*EPF201 09/05/00
Text: Secretary Albright on Forcible Return of Aung San Suu Kyi
(U.S. outraged by treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi) (370)

Following is a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright on the forcible return of Aung San Suu Kyi by Burmese authorities:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
September 2, 2000

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE K. ALBRIGHT

BURMA -- FORCIBLE RETURN OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Burmese authorities appear to have forcibly returned Aung San Suu Kyi to her residence in Rangoon at 1:30 a.m. Burmese Standard Time on September 2, 2000. Diplomats in Rangoon have been denied access to her, to the National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters, and to other party leaders. At this time, we are unable to confirm her well-being or that of other members of her party. The regime has prevented even the few Burmese who are normally allowed to visit her and diplomats from going near her residence. The regime has also surrounded the National League for Democracy headquarters, and military intelligence agents have reportedly entered the headquarters and taken away files. The regime appears to have placed National League for Democracy Central Executive Committee members under house arrest and cut off their telephones.

The United States is outraged and strongly condemns the Burmese authorities' treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party members and the violations of their fundamental human rights. The National League for Democracy is a legally constituted political party in Burma that won an overwhelming victory in the 1990 parliamentary elections and obviously enjoys strong popular support. The military regime has refused to recognize the results of that election, has refused to enter into dialogue, and has prevented the National League for Democracy from performing normal political activity.

We call on the Burmese authorities to allow normal access and freedom of movement to Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy and immediately to cease all activities aimed at preventing the free exercise of internationally recognized human rights.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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