Fate to free Detaining Activists Is

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Fate of Myanmar foreign activists unclear

By Aung Hla Tun
YANGON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The fate of 18 foreign activists held in Myanmar
for distributing pro-democracy leaflets was unclear on Tuesday as the military
government accused the group of being part of a plot. 

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said in Bangkok he thought the activists,
detained on Sunday after handing out leaflets at Yangon tourist sites, might
be charged. 

But a government spokesman declined to confirm rumours they would be tried,
saying only ``the legal process is underway and (it would) be premature to
give comment on the outcome at this moment.'' 

The activists received visits from their embassies on Tuesday afternoon and
were reported to be generally well but ``glad to see our faces,'' said one
diplomat. 

And politicians in Manila and Kuala Lumpur suggested the Association of South
East Asian Nations approach its newest member -- Myanmar -- about the
detainees. 

Reporting the detention of the activists for the first time, all three of
Myanmar's state-owned newspapers said the group had colluded with ``internal
axe-handles,'' the term by which the government commonly refers to traitors. 

They said the ``plot'' was arranged outside Myanmar. 

``Their premeditated acts to the detriment of Myanmar and its people are
evident,'' said the newspapers, which carried identical reports and
commentaries attacking the activists and pictures and brief biographies of
each member of the group. 

``The authorities are planning to take necessary actions against them,'' they
said. 

Myanmar police on Sunday detained six Americans, an Australian, three Thais,
three Malaysians, three Indonesians and two Philippine citizens. 

In Malaysia, the Jakarata Post on Tuesday identified one activist as R.
Fadjri, one of its correspondents. 

``Mr Fadjri had gone to Thailand to take part in a series of activities to
promote freedom of expression, which is universally accepted as a prerequisite
for democracy. His presence in Myanmar was part of that campaign,'' the daily
said in a letter delivered to the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta. 

The activists earlier said they handed out about 10,000 red, palm-sized
leaflets reminding the Myanmar people not to forget a crackdown on opposition
demonstrators 10 years ago. The leaflets carried 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. 

A U.S. embassy spokeswoman said the six Americans were given ``crackers, bagel
chips and candy bars -- things to identify with'' when they met two U.S.
officials on Tuesday. 

``They are fine. There are no complaints,'' she told Reuters. 

Diplomats said Myanmar authorities had told them no decision on the activists
future had yet been taken. 

In Bangkok, Surin told Reuters Myanmar should be given some time to perform
the legal procedure. 

``I understand that they might be charged in accordance with the existing
laws,'' the foreign minister said. 

Several diplomats said they throught the government would like to expel the
detainees rather than risk a protracted and probably high-profile incident.
But others said the activists could be held for some time before being
deported. 

This was how they treated foreign activist James Mawdsley, who was detained in
September 1997 for chaining himself to a fence and shouting anti-government
slogans. 

Mawdsley, who holds British and Australian passports, was sentenced to five
years jail and fined for entering the country illegally, but was deported last
week. 

Sunday's leafleting was organised by the Alternative ASEAN (Association of
South East Asian Nations) Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), which supports
Myanmar's democracy movement. 

In Manila, a Foreign Office official said the Philippines was studying the
possibility of a joint approach by ASEAN members to Myanmar on the detainees.
``It is still a subject of consultation.'' 

In  Kuala Lumpur, Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general of the opposition
Democratic Action Party, said ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino should
travel to Yangon to press for the release of the activists. 

Myanmar joined ASEAN -- grouping Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- last year despite protests by
the opposition movement. 

11:04 08-11-98 



Document ID: L100qGOU