Suu Kyi, military in war of words<\/p>\n
YANGON (Agencies): Myanmar's military government launched a
\nstinging attack on pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu
\nKyi on Tuesday as she entered the sixth day of a roadside
\nconfrontation with the authorities.<\/p>\n
In its most strongly worded criticism of the 55-year-old Nobel
\nlaureate and her National League for Democracy (NLD) since the
\nstandoff began, the government said Suu Kyi's calls for sanctions
\nand boycotts on Myanmar had harmed ordinary people.<\/p>\n
"The people of Myanmar realize that they are being used as
\nsacrificial lambs by the NLD in stopping all forms of foreign
\nassistance and aid to Myanmar," it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
"Although the party claims to be promoting human rights, in
\nreality the very rights of the people of Myanmar to enjoy a
\nbetter and fuller life have been undeniably violated and abused
\nby the very same people calling for democracy and human rights."<\/p>\n
The government lashed out at foreign governments which have
\ncondemned its treatment of Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
"Unfortunately, some of the Western media and governments have
\ncontinued portraying Daw Suu Kyi as a person who is supported by
\nall the Myanmar people. But reality cannot be ignored," it said.
\n"People are undeniably resentful of the NLD for breaking their
\nrice bowls."<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi, her driver and 14 NLD members were halted by police
\nin the town of Dala last Thursday as they headed south of the
\ncapital in two vehicles, and have been there since.<\/p>\n
It was the first time Suu Kyi had tried to leave Yangon since
\nanother roadside confrontation in 1998 that ended after 13 days,
\nwhen deteriorating health and dehydration forced her to return
\nhome in an ambulance.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi was under house arrest for six years until 1995 and
\nher movements remain severely restricted.<\/p>\n
Both the United States and European Union have demanded that
\nrestrictions on Suu Kyi be lifted.<\/p>\n
State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said on Monday that
\nU.S. officials understood the opposition figurehead had been
\nprevented by the Myanmar authorities from seeing her personal
\nphysician.<\/p>\n
The NLD dismissed the military's claims that travel in the
\nDallah region was unsafe.<\/p>\n
"If military authorities justify their action on grounds of
\nlack of security even inside Yangon city limits, then their
\nrepeated contention that unprecedented peace prevails in Myanmar
\nis nothing but a blatant lie," it said.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic sources have also confirmed that there have been no
\nreports of rebel activity in the area. Reeker said that Secretary
\nof State Madeleine Albright was closely monitoring developments
\nin the opposition leader's latest challenge to the military
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has warned the stand-off
\ncould tarnish the image of the Association of South East Asian
\nNations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
The Bangkok Post quoted Surin as saying the stand-off was "of
\nmuch concern" to the international community and could jeopardize
\na planned meeting of ASEAN and European Union foreign ministers
\nin Laos in December.<\/p>\n
It would be the first ministerial meeting of the two groups
\nsince ASEAN controversially admitted Myanmar in 1997 despite
\ninternational condemnation of its human rights record.<\/p>\n
"We ourselves also don't want the problem to continue because
\nit may affect the image of ASEAN as a whole," Surin said.<\/p>\n
The Myanmar government's attack on the NLD came after the
\nopposition accused it of violating Suu Kyi's rights.<\/p>\n
"The actions of the authorities amount to a violation of
\ndemocracy and human rights," the NLD said.<\/p>",
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