VOA-BURMA / ACTIVISTS

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/14/98
BURMA / ACTIVISTS
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK


INTRO: BURMA FRIDAY SENTENCED EIGHTEEN FOREIGN POLITICAL 
ACTIVISTS TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON, BUT THEN ORDERED THEIR 
DEPORTATION.  THE GROUP WAS ARRESTED IN RANGOON SUNDAY FOR 
DISTRIBUTING PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS.  VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY 
THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT: RIGHT AFTER THE 18 ACTIVISTS WERE GIVEN PRISON TERMS OF 
FIVE YEARS AT HARD LABOR, A MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS OFFICIAL 
READ AN ORDER REDUCING THE SENTENCES AND ORDERING THE PROTESTERS'
DEPORTATION.  THE OFFICIAL SAID THEY WERE BEING DEPORTED ON THE 
GROUNDS THEY DO  NOT  VIOLATE THE LAWS OF BURMA AGAIN.

THE 18 ACTIVISTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, INDONESIA, THE 
PHILIPPINES, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, AND AUSTRALIA WERE DETAINED 
SUNDAY AFTER PASSING OUT SMALL PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS IN RANGOON.

THE ACTIVISTS REACTED WITH JOY AND RELIEF AFTER THE ORDER WAS 
ANNOUNCED.  OFFICIALS SAID THEY WILL BE DEPORTED BY SATURDAY.

THE ORDER WAS THE CLIMAX OF A DAY LONG TRIAL IN WHICH THE 
ACTIVISTS PLEADED GUILTY TO VIOLATING BURMA'S BROAD EMERGENCY 
PROVISION ACT, WHICH ALLOWS PRISON TERMS OF UP TO 20 YEARS FOR 
INCITING UNREST OR DISTURBING THE TRANQUILITY OF THE STATE.  
(SIGNED)