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Media Release on September 2, 1999




Media Release 50/99
2nd September 1999.

British demonstrator sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in Burma

James Rupert Russel Mawdsley, 26, a dual British and Australian citizen, was
arrested in Tachileik town in Shan State, Eastern Burma on August 31 while
distributing pro-democracy pamphlets and cassette tapes. He was sentenced
to 17
years imprisonment by the Burmese court at the same day. This is his third
arrest in Burma for his support of democracy and human rights in Burma.

He was charged with Section (13/1) of 1947 Immigration Law and punished to
five
years imprisonment and also charged with Section (17) of 1962 Printers? and
Publishers? Registration Law and sentenced to (7) years imprisonment. In
addition, he believably has to serve his unfinished previous prison term 5
years of his last arrest in 1998. The trial was held in secret at Tachileik
Court. According to sources, he was transferred to Kengtung Prison on
September
1st, 1999.

Aung Thu Nyein, general secretary of the ABSDF said, ?Such absurdly lengthy
sentence as the one imposed on James is a manipulation of the legal system in
Burma. We demand that the ruling military authorities immediate release James
Mawdsley and all political prisoners. The ABSDF also calls upon international
friends and supporters of the pro-democracy movement all over the world to
initiate urgent actions to secure the immediate release of James Mawdsley.? 

?During his second arrest in Moulmein in 1998, James Mawdsley had the first
so-called ?public trial? in Burma for over a decade. This time, it did not
happen, and the ABSDF considers that he was sentenced under utterly unfair and
prejudiced conditions, Aung Thu Nyein added.?


For further information, please contact: 01-960 4026 or 01- 6544 984 
or see ABSDF's Media Release No (49/99) and James Mawdsley's Website
(http://www.insideburma.freeisp.co.uk)