Burmese democracy leader defies government, addresses meeting
June 8, 1996
Web posted at: 1:15 p.m. EDT (1705 GMT)RANGOON, Burma (CNN) -- Burmese opposition activist Aung San Suy Kyi addressed some 4,000 supporters outside her home Saturday in defiance of her country's newest law against dissent. But the government made no effort to interfere with the gathering.
The rally followed Friday's announcement by the military that anyone who sought to "undermine the stability of the state" or interfere with law and order would be sentenced to prison for five to 20 years.
Under the law, the government has the power to dissolve, suspend or outlaw any group deemed to have broken these restrictions. The government also can extract cash fines and confiscate property from violators.
Suu Kyi's speech to the crowd Saturday was much milder than usual, containing no remarks condemning the military regime.
"We have always been constructive and never destructive. Our conscience is clear," Suu Kyi said to enthusiastic applause. We never said a word to undermine the stability of the state."
The crowd cheered when Suu Kyi, wearing a purple long-sleeved Burmese jacket with several jasmine garlands and pink and yellow roses in her hair, arrived for what has become her weekly public address.
Suu Kyi stressed that her group, the National League for Democracy (NLD), would continue its efforts to bring democracy to Burma and insisted the party had not violated any laws.
"Working for democracy is not attacking anyone. We once promised the people the NLD will keep on striving and struggling until democracy is obtained and we cannot go back on this promise," Suu Kyi said.
Tensions between the government and the NLD have risen since May, when authorities arrested more than 250 NLD politicians in an attempt to block the party from holding its first congress since Suu Kyi's release last July from six years of house arrest.
Last month, the NLD rejected a constitution being drafted by the government and Suu Kyi said she and other members would write their own charter.
The military said Friday that writing an alternative constitution was illegal and any one doing so could face up to 20 years in prison. Any party found guilty of violating the law faced being banned.
Rangoon's latest virtual ban on political activity has triggered reaction from other governments and human rights groups around the world.
U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns called on Rangoon to "cease and desist in its pressure tactics against the democrats" in Burma.
He said Suu Kyi had the right under international law to speak out about conditions in her own country.
Washington has dispatched two diplomats to Southeast Asia to step up regional pressure on the Burmese government to curb its attacks on pro-democracy activists.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Suu Kyi ridicules Burma's pro-government rallies - May 29, 1996
- Burmese opposition proposals sting government - May 28, 1996
- Suu Kyi addresses 5,000 in Burma - May 25, 1996
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