Posted on 10/20/2004 6:33:25 PM PDT by nuconvert
Burma PM 'behind Suu Kyi attack'
From correspondents in Washington
21oct04
THE new prime minister of military-ruled Burma was directly behind an attack on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy last year, the US charged today.
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington had a credible report that Lieutenant General Soe Win, an ally of hardline junta chief Than Shwe, was "directly involved in the decision to carry out the brutal attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy on May 30, 2003". "We did look into the matter extensively," Mr Boucher said when asked for the basis of the charge. "I'm not sure exactly where that report came from but I think we find it to be a report that is worth taking into account."
Last year's attack by a pro-junta mob on Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party heralded the Nobel peace laureate's latest period of house arrest.
At least six democracy campaigners were killed in the assault and eyewitnesses said the toll may have risen up to 70 as government-affiliated forces set upon the convoy with bamboo staves and metal pipes.
In a report on the incident released earlier this year, the State Department said generals involved in the attack had been subsequently rewarded and alleged that scores of villagers, students, and Buddhist monks may have been killed.
The attack and Aung San Suu Kyi's subsequent arrest led to an international outcry and strengthening of sanctions by the United States and the European Union.
Mr Boucher said Soe Win's replacement of former premier General Khin Nyunt, who was sacked yesterday and is reportedly under arrest on corruption charges, would not likely affect US policy nor the junta's relations with Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.
The NLD overwhelmingly won 1990 elections later annulled by the military which has run the country since a 1962 coup.
"At this point we see no indication that the leadership change will have any tangible impact on relations between the junta and the democratic opposition," he said. "That's unfortunate but that appears to be the way it is."
Khin Nyunt was seen as the most reformist of the military regime's leaders and his arrest followed a power struggle in the top ranks of the junta.
Mr Boucher reiterated Washington's call on Burma "to engage in a meaningful dialogue and to engage in genuine national reconciliation" to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
The United States has imposed for several years a ban on all imports from Burma. It also has frozen the regime's assets and imposed a ban on granting of travel visas to top regime members and US investment in Burma.
Please feel free to post your graphic again.
Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the bravest women on the face of the earth.
But no, we need more movies about Che Guevara, trial lawyers, environmental activists, and union organizers.
"It's a disgrace that Hollywood has never made a movie about this beautiful, incredibly courageous woman"
I agree
"Things just seem to go from bad to worse in Burma !"
Sure seems that way.
you know what they say : "things are never so bad , they can't get worse!"
It must be October again.
In the past, the Thais covertly supported the ethnic Northern resistance (admittedly, part of the support was benefiting the drug trade). Now, The Ethnic Northern groups have been royally screwed with Soe Win coming into power. The Wa will still make and deliver drugs for the junta but the Shan and Karen will be exterminated.
The sad thing is that the average Thai was highly supportive of the democracy movement until the Karen splinter group hijacked a Hospital. The Thai leadership (read businessmen and military) are strong enough to ignore public opinion and support the junta.
Should read 600 millionBht.
Sorry.
Finally, The trade zone between Burma, China and Chiang Rai, Thailand, has to be in some doubt.
Thailand's not standing there idle. It only looks that way. In fact, they are secretly breeding traitors, according that incomparable font of priceless wisdom, the New Light of Myanmar:
"Yodaya breeds some traitors of our country, arms them, provides them with food and shelter and recruits new members."
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