Leo Nichols arrested???

[cd@xxxxxxxxxx]

burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> From Dawn Star, Paris
Who really is Leo Nichols? And why has the press and community not known 
of this when it happened? Is it a crime to have a fax machine in Rangoon?
Thank you 


> From: burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Burma)
> 
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> 
> Regime detains consul and friend of Suu Kyi
> 20.4.96/ Bangkok Post
> 
> A WELL-KNOWN Burmese businessman and close friend of democracy
> leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the military
> government, diplomats said yesterday.
> 
> Bangkok-based diplomats and democracy supporters in Rangoon told
> Reuters that 65year-old Leo Nichols, who also serves as honorary
> consul or contact for several European nations, was taken into
> custody earlier this month and has not been heard from since.
> 
> "I have heard he was arrested," a Norwegian diplomat said. "We
> have approached the authorities ... we are waiting for their
> reply. I understand several other countries are doing the same
> thing."
> 
> He said he had heard various reasons for the detention and was
> not sure where Nichols was being held.
> 
> Other diplomats and democracy sources in Rangoon said Nichols was
> being held for having two fax machines in his house, and for
> alleged bribery.
> 
> Burmese authorities have not commented.
> 
> Nichols served as honorary consul-general for Norway and also
> represented or served as contact person for Denmark Finland and
> Switzerland.
> 
> A relative of Suu Kyi's said Nichols had lent the Nobel laureate
> a car but did not have any formal financial ties  to her National
> League for Democracy party.
> 
> "He is not related to the NLD. But he is very close to Suu Kyi,"
> the relative said. "We heard about his arrest but we are not sure
> what is going on."
> 
> Diplomats said representatives from the countries Nichols worked
> for were expected to seek ways to help him.
> 
> "We would like to help. He's our consul person and has been for
> many years, so we want to help him," one ambassador said.
> 
> Nichols was detained previously, diplomats said, but they did not
> have any further details. _
> 
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> Typed by the Research Department of the ABSDF [MTZ]
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