- Title: BURMA: SUPPORTERS LISTEN TO LATEST ADDRESS BY OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI
- Date: 16th June 1996
- Summary: RANGOON, BURMA (JUNE 16, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/PAN: CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI, LEADER OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD) 0.10 2. GV/SV/MV: SUU KYI ADDRESSING THE CROWD (BURMESE)/ CROWD LISTENING AND CHEERING (8 SHOTS) 1.14 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 1st July 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RANGOON, BURMA
- City:
- Country: Burma (Myanmar)
- Reuters ID: LVA5ZYAF6PPYBPBCM400EUT2GEAJ
- Story Text: INTRO: Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said that government-sponsored rallies attacking her and denouncing the democracy movement were threatening the country's stability.
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Suu Kyi said on Sunday (June 16) that mass government-backed rallies, held throughout the country over the past few weeks, damaged the nation's dignity.
"I think it undermines the stability of the state, community peace and tranquility...to say 'they are our enemies', 'attack them', 'crush them' at the rallies," Suu Kyi told about 4,000 supporters standing in pouring rain outside her Rangoon home.
Suu Kyi has called the rallies a farce, and said the people really want democracy and an end to military dictatorship.
Burmese say they are ordered to attend, with officials requiring at least one person per household. The opposition and diplomats say the military forces people to demonstrate.
The demonstrations coincide with an increasing crackdown by the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) against the opposition led by Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi.
Last month the SLORC arrested over 250 democracy politicians ahead of a controversial congress of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. It also passed a new law, apparently aimed directly at the NLD, prohibiting anyone or any group perceived as undermining the state.
Suu Kyi told the crowd outside her home on Sunday the government-backed rallies did not conform to the new law, as they seemed to undermine stability as well.
Any person found guilty of violating the law faces up to 20 years in prison. An organisation that violates it can be declared illegal and its possessions confiscated.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
