Burma/Politics VOA News

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=8/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236931
TITLE=BURMA-POLITICS (L)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

     ///  RE-ISSUING TO REMOVE OLD GRAF 7, INFO QUOTING U-S 
            SPOKESWOMAN IN RANGOON NOW OUTDATED.  ///

INTRO: AUTHORITIES IN BURMA ARE PONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH 18 
FOREIGN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED FOR HANDING OUT 
PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS. MEANWHILE, BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT 
BEGAN GRANTING FOREIGN EMBASSIES ACCESS TO THEIR DETAINED 
CITIZENS.  VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK.

TEXT:  BURMESE AUTHORITIES TUESDAY REFUSED TO SAY WHAT ACTION 
WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THE 18 ACTIVISTS DETAINED IN BURMA. IN A 
FAXED STATEMENT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THE 
CASE IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE HOME MINISTRY AND RELEVANT LEGAL 
DEPARTMENTS, AND ANY COMMENT ON THE MATTER IS PREMATURE.

THE ACTIVISTS WERE PICKED UP SUNDAY AFTER DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS 
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND URGING 
REMEMBERANCE OF THE SUPPRESSED DEMOCRACY UPRISING OF 1988.  THE 
ACTIVISTS ARE FROM THE UNITED STATES, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, THE 
PHILIPPINES, THAILAND, AND AUSTRALIA. THEY ENTERED BURMA ON 
TOURIST VISAS ON THE EVE OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO INCITE UNREST AND THAT THEY
HAD VIOLATED AT LEAST TWO LAWS OF BURMA.

UNCONFIRMED REPORTS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING THAT THE 18 MEN AND 

WOMEN WOULD BE TRIED AND CHARGED.  A BURMESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 
SAYS THE ERRONEOUS REPORT APPARENTLY CAME FROM A 
MISINTERPRETATION OR MISTRANSLATION OF A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT.

THE ACTIVISTS COULD BE IMPRISONED. TERMS OF SEVEN TO 10 YEARS ARE
COMMON FOR POLITICAL CRIMES IN BURMA.  HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT 
COULD OPT TO SIMPLY DEPORT THEM.

MILITARY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO REITERATED THAT EMBASSIES THAT
SO REQUEST MAY HAVE CONSULAR ACCESS TO THEIR DETAINED CITIZENS, 
WHO ARE BEING HELD AT GOVERNMENT GUEST HOUSES PENDING THE OUTCOME
OF THE INVESTIGATION.

THE AUGUST EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING PASSED WITHOUT ANY 
PUBLIC COMMEMORATION IN BURMA.

HOWEVER, THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS GIVEN
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT UNTIL AUGUST 21ST TO CONVENE THE 
PARLIAMENT THAT WAS ELECTED IN 1990 BUT BARRED BY THE MILITARY 
FROM TAKING POWER.  THE PARTY HAS NOT SAID WHAT ACTION IT WILL 
TAKE IF -- AS IS WIDELY EXPECTED -- THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT 
IGNORES THE DEMAND. (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/PLM/KBK 

11-Aug-98 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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