources maintained that the dialogue process
appeared to be ``irreversible'', but no one wanted to put any time-frame
to the talks, which have been welcomed by the world at large.</font>
<p><font size=+1>It would appear that at this stage, Ms. Suu Kyi has two
choices - stick to her position of the principled democrat or eventually
arrive at a compromise with the military Government - and don the role
of a practical politician.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The sources were also of the opinion that the dialogue
between Ms. Suu Kyi and the military authorities was principally home-
grown, though the U.N. Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Razali Ismail,
had facilitated the process by carrying regular messages between the two
parties.</font>
<p><font size=+1>For the SPDC, the fact that the country's economy is still
not taking off and it receives absolutely no funding from international
monetary institutions has become a very serious issue.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Also, the prospective sanctions from the International
Labour Organisation (currently in abeyance) seem to have influenced the
decision of the Government to agree to the dialogue with Ms. Suu Kyi.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The sources believe that by this dialogue, the Government
has finally recognised the popular NLD leader as an interlocutor - a major
concession in itself.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The military authorities are aware that an influential
section of the international community, which has been following a policy
of non- engagement, is holding back further action on account of the current
dialogue.</font>
<p><font size=+1>However, the sources are quick to point out that despite
all the problems, the military is firmly entrenched in the country, especially
following agreements with a clutch of insurgent outfits that have plagued
the country since its independence.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Clearly, the process of dialogue itself will allow both
parties to make assessments of each other. The sources believe that there
are no discussions on power-sharing as yet and it is difficult to visualise
the military packing the bags and returning to the barracks. They have
no reason to do so.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The country, overall, remains quiet - there are no challenges
to the authority of the military. There is an atmosphere of a quiescence,
a situation that suits the Government just fine.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The sources stress that there are actually three parties
involved - the military, the NLD and the insurgent groups. Finally, any
constitutional arrangement must meet the demands of the numerous ethnic
groups that want a place in the Sun in Myanmar.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Opinion is divided here on whether the dialogue is part
of a pressure-receiving tactic by the military or the process is for real.
Finally, it would all depend on the content of the dialogue, which is taking
place away from the public eye.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Many believe that the decision of the two sides to keep
their lips sealed on the talks is a positive sign. There has so far been
nothing for the press apart from the confirmation from both sides that
they have engaged.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Given the fact that the decade of the 1990's was barren
and the country moved no closer to reconciliation, the talks in themselves
can only be welcomed.</font>
<p><font size=+1>For the sake of this country, its well-wishers can only
hope and pray that the talks lead to a solution that is acceptable to all
the parties.</font>
<br>&nbsp;
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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