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VOA : BURMA-DETAIN



Voice of America
DATE=8/10/98

BURMA-DETAIN   
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOk

INTRO:  BURMESE AUTHORITIES SAY 18 FOREIGNERS DETAINED FOR 
DISTRIBUTING PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS WILL BE TRIED FOR CHARGES OF 
CREATING UNREST.  CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR 
SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  A SPOKESMAN FOR BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS THE 18 
POLITICAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED SUNDAY BROKE AT LEAST TWO LAWS WHEN 
THEY DISTRIBUTED DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS IN RANGOON.  

THE 18 MEN AND WOMEN WERE PICKED UP AFTER HANDING OUT SMALL RED 
LEAFLETS VOICING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, AND 
URGING PEOPLE NOT TO FORGET THE EVENTS OF 1988 WHEN THE MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT CRUSHED A PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING.  THE GROUP IS 
COMPRISED OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE 
PHILIPPINES, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, THAILAND, AND AUSTRALIA.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THEY ARE BEING HELD AT TWO 
LOCATIONS IN RANGOON, BUT DIPLOMATS SAID THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE 
TO VISIT THEM.  RANKING SOURCES IN THE CAPITAL SAY THE SENIOR U-S
DIPLOMAT IN RANGOON, CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES KENT WEIDEMANN, MADE 
REPRESENTATIONS TO THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT AT WHAT THEY ONLY 
DESCRIBE AS --THE HIGHEST LEVEL -- PRESUMED TO MEAN SENIOR 
GENERAL THAN SHWE, TO EXPRESS CONCERN AND REQUEST ACCESS BY 
CONSULAR OFFICIALS.

ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT ORGANIZED THE ACTION, THE ALTERNATIVE 
ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA, CALLED FOR THE GROUP'S IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
NETWORK COORDINATOR DEBBIE STOTHARD SAID THE LEAFLET WAS 
INNOCUOUS AND DENIED IT WAS ANTI-GOVERNMENT, DESCRIBING IT AS A 
GOODWILL MESSAGE.

                       // STOTHARD ACT //

         I THINK IT IS HIGH TIME THE BURMESE MILITARY REGIME GREW
         UP AND REALIZED THAT IN THE REAL WORLD OUT THERE, 
         HANDING OUT GOODWILL MESSAGES IS A MINOR ACTIVITY AND 
         NOT EVEN WORTH NOTING.

                          // END ACT //

MS. STOTHARD DENIED THE GROUP HAD DELIBERATELY TRIED TO PROVOKE 
THE GOVERNMENT INTO A REACTION THAT WOULD DRAW ATTENTION TO 
PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS.

                       // STOTHARD ACT //

         IT WAS TO EXPRESS GOOD WILL WITH THE PEOPLE OF BURMA.  
         IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG IN THAT?

                          // END ACT //

SHE REFUSED TO CONFIRM OR DENY THERE WERE OTHER ACTIVISTS SENT TO
BURMA WHO ELUDED ARREST.

THE ACTION COMES AT A TIME OF HEIGHTENED TENSION BETWEEN THE 
GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, LED BY NOBEL 
LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  NO DEMONSTRATIONS OR PROTESTS MARKING
THE EVENT WERE HELD IN BURMA.  BUT THE PARTY HAS DEMANDED THE 
GOVERNMENT CONVENE THE PARLIAMENT ELECTED IN 1990 BY AUGUST 21ST 
OR FACE UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES.

THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IGNORED THE ELECTION'S OUTCOME AFTER THE 
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY OVERWHELMINGLY WON THE POLLS.