Myanmar opposition protests against (r)

[RANGOONP@xxxxxxx]

Myanmar opposition protests against curbs on MPs

10 July 1998
Web posted at: 01:19 JST, Tokyo time (16:19 GMT) 

YANGON, Myanmar (Reuters) -- Myanmar's opposition, led by Nobel Peace
Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, on Thursday complained about restrictions
placed on its elected representatives. 

"NLD members of parliament are honorable persons who were elected by the
people of their own free will," a statement from the National League for
Democracy (NLD) party said. 

"This ... lowers the dignity of honorable MPs. NLD cannot accept this at
all." 

Earlier this week, the ruling military State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) said it had increased nationwide surveillance of NLD MPs
elected in the May 1990 polls, the results of which were never
recognized. 

The NLD won a landslide victory in the elections and has demanded that
parliament be convened by August 21 comprising elected MPs. The SPDC has
rejected the demand. 

The SPDC said the MPs were being checked to prevent them from disrupting
government plans to reopen, possibly next month, universities closed
after student unrest in December 1996.