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BURMA /SENTENCES 30/4/98



VOA News 30/4/98




INTRO:  BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS SENTENCED 

SIX PEOPLE TO DEATH FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.  A BURMESE EXILE 

GROUP HAD EARLIER REPORTED TWO STUDENT ACTIVISTS WERE CONDEMNED 

FOR WHAT THEY SAID WAS ONLY PEACEFUL POLITICAL ACTIVITY.  V-O-A 

CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS HAS DETAILS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA 

BUREAU.


TEXT:  RESPONDING TO A STATEMENT BY A BURMESE EXILE GROUP, THE 

BURMESE GOVERNMENT SAYS SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH 

FOR CARRYING EXPLOSIVES.  THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC 

FRONT SAID WEDNESDAY THAT TWO STUDENT ACTIVISTS HAD BEEN GIVEN 

THE DEATH PENALTY AND 38 OTHERS WERE SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON 

TERMS.  IT REPORTS THEY WERE ARRESTED IN JANUARY, FOR WHAT THE 

EXILE GROUP SAYS WAS PEACEFUL POLITICAL ACTIVITY.


THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SAYS THE SIX CONDEMNED PEOPLE WERE PART 

OF A PLOT TO CARRY OUT BOMBINGS AND ASSASSINATE MEMBERS OF THE 

RULING STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.  THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 

NONE OF THE ACCUSED ARE STUDENTS, POINTING OUT THAT THEY RANGE IN

AGE FROM 29 TO 51 YEARS OLD. THE CHIEF DEFENDANT, KO THEIN, IS 

LISTED AS 44 YEARS OLD.


THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT IS A

TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.  THE GROUP DENIES THIS CHARGE.   (SIGNED)


NEB/GPT/FC/WTW


30-Apr-98 12:38 AM EDT (0438 UTC)