(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): ASEAN
countries must take seriously the warning given by the Myanmese military
junta media, New Light of Myanmar newspaper that Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi may be put on trial for what it said were anti-national
activities.
The ASEAN Secretary-General R.C. Severino should warn the Myanmese
military junta not to take courage from the political turmoils in some
Asean countries to escalate confrontation with pro-democracy forces as
putting up Aung San Suu Kyi on trial for anti-national activities.
Yesterday, the New Light of Myanmar said the leader of the National
League for Democracy (NLD) party had broken the law by divulging state
secrets to foreign nations, and kept in contact with outlawed expatriate
and rebel
groups.
It said: "She not only divulges secrets of the State to foreign nations but also called for destruction of the State openly.
"She is breaking the existing laws, keeping in contact with outlawed expatriate group(s) that rebelled with arms and Karen National Union group, declared as (an) unlawful association.
"Daw Suu Kyi is warned that action can be taken against her anytime with sufficient evidence according to law."
The article predicted the NLD, which is at political odds with the ruling military State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), would break up if Suu Kyi was no longer in the party.
The SPDC may be tempted by the political troubles in some ASEAN countries like those in Malaysia and Indonesia to launch a new crackdown against democratic forces and human rights in Burma.
The ASEAN Secretary-General should not only forewarn the SPDC against any such escalation of confrontation against Aung San Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy forces, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, who is the personal emissary of United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan on Burma, should also convey to the Myanmese military junta the deep concerns of the world body.
(9/1/99)