The Hindu : Suu Kyi's whereabouts not known

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003

International

International

Suu Kyi's whereabouts not known

YANGON june 4. Diplomatic pressure on Myanmar's military rulers to free the pro-democracy leader, Ang San Suu Kyi, intensified Wednesday as the whereabouts and physical condition of the detained Nobel Peace prize winner remained unknown.

A scheduled visit to Myanmar by a special U.N. envoy was in doubt. Politicians in neighbouring Thailand joined an international chorus demanding her immediate release.

Ms. Suu Kyi has been in what the junta in Yangon says is ``protective custody'' since Friday, when her supporters and pro-government protesters clashed in northern Myanmar.

The Government says four people were killed. Activists say that dozens may have died.

Exiled Myanmar Opposition groups claim Ms. Suu Kyi suffered head injuries. The junta has refused to produce Ms. Suu Kyi, but has denied reports that she was hurt. They say she is being held in a ``safe place'' — that some officials have said is in the capital.

Key members of Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy have also been detained and the party's offices around the South-East Asian nation closed.

In what could be a major setback, the U.N. envoy, Razali Ismail, said he was waiting for word from the world body headquarters on whether he should go ahead with trip to Myanmar that is slated to start on Friday.

A high-level U.N. meeting on the situation in Myanmar would be held in New York on Thursday, he said. ``I feel I should go, but I have to take into account how the U.N. members feel,'' Mr. Razali told The Associated Press in Kuala Lumpur.

— AP