>Subject: Subject: NEWS - Embassy D

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: >Subject: Subject: NEWS - Embassy Denied Access to Jailed  Briton in

>Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 09:07:18 +0700
>To: burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
>From: owner-burmanet-l@xxxxxxx (by way of BurmaNet Editor
<strider@xxxxxxxxxxx>)
>Subject: Subject: NEWS - Embassy Denied Access to Jailed Briton in
>  Myanmar
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>Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 12:46:11 -0400
>From: Rangoon Post Co-Editor <Rangoonp@xxxxxxx>
>To: Burma-L at American University <burma-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
>burmanews@xxxxxxxxx,
>Subject: NEWS - Embassy Denied Access to Jailed Briton in Myanmar
>
>Embassy Denied Access to Jailed Briton in Myanmar
>
>BANGKOK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A British diplomat was denied access at the
>weekend to a Briton jailed last week for 17 years in Myanmar for
>pro-democracy activism, the British embassy in Myanmar said on Tuesday. 
>
>The diplomat travelled to Myanmar's remote Shan State on Saturday in the
>hope of getting access to James Mawdsley, a 26-year-old from Lancashire
>arrested there on August 31 and sentenced in a summary trial the
>following day. 
>
>"I was not able to see him," the diplomat told Reuters. "No reason was
>given. We are continuing to press for access." 
>
>Myanmar's military government said last week consular access was being
>arranged. 
>
>"Consular access for Mr J. Mawdsley is still under process and official
>access will be granted soon," a Myanmar government spokesman said on
>Tuesday. 
>
>Britain has said it is unhappy about the way the case has been handled
>including the lack of consular access. 
>
>The Myanmar government has said Mawdsley, who also holds an Australian
>passport, was being held in prison in the northeastern town of Kengtung,
>not far from Tachilek on the Thai border where he was arrested carrying
>pro-democracy leaflets. 
>
>This is the third time Mawdsley has been detained in Myanmar for
>pro-democracy activism. He was arrested last year and sentenced to five
>years jail for illegal entry but released after 99 days on condition he
>would not return. 
>
>His 17-year term includes that five year sentence, which was
>reactivated, another five years for the same offence and seven years for
>contravening the publications law. 
>
>The Australian embassy has also been seeking access to him along with
>the British. 
>
>An Australian diplomat said consular access to citizens was provided for
>under the Vienna Convention. 
>
>"We would hope to have that access...we want to have consular access. We
>don't know what the state of play is -- whether it's actually been
>denied, or whether it is being progressed slowly. 
>
>"I can't say that in contravention of the convention at this point, but
>it's slow to say the least." 
>
>Mawdsley's arrest came as dissidents have stepped up activity since
>calling for a new mass uprising on the numerically significant "four
>nines day" -- September 9, 1999. The government has arrested at least
>several dozen activists to thwart the campaign in the past month.
>Mawdsley is the only foreigner. 
>
>In Bangkok on Tuesday, the Myanmar embassy said it had stopped issuing
>tourist visas for individual travellers, a ban an embassy official said
>was likely to remain at least two weeks. 
>
>Myanmar's military has been criticised worldwide for human rights abuses
>since taking direct power in 1988 by killing thousands to crush a
>pro-democracy uprising. 
>
>It ignored the result of the last election in 1990 when the National
>League for Democracy won by a landslide and has since tried to silence
>dissent through arrests and intimidation.
>
>
>