Suu Kyi, military in war of words

Suu Kyi, military in war of words

YANGON (Agencies): Myanmar's military government launched a
stinging attack on pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi on Tuesday as she entered the sixth day of a roadside
confrontation with the authorities.

In its most strongly worded criticism of the 55-year-old Nobel
laureate and her National League for Democracy (NLD) since the
standoff began, the government said Suu Kyi's calls for sanctions
and boycotts on Myanmar had harmed ordinary people.

"The people of Myanmar realize that they are being used as
sacrificial lambs by the NLD in stopping all forms of foreign
assistance and aid to Myanmar," it said in a statement.

"Although the party claims to be promoting human rights, in
reality the very rights of the people of Myanmar to enjoy a
better and fuller life have been undeniably violated and abused
by the very same people calling for democracy and human rights."

The government lashed out at foreign governments which have
condemned its treatment of Suu Kyi.

"Unfortunately, some of the Western media and governments have
continued portraying Daw Suu Kyi as a person who is supported by
all the Myanmar people. But reality cannot be ignored," it said.
"People are undeniably resentful of the NLD for breaking their
rice bowls."

Suu Kyi, her driver and 14 NLD members were halted by police
in the town of Dala last Thursday as they headed south of the
capital in two vehicles, and have been there since.

It was the first time Suu Kyi had tried to leave Yangon since
another roadside confrontation in 1998 that ended after 13 days,
when deteriorating health and dehydration forced her to return
home in an ambulance.

Suu Kyi was under house arrest for six years until 1995 and
her movements remain severely restricted.

Both the United States and European Union have demanded that
restrictions on Suu Kyi be lifted.

State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said on Monday that
U.S. officials understood the opposition figurehead had been
prevented by the Myanmar authorities from seeing her personal
physician.

The NLD dismissed the military's claims that travel in the
Dallah region was unsafe.

"If military authorities justify their action on grounds of
lack of security even inside Yangon city limits, then their
repeated contention that unprecedented peace prevails in Myanmar
is nothing but a blatant lie," it said.

Diplomatic sources have also confirmed that there have been no
reports of rebel activity in the area. Reeker said that Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright was closely monitoring developments
in the opposition leader's latest challenge to the military
government.

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has warned the stand-off
could tarnish the image of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN).

The Bangkok Post quoted Surin as saying the stand-off was "of
much concern" to the international community and could jeopardize
a planned meeting of ASEAN and European Union foreign ministers
in Laos in December.

It would be the first ministerial meeting of the two groups
since ASEAN controversially admitted Myanmar in 1997 despite
international condemnation of its human rights record.

"We ourselves also don't want the problem to continue because
it may affect the image of ASEAN as a whole," Surin said.

The Myanmar government's attack on the NLD came after the
opposition accused it of violating Suu Kyi's rights.

"The actions of the authorities amount to a violation of
democracy and human rights," the NLD said.