Billboards Take Aim At Peace Prize Winner

Burma’s military rulers mounted a new offensive against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, this time on 30-foot-high billboards denouncing her as a stooge of foreign countries.

The billboards - including one placed 600 feet from Suu Kyi’s house and another just outside the U.S. Embassy - were erected Sunday as the Nobel Peace Prize-laureate gave a speech in which she toned down her government criticism, apparently to avoid violating harsh new publicorder laws.

The billboards and the new laws signal the junta’s rejection of Suu Kyi’s calls for dialogue during a landmark congress of her National League for Democracy two weeks ago. Authorities arrested 262 people to try to prevent the meeting.