NORWAY said yesterday it had sent a senior diplomat to Burma to offer protection and support to the pro democracy opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Junior Foreign Minister, Mr Jan Egeland, said Norway was reacting to speculation that Burma's ruling body, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), might rearrest the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Norway said it might even seek support for international economic sanctions against Burma if the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner is arrested again. SLORC has recently hardened its attitude to democracy campaigners.
"Norway is afraid the military regime in Burma may further restrict Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic rights and her freedom of movement and may even arrest her," Mr Egeland said.
"We have sent our charge d'affaires, Anne Thalmann, from Singapore to Rangoon today to offer all possible Norwegian assistance to the democratic movement and to Suu Kyi, and as such give her some protection."
Since her release last July from six years of house arrest, Ms Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on SLORC to hold talks with her National League for Democracy to find a way to bring democracy to the nation. In 1991, Ms Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize - awarded in Norway - for her peaceful struggle for democracy and human rights.
"We feel a responsibility to do our utmost for this courageous woman. We feel strongly that there is a need for co ordinated diplomatic action by like minded countries," Mr Egeland said.
Norway had approached European Union countries, the United States, Japan and Australia to organise a joint diplomatic effort to prevent any further action by Burmese leaders against Ms Suu Kyi, he added.
If she should be arrested or have further restrictions imposed on her democratic rights, we will discuss in an international forum the possibility of economic sanctions against Burma."