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Junta Threatens Action Against Acti



Myanmar threatens action against activists

By Aung Hla Tun
YANGON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government vowed on Monday to
take action against 18 foreign activists detained for distributing leaflets in
Yangon, accusing them of trying to stir up unrest in the country. 

Its pledge came as the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) of 1991
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi accused the military of putting her
under virtual house arrest. 

State radio and television broadcast a statement promising action against the
foreign activists, who were seized in Yangon on Sunday after handing out
thousands of leaflets in the capital. 

``The foreigners brought in leaflets...in violation of the existing laws to
create disturbances. This is clear manifestation of their prearranged plan for
adversely affecting the interests of Myanmar and its people,'' it said. 

``Accordingly, arrangements are being made to take necessary action against
them,'' it added. 

A government official declined to elaborate on the statement when asked
whether it meant the activists would be charged. 

Police detained six Americans, an Australian, three Thais, three Malaysians,
three Indonesians and two Filipinos after they gave out leaflets at up to
eight Yangon tourist sites. 

Activists said they handed out about 10,000 of the red, palm-sized leaflets
throughout Yangon with the message ``8888 -- Don't forget -- Don't give up.'' 

On August 8, 1988, soldiers fired on a pro-democracy demonstration near Yangon
city hall, killing many civilians. Opposition supporters say thousands of
people died in the unrest that followed. The military puts the death toll at a
few dozen. 

Explaining the detention of the foreigners, a government spokesman said
earlier on Monday they were being held for questioning, but declined to say
what would happen to them. 

``At the moment, I can't say the extent of legal action that will be taken
against them,'' he told a news conference. 

Diplomats representing the activists said on Monday evening they had so far
had no access to their nationals and had heard no word on their fate. 

Several diplomats said they believed the government would like to expel the
detainees quickly rather than risk a protracted and probably high-profile,
incident. 

``The gut feeling is that they probably will be deported,'' said one
Australian diplomat. By contrast, an Asian diplomat said he thought they would
get at least a year in jail. 

The government spokesman said the activists were organised by the Alternative
ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Network on Burma (Altsean-
Burma), which supports Myanmar's democracy movement. 

Altsean-Burma issued a statement in Bangkok giving the names of those
detained. It said they included lawyers, academics, business people and
students who had gone to Myanmar to commemorate Saturday's anniversary with a
``goodwill message.'' 

The Human rights group Amnesty International expressed concern: 

``We are shocked to learn of the detentions. We condemn the action and urge
the Myanmar government to release those detained immediately,'' Somsri
Hananantasuk, Amnesty's representative in Thailand, told reporters in Bangkok.

Tension between the government and the opposition has risen ahead of an NLD
deadline for the government to convene by August 21 a parliament of members
elected in May 1990. The NLD won that election but the government has ignored
the result. 

The NLD accused the government in a statement on Monday of attempting to
harass Suu Kyi by erecting boom-barriers on the roads outside her house in
Yangon. 

The military removed government security guards from the grounds of Suu Kyi's
home last Friday at her request but has maintained a presence around the
building, witnesses say. 

``The policemen are conducting unnecessary searches on the vehicles coming out
of her compound,'' the NLD statement said. 

``The above measure is tightening illegal restrictions on (Suu Kyi) and it now
almost amounts to house arrest.'' 

Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar's national hero and founding father Aung San,
was released from six years of house arrest in July 1995, but still faces
restrictions on her movements and all visitors to her home are monitored car