Burma: Crackdown on pro-democracy Opposition - Aung San Suu Kyi Arrested by BBC News / The Age 1:31pm 2nd Jun, 2003   10.06.2003    Suu Kyi 'in good health'by BBC News.    The United Nations special envoy to Burma says detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is "well and in good spirits". Razali Ismail said he had been assured by the reclusive country's top military leaders that she would be released as soon as possible.    The Malaysian diplomat told reporters at Kuala Lumpur airport on his arrival home from a five-day mission to Burma that he thought she could be free in a couple of weeks. Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in what the military describe as "protective custody" on 30 May, after an attack on her and her supporters in northern Burma. The UN envoy was finally allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi on the last day of his visit.There had been mounting international concern over the health and well-being of the opposition leader, who has been held at a secret location for more than a week.    Mr Razali told reporters he "did not see any signs of injury" to the pro-democracy leader. "There were no scratches on her face... no broken arm," he said.    Mr Razali said the ruling junta gave "assurances" that Aung San Suu Kyi would be released, "but they didn't give specific dates". "I think two weeks, they should release her," he added, "I have been telling them to do it immediately, but they take time," he said. "They said they still have to look at other circumstances." He also said she talked briefly of the clashes between her supporters and what the US has termed "government-affiliated thugs", but said she did not see everything that happened, as she was in the front car.    There is still no sign of the vice-chairman of her National League of Democracy, U Tin Oo, who was rumoured to have died in the clashes. The ruling junta vehemently denies this. The government said four people were killed and 50 were injured in the clashes, but exiled dissidents of the Burmese regime said as many as 75 members of the opposition group died, beaten to death by pro-government supporters wielding bamboo canes and iron bars.    Our correspondent says the military now appears to be too frightened of Aung San Suu Kyi's popularity to allow her to move around freely and is clearly ready to use violence to intimidate her supporters. Mr Razali helped broker peace talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military more than two years ago.    They led to Aung San Suu Kyi's release last May after nearly 20 months under house arrest, but any hope of a negotiated end to the long-running political crisis has now all but vanished. Under her leadership, the National League for Democracy won 1990 elections by a landslide but the military junta refused to hand over power.    Reconciliation talks "are not on track now, they have to be put back on track and it will take some effort on all parties," Mr Razali said. He added that he felt that he should make a follow-up trip to Burma "quite soon - some weeks from now".    04.06.2003 BBC News    Suu Kyi receiving medical treatment    Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is receiving medical attention for injuries sustained during a violent clash between her supporters and pro-government demonstrators last week. The BBC's Burma analyst, Larry Jagan, says that the democracy leader received cuts to the face and shoulder when the window of her car was shattered by a brick before she was taken into "protective custody" by the junta at the weekend.    Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win assured diplomats on Tuesday that Aung San Suu Kyi had not been injured and was in good health. However, our correspondent says that she is in fact being treated at a military camp just outside Rangoon. Diplomats and UN officials have been repeatedly denied access to her.    The military government said that four people were killed in the clashes on Friday in the north of the country, in which Aung San Suu Kyi was injured. But eyewitnesses estimated that more than 60 people died in the incident and, according to our correspondent, diplomats in the capital now fear for the safety of these sources, as the government tries to cover up the incident.    The military authorities have rounded up hundreds of people in the area and many more are in hiding. Foreign human rights advocates have said they suspect the clash was provoked by the authorities to justify a crackdown. "The government needs to stop persecuting its critics and start serious talks about making the transition to a rights-respecting member of the international community," said Brad Adams of the New York-based Human Rights Watch.    But in closed-door briefings to foreign diplomats on Tuesday, Khin Maung Win blamed supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi for the violence, Reuters news agency reported. He added that the government remained committed to political reconciliation.    The UN envoy, Razali Ismail, who brokered talks between the military regime and Aung San Suu Kyi more than two years ago, is due to arrive in Rangoon in two days time to try to mediate between the two sides.    But our correspondent says that Mr Razali is likely to find the government's comment that it cannot guarantee him access to Aung San Suu Kyi unacceptable, and diplomats in Rangoon now fear that this may mean the end of the talks process.    June 4 2003. 'World leaders blast Burma's junta' by Mark Baker, Asia Editor.Bangkok. Published by the Age.    Burma's military junta is facing the threat of tougher sanctions and renewed political isolation as world and regional leaders yesterday united in condemning the arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the crackdown on her National League for Democracy.    The US joined other Western and Asian governments in demanding the immediate release of Ms Suu Kyi and 19 senior NLD officials who were also detained after a violent clash in northern Burma last Friday.    Denmark backed calls by human rights groups for the European Union to implement a plan outlined in April to toughen trade, aid and travel restrictions in response to the regime's failure to begin promised talks on restoring democracy.    Japan, a key donor to Burma, issued an unusually stern rebuke. "Japan expects the Myanmar (Burma) Government to treat those in custody appropriately and rectify the situation immediately, including ensuring them freedom of political activities," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.    And in a break from South-East Asian leaders' longstanding reluctance to comment on the affairs of their neighbours, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the whole world was concerned at the regime's actions. "They will have to do something to bring everything back to normal as soon as possible," he said.    Ms Suu Kyi yesterday remained in custody at a military "guest house" in Rangoon - four days after she was detained in what authorities claimed was a temporary move to ensure her safety.With NLD offices across the country closed and guarded by armed troops, universities and colleges in Rangoon shut down and the entire senior opposition leadership either imprisoned or under house arrest, diplomats said the regime appeared to have turned its back on reform.    United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail indicated he might cancel a scheduled visit to Rangoon on Friday to resume his frustrated efforts to broker a political compromise. "I want to be clear about a few things first. I want to know what the situation is. It's not clear," he said.    There was still no confirmation of claims by Burmese exile groups that the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate suffered head injuries during Friday's clash and that as many as 70 people had been killed. The regime said four people died and 50 were injured.    The British Foreign Office, which in March flagged a tougher policy towards the regime unless it committed to reform, said reports that Ms Suu Kyi may have been injured "cause us particular anxiety".    Burma's military government said yesterday that the opposition leader had not been harmed in clashes between her supporters and pro-government groups last week.    US President George Bush expressed deep concern. "The military authorities should release Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters immediately, and permit her party headquarters to reopen," he said.    EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Ms Suu Kyi's arrest would stiffen Europe's resolve to maintain sanctions against Burma. "This repressive behaviour confirms the regime's lack of interest in the return to democracy," he said.    Ms Suu Kyi's party won the country's last elections in 1990 by a landslide, but the generals refused to hand over power.    - with Reuters Visit the related web page
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