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VOA Report on Mr. Mawdsley



DATE=5/15/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-232268

TITLE=BURMA/SENTENCE (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  BURMA HAS HANDED A PRISON TERM AND A STIFF FINE TO A 

FOREIGNER FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY.  THE FOREIGNER -- 

OF JOINT BRITISH AND  AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP -- HAD BEEN ARRESTED

WHILE DISTRIBUTING PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 

GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK.


TEXT:  A RANGOON COURT FRIDAY SENTENCED JAMES RUPERT RUSSELL 

MAWDSLEY TO A MAXIMUM FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.  HE WAS ALSO ORDERED 

TO PAY A FINE OF 50-THOUSAND KYAT -- OR ABOUT 83-HUNDRED DOLLARS 

AT OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES -- OR SERVE ANOTHER 15 MONTHS IN 

PRISON IF HE CANNOT.


THE SENTENCE WAS HANDED DOWN IN THE FIRST PUBLIC TRIAL IN BURMA 

IN 10 YEARS.  MR. MAWDSLEY -- WHO HAD PLEADED GUILTY WEDNESDAY TO

VIOLATING BURMA'S EMERGENCY IMMIGRATION ACT -- SHOWED NO EMOTION 

AS JUDGE THAN HTWAY READ THE SENTENCE.


BURMESE COURTS HAVE ROUTINELY SENTENCED BURMESE DEMOCRACY 

ACTIVISTS TO LONG PRISON TERMS -- USUALLY OF SEVEN YEARS -- BUT 

THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME A WESTERNER HAS RECEIVED 

SUCH A HARSH SENTENCE.


MR. MAWDSLEY WAS ARRESTED APRIL 30TH FOR ENTERING THE COUNTRY 

ILLEGALLY WITHOUT A PASSPORT.  HE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ENTERED 

THROUGH TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY ANTI-GOVERNMENT INSURGENTS.


OFFICIALS TESTIFIED HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED AT THE MARKET IN 

MOULMEIN -- THE CAPITAL OF THE SOUTHERN MON STATE -- WHILE 

DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS PROMOTING THE ALL-BURMA STUDENTS' 

DEMOCRATIC FRONT, A THAILAND-BASED BURMESE EXILE GROUP.  THE 

GROUP IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO FLED THE COUNTRY AFTER THE 

SUPPRESSION OF PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS IN 1988.


MR. MAWDSLEY WAS ALSO ARRESTED IN RANGOON LAST YEAR WHEN HE 

CHAINED HIMSELF TO A FENCE, SHOUTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS AND 

HANDING OUT LEAFLETS.  THAT TIME, HE WAS MERELY DEPORTED.


GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPERS HAVE LABELED MR. MAWDSLEY A 

MERCENARY AND A TERRORIST BECAUSE OF HIS CONTACTS WITH 

ANTI-GOVERNMENT EXILE GROUPS.


MR. MAWDSLEY HAS 90 DAYS TO APPEAL HIS SENTENCE.  HOWEVER, HE 

WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY SERVING HIS TERM AT RANGOON'S NOTORIOUS 

INSEIN PRISON. (SIGNED)


NEB / GPT / GC / WD




15-May-98 7:13 AM EDT (1113 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America