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Reuters : FOCUS-Myanmar threatens a



FOCUS-Myanmar threatens action against activists 
01:36 p.m Aug 10, 1998 Eastern 

By Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government vowed on Monday to
take action against 18 foreign activists detained for distributing leaflets
in Yangon, accusing them of trying to stir up unrest in the country. 

Its pledge came as the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) of
1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi accused the military of
putting her under virtual house arrest. 

State radio and television broadcast a statement promising action against
the foreign activists, who were seized in Yangon on Sunday after handing
out thousands of leaflets in the capital. 

``The foreigners brought in leaflets...in violation of the existing laws to
create disturbances. This is clear manifestation of their prearranged plan
for adversely affecting the interests of Myanmar and its people,'' it said.


``Accordingly, arrangements are being made to take necessary action against
them,'' it added. 

A government official declined to elaborate on the statement when asked
whether it meant the activists would be charged. 

Police detained six Americans, an Australian, three Thais, three
Malaysians, three Indonesians and two Filipinos after they gave out
leaflets at up to eight Yangon tourist sites. 

Activists said they handed out about 10,000 of the red, palm-sized leaflets
throughout Yangon with the message ``8888 -- Don't forget -- Don't give
up.'' 

On August 8, 1988, soldiers fired on a pro-democracy demonstration near
Yangon city hall, killing many civilians. Opposition supporters say
thousands of people died in the unrest that followed. The military puts the
death toll at a few dozen. 

Explaining the detention of the foreigners, a government spokesman said
earlier on Monday they were being held for questioning, but declined to say
what would happen to them. 

``At the moment, I can't say the extent of legal action that will be taken
against them,'' he told a news conference. 

Diplomats representing the activists said on Monday evening they had so far
had no access to their nationals and had heard no word on their fate. 

Several diplomats said they believed the government would like to expel the
detainees quickly rather than risk a protracted and probably high-profile,
incident. 

``The gut feeling is that they probably will be deported,'' said one
Australian diplomat. By contrast, an Asian diplomat said he thought they
would get at least a year in jail. 

The government spokesman said the activists were organised by the
Alternative ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Network on
Burma (Altsean-Burma), which supports Myanmar's democracy movement. 

Altsean-Burma issued a statement in Bangkok giving the names of those
detained. It said they included lawyers, academics, business people and
students who had gone to Myanmar to commemorate Saturday's anniversary with
a ``goodwill message.'' 

The Human rights group Amnesty International expressed concern: 

``We are shocked to learn of the detentions. We condemn the action and urge
the Myanmar government to release those detained immediately,'' Somsri
Hananantasuk, Amnesty's representative in Thailand, told reporters in
Bangkok. 

Tension between the government and the opposition has risen ahead of an NLD
deadline for the government to convene by August 21 a parliament of members
elected in May 1990. The NLD won that election but the government has
ignored the result. 

The NLD accused the government in a statement on Monday of attempting to
harass Suu Kyi by erecting boom-barriers on the roads outside her house in
Yangon. 

The military removed government security guards from the grounds of Suu
Kyi's home last Friday at her request but has maintained a presence around
the building, witnesses say. 

``The policemen are conducting unnecessary searches on the vehicles coming
out of her compound,'' the NLD statement said. 

``The above measure is tightening illegal restrictions on (Suu Kyi) and it
now almost amounts to house arrest.'' 

Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar's national hero and founding father Aung
San, was released from six years of house arrest in July 1995, but still
faces restrictions on her movements and all visitors to her home are
monitored carefully.