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BURMA /SENTENCES 30/4/98
- Subject: BURMA /SENTENCES 30/4/98
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 16:52:00
VOA News 30/4/98
INTRO: BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS SENTENCED
SIX PEOPLE TO DEATH FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. A BURMESE EXILE
GROUP HAD EARLIER REPORTED TWO STUDENT ACTIVISTS WERE CONDEMNED
FOR WHAT THEY SAID WAS ONLY PEACEFUL POLITICAL ACTIVITY. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS HAS DETAILS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA
BUREAU.
TEXT: RESPONDING TO A STATEMENT BY A BURMESE EXILE GROUP, THE
BURMESE GOVERNMENT SAYS SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
FOR CARRYING EXPLOSIVES. THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC
FRONT SAID WEDNESDAY THAT TWO STUDENT ACTIVISTS HAD BEEN GIVEN
THE DEATH PENALTY AND 38 OTHERS WERE SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON
TERMS. IT REPORTS THEY WERE ARRESTED IN JANUARY, FOR WHAT THE
EXILE GROUP SAYS WAS PEACEFUL POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SAYS THE SIX CONDEMNED PEOPLE WERE PART
OF A PLOT TO CARRY OUT BOMBINGS AND ASSASSINATE MEMBERS OF THE
RULING STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS
NONE OF THE ACCUSED ARE STUDENTS, POINTING OUT THAT THEY RANGE IN
AGE FROM 29 TO 51 YEARS OLD. THE CHIEF DEFENDANT, KO THEIN, IS
LISTED AS 44 YEARS OLD.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT IS A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. THE GROUP DENIES THIS CHARGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/FC/WTW
30-Apr-98 12:38 AM EDT (0438 UTC)