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Activists Held in Burma Granted Dip



Activists Held in Burma Granted Diplomatic Visits
Associated Press
Wednesday, August 12, 1998; Page A18 

RANGOON, Burma, Aug. 11, Eighteen foreign democracy activists detained by
Burma's military government for handing out anti-government leaflets are
being treated well, diplomats said today, but there was no word on whether
they would be prosecuted.The detainees, who include six Americans, four of
whom are students at American University, were visited today by their
countries' diplomats, three days after their arrests. State television
showed photos of detainees smiling and looking relaxed as they ate a meal,
and said they were being "treated well, on humanitarian grounds." A U.S.
Embassy spokeswoman said two consular officers met with the six Americans
for 90 minutes at police headquarters here and brought them books and snacks.

"Their health is okay," said the spokeswoman, adding that the detainees had
not complained about their treatment. Burmese authorities said the 18 were
being interrogated to determine whether they should be charged with any
crime. Besides the six Americans, the detainees consist of three Thais,
three Malaysians, three Indonesians, two Filipinos and an Australian.
Officials have denied reports that the government has decided to put the
activists on trial. And they said deportation remains an option. The 18
were arrested Sunday after distributing leaflets urging people to remember
an Aug. 8, 1988, uprising against military rule, which resulted in 
a change of leaders but eventually was crushed. An estimated 3,000 people
died. Burmese officials say the activists broke laws, including a printing
act and an emergency law that can carry a 10-year sentence and frequently
is used against political opponents. 

A statement from the Burmese Embassy in London accused the detainees of
acting at the behest of people who are "pushing the country down into
hellish pits." It referred to opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize
winner Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party. The
party has set an Aug. 21 deadline for the government to convene a
parliament elected in 1990.