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15-16 WEEKENDNEWS/AUSTRALIAN ALISON



15-16 AUG 98 WEEKEND NEWS/AUSTRALIAN ALISON VICARY.
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THE AUSTRALIAN: JUNTA DEFIES WORLD TO CHARGE ACTIVISTS

BANGKOK: Australian Aloson Vicary and 17 other democracy activists
detained in Rangoon were charged yesterday with security offences
under Burma's emergency act.

After holding the activists in custody for five days, Burmese
authorities charged them at a joint hearing in Rangoon's Insein
prison yesterday. The exact nature of the charge was not disclosed
beforehand, but they related to the secret importation and
distribution of some 10,000 "goodwill messages" by the activists
before they were taken in by soldiers and security officials
on Sunday.

Despite ounting pressure from foreign governments, including Australia
and the US, to release the activists., the State Peace and Development
council appeared yesterday to be holding firm to its insistence that
they be subjected to normal Burmese legal procedures.

However, Australian officials remain hopeful Ms Vicary, a 35-year-old
Sydney economics lecturer, will be allowed to leave Burma once the
charges are heard.

The military Government also showed no sign of buckling to international

criticism of its latest confrontation with opposition leader Aung LSan
Suu Kyi. For the forthe time in a month, security officials have
prevented
Ms Suu Kyi from travelling to meet supporters of her National League for

Democracy at Pathein, 190km west of the capital.

Yesterday, Ms Suu Kyi was spending her third day at a security
checkpoint
about 32km from the capital, at the same wooden bridge where her car was

stopped for six days in July before she was forcible returned to
Rangoon.

A government spokesman said Ms Suu Kyi was in a mini-van with two
dreivers,
an NLD official and food and water supplies. He said the van windows
were
closed and she was refusing to speak to officials.

"A medical team is on standby, should she need one, and appropriate
security
has been provided in case she and her companions choose to stay by the
roadside."

US State Department speokesman James Foley said in Washington yesterday
that
US officials in Rangoon had asked to be allowed to travel to where Ms
Suu
Kyi's vehile was stopped to speak to her.

"We are gravely concerned about the health and safety of Aung San Suu
Kyi
and hold the Burmese authroities responsible for ensuring her health and

welfare," he said.

British Foreign Office Minister Defrk Fatchett said he "deeply regretted

that the Burmese regime should have chosen, instead of opening dialogue
with the NLD and other democratic leaders, to yet again stop Aung San
Suu
Kyi freely travelling around Burma."

Earlier this week, diplomats from countries including Australia, Japan,
the US and Britain presented a joint request to the SPDC raising conerns

about the previous confrontation between Ms Suu Kyi and asking it to
begin
a political dialogue with her and other opposition leaders.

15-aug-98 The Advertiser(local newspaper for South Australia)
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TRIAL OVER LEAFLETS: BURMA JAILS AUSSIE ACTIVIST

RANGOON: Australian Alison Vicary and 17 oterh foreign activists
arrested
in Burma last week were sentenced to five years hard labor yesterday
for handing out pro-democracy leaflets.

Ms Vicary, 35, from Sydney, six Americans, three Malaysians, three
INdonesians, three Thais and two Filipinos were charged, after six days
of questioning and investigation, with violating sedition laws.

Late last night it was announced that they would be deported today.

At a trial in Rangoon yesterday, they pleaded guilty to violating the
1950 Emergency Privision Act. This allows for 20-years jain sentences
for attempting to incite unrest or disrupt the peace and stability
of the State.

Earlier, teh defendants and foreign diplomaats attending the trial
appeared relaxed and jovial as the judge read out the charges and asked
for pleas from the accused, after listening to testimony for most of]
the day from nine prosecution witnesses.

Speculation in foreign embassies and outside the country was that the
Burmese government would deport the activists after trying them.

Diplomats who asked to consult with teh defendants were denied
permission.
A single judge, Khang Gyi, presided and there was no jury. The trial was

open to diplomats and journalists.

In Manila, Philippine Foreign ;UNder Secretary Lauro Baja said, "Let my
people go." and in Bangkok, Thailand, weeping relatives appealed at a
news conference for their release.

They were joined by a US Congressman, Representative Chris Smith,
chairman of the House International Operations and Human Rights
Subcommittee, who accused Burma of commiting a "public relation
disaster".

Ms smith said it would be "premature" to discuss new US sanctions
against
Burma.

The activista were detained on Sunday, a day after the 10th anniversary
 of a failed nationwide democracy uprising, for handing out small cards
 to Burmese citizens telling them the outside world support their
struggle
and not to give up.

Burma has been ruled by the military in various guises since 1962.
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