Bangkok Post,The Nation (12/5/98)ne

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Rangoon to try Westerner

Rangoon- A Westerner will go on trial tomorrow In the Burmese capital
Rangoon, accused of entering the country illegally to distribute
anti-government literature.
	James Rupert Russell Mawdsley, 24, who holds British and Austra- lian
passports, appeared at a pre-trial hearing the Rangoon yesterday and calmly
head a prosecuting official testify that he had entered the country
illegally in April.
	Presiding judge U Than Htwe said a trial would begin tomorrow in the
northern district court near Insein jail in Rangoon. Mawdsley will be
charge with violating Burmese immigration laws.

Burma opts for ThaiCom-3

Burma is dumping Hong Kong's Asiasat-1 satellite for its local
communi-cations system and replacing it with ThaiCom-3 from Shinawatra of
Thailand, the state-run New light of Myanmar reported yesterday.
	Four Shinawatra engineers are in Burma installing antennas and other
equipment necessary for the military government to lease transponder space
on ThaiCom-3 for government-run Myanmar Post and Telecommunications.

Westerner bound for trial in Burma

 Rangoon- A Westerner will go on trial tomorrow In the Burmese capital
Rangoon, accused of entering the country illegally to distribute
anti-government literature.
	James Rupert Russell Mawdsley, 24, who holds British and Austra- lian
passports, appeared at a pre-trial hearing the Rangoon yesterday and calmly
head a prosecuting official testify that he had entered the country
illegally in April.
	If found guilty, Mr Mawdsley could face a prison term of six months to
five years, a fine of $25(10,000 baht) or both.
					-----------

CCT