A Landon Resident Protests Inside B

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c The Associated Press  

RANGOON, Burma (AP) - A London resident handcuffed himself to a high school
in the capital Tuesday, shouting democracy slogans before being cut free by
police and taken in for questioning. 

The school was closed for a public holiday, and the protest, on the eve of
the anniversary of the coup that brought the current military regime to
power, did not spark any further unrest. 

Public High School No. 6 is on a moderately busy avenue in the capital, but
police kept passersby on the other side of the street during the protest. A
truckload of about 14 troops remained parked nearby. 

Such protests are virtually unheard of in Burma, where authorities keep a
tight lid on dissent. 

Burmese dissidents in Bangkok, Thailand, told The Associated Press that the
protester was James Mawdsley, 19, of London, a dual citizen of Britain and
Australia. 

Bystanders said Mawdsley spray-painted the Burmese word ``metta,'' or ``love
and kindness,'' on the school wall, cuffed himself to the gate and shouted
pro-democracy slogans. They also said he handed out pamphlets. 

Immigration police were seen at the site of Mawdsley's arrest, and it was
believed he would be deported. 

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a
foreigner had been taken in for questioning after a protest but had few other
details. 

British Embassy officials in Rangoon said they were checking into his
apparent arrest. 

There has been little public dissent in Rangoon since December, when
thousands of students demanding greater civil liberties took to the streets.
University classes have been suspended since. 

The protests were aimed at Burma's military regime, which took power Sept.
18, 1988, smashing a pro-democracy uprising. 

AP-NY-09-16-97 1350EDT