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US Dept of State Press Briefing on



U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
August 10 & 11, 1998
Briefer: James B. Foley

Aug. 10 ---------
QUESTION: Can we go to Burma? It's been reported that 18 students were
arrested for handing out leaflets, and it's also rumored that four of them
were American University students. Can you confirm that? 

MR. FOLEY: Six Americans and 12 foreigners were detained August 9 in Burma
for allegedly distributing pamphlets that the Burmese Government claims
were intended to incite unrest. We have requested consular access to the
arrested Americans and still await a response. We have not been formally
informed of the specific allegations against the Americans that lead to
their arrest. We understand that they are detained under suspicion of
distributing pamphlets. If this is the case, the government's response
seems to be consistent with its suppression of all forms of freedom of
expression by the Burmese population at large. 

Unfortunately, I can't release any more information at this time because we
don't have Privacy Act waivers from the detained. 

QUESTION: What was this group doing in Burma? Who were these people -
without giving any names? 

MR. FOLEY:I don't have information as to what specifically they were doing.
I am only aware of  the fact that the Burmese Government has said that they
were distributing pamphlets, and claims that they were there with an
intention to incite unrest. But the fact of the matter, under the relevant
diplomatic conventions - governments are obligated to provide consular
notification and access within 24 hours -- and so we eagerly await the
Burmese authorities meeting their responsibilities. 

Aug. 11 -------------
QUESTION: What is going on with the Americans who have been detained in
Burma? Are you taking any action? 

MR. FOLEY: Yesterday I noted the lack of consular access and so there's one
bit of relatively good news: the fact that our embassy officials were able
to meet with all six American detainees at 3:00 p.m. local time today in
Burma. All six Americans were in good health; they had no complaint about
their treatment and appear to have been treated humanely. Their families
have been notified about the consular visit. I can tell you the US Embassy
in Rangoon - has made this case its top priority, and embassy officials
have been in contact with relatives of the detainees in order to keep them
informed. Our consular officer will request another visit tomorrow, August
12, and intends to visit them regularly as long as they are in custody. But
I can repeat what I said yesterday, which is that we seek their immediate
release from detention. 

QUESTION: Have they been charged with anything? 

MR. FOLEY: To my knowledge they have not been charged. We have no
information on possible charges. Again, we continue to urge the Burmese
Government to release the detainees promptly. 

QUESTION: Just to go over that - you said six Americans, I believe? 

MR. FOLEY: Yes. 

QUESTION: Are they part of a larger group of other foreign students, as well? 

MR. FOLEY: I'm not sure, to be honest, the status of any Privacy Act waiver
we have, so I'm limited in terms of how much detail I can give. I believe
that a total of 18 were detained, of whom six were American; and according
to press reports, the Americans are members of a group called ALTSEAN --
you've probably seen that in press reports - which refers to something
called Alternative ASEAN Network. But we don't really have complete
information about their activities or purpose in traveling there; and
again, given the uncertain state of the Privacy Act waiver, I can't really
venture too much. 

We're really concerned about getting them out, and we've made that very
clear to the Burmese authorities. We're thankful that we had consular
access. We're going to seek consular access regularly and we hope that
they'll be released promptly.