[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

NEWS - Three foreign journalists de



Three foreign journalists detained in Myanmar ahead of Suu Kyi interview

       Tue 01 Sep 98 - 12:05 GMT 

       YANGON, Sept 1 (AFP) - Three foreign journalists were detained in
the Myanmar capital, Yangon, Tuesday as they prepared to
       interview opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, foreign diplomats
said.

       The three -- an Australian, a Canadian and a Japanese -- all
believed to be cameramen, were detained near the Nobel peace
       laureate's house by intelligence agents, they added.

       They were to be deported to Bangkok on a flight later Tuesday.

       "They are just going to be deported," said one foreign diplomat.

       "We'll be at the airport to make sure everything goes alright."

       The Australian was believed to be a woman while the other two
were men. The Australian and Canadian were understood to be
       working for two international media groups on a freelance basis.
The employment status of the Japanese was unclear. All three were
       travelling on tourist visas, the diplomats said.

       Rising political tensions have focussed attention on Myanmar in
recent weeks and several foreign journalists travelling on tourist
       visas have been briefly detained or questioned by security
forces.

       However junta officials have generally taken a tolerant line and
a spokesman said the journalists would be left alone but could not
       expect to be allowed to return to Myanmar as they had been easily
identified during their trips.

       Two other foreign journalists -- one French and one Italian --
were deported last month.