VOA-BURMA-POL (r)

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/14/98

BURMA-POL 
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK

INTRO: BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED EIGHTEEN FOREIGN 
ACTIVISTS ON TRIAL FOR DISTRIBUTING PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS.  
MEANWHILE, PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S ROADSIDE 
PROTEST OUTSIDE RANGOON ENTERED ITS THIRD DAY.  VOA CORRESPONDENT
GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  EIGHTEEN FOREIGN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS WERE TAKEN TO A 
SPECIAL COURT IN A RANGOON SUBURB FRIDAY TO BE TRIED FOR 
VIOLATING BURMA'S EMERGENCY PROVISION ACT.

THE ACTIVISTS, WHO COME FROM SIX COUNTRIES, WERE DETAINED SUNDAY 
FOR HANDING OUT PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS.  THE EMERGENCY PROVISION 
ACT ALLOWS FOR PRISON SENTENCES OF UP TO 20 YEARS FOR INCITING 
UNREST OR VIOLATING THE TRANQUILITY OF THE STATE.  HOWEVER, THEY 
COULD SIMPLY BE DEPORTED.

UNLIKE OTHER POLITICAL TRIALS IN BURMA, DIPLOMATS AND 
RANGOON-BASED JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ATTEND.  
PROSECUTORS PRESENTED WITNESSES, INCLUDING HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND 
POLICEMEN.  THE DETAINEES WERE ALLOWED TO QUESTION THE WITNESSES 
AS WELL.

AS THE TRIAL GOT UNDERWAY IN RANGOON, RELATIVES PUBLICLY PLEADED 
IN BANGKOK FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

U-S CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH (R-N-J), WHO HAS A CONSTITUENT AMONG 
THE DETAINEES, SAID THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT RISKS INCURRING 
FURTHER INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION IF IT DOES  NOT RELEASE THE 
ACTIVISTS.

                             // SMITH ACT //

         THE LONGER THAT THIS GOES ON, EVERY HOUR THAT THIS GOES 
         ON, THE MORE LIGHT, THE MORE SCRUTINY, AND THE MORE 
         ANGER THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THE GOVERNMENT IN 
         RANGOON.  FROM A PUBLIC RELATIONS VIEWPOINT, THIS IS A 
         DISASTER FOR THE RANGOON GOVERNMENT. THEY SHOULD SEE 
         THAT.

                             // END ACT //

THE CONGRESSMAN SAID IT IS PREMATURE TO SAY IF THERE SHOULD BE 
NEW SANCTIONS ON BURMA. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ALREADY BARRED NEW 
INVESTMENT THERE AND BANNED VISITS TO THE UNITED STATES BY 
BURMESE OFFICIALS.

MEANWHILE, A STANDOFF BETWEEN PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI AND THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUED FOR A THIRD DAY ON A ROADSIDE 
OUTSIDE RANGOON.

ON WEDNESDAY AUNG SAN SUU KYI TRIED TO DRIVE TO BASSEIN, 100 
KILOMETERS FROM RANGOON, TO MEET WITH LOCAL PARTY OFFICIALS.  SHE
WAS STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES ABOUT 32 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE 
CAPITAL, AT ABOUT THE SAME SPOT WHERE SHE WAS BLOCKED TWO WEEKS 
AGO.  SHE REFUSES TO GO BACK, AND AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO LET HER 
PROCEED FURTHER.

SHE AND THREE COMPANIONS REMAIN IN THEIR VAN.  A GOVERNMENT 
STATEMENT SAYS SHE HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A BEACH UMBRELLA, 
GARDEN CHAIRS, AND SOME READING MATERIAL, AND THAT AN AMBULANCE 
REMAINS ON STANDBY AT THE SITE.

THE STATEMENT SAYS SHE CAN PROCEED TO BASSEIN AS SOON AS 
UNSPECIFIED SECURITY CONDITIONS PERMIT.  (SIGNED)