AP Breaking News on 18 Activists in

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Foreigners Put on Trial in Myanmar 
Friday, August 14, 1998; 7:30 a.m. EDT

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Eighteen foreign activists arrested by Myanmar's
military government for handing out pro-democracy leaflets went on trial
today in this southeast Asian nation. The activists -- six Americans, three
Malaysians, three Indonesians, three Thais, two Filipinos and one
Australian -- were charged with violating a sweeping 1950 law that allows
maximum 20-year jail sentences for attempting to incite unrest or disrupt
the peace and stability of the state. The defendants appeared relaxed as
prosecutors presented four witnesses -- a hotel maid, security guard and
two policemen -- before a one-hour lunch break. The activists, who have no
lawyer, whispered to each other and drank water from bottles. 

Various diplomats asked to consult with the defendants during the break,
but were denied permission. A single judge, Khang Gyi, presided. There was
no jury. The trial, held in a courtroom just outside a notorious prison,
was open to diplomats and journalists. The trial could be finished today if
they don't raise any questions,'' a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on
condition of anonymity. The courtroom was a concrete building outside the
walls of Insein Prison, where hundreds of political prisoners are kept
along with violent criminals. A diplomat who visited the American activists
Thursday said embassies were not informed of the trial until this morning.
"I hope they will be treated leniently,'' said U.S. Charge d'Affaires Kent
Wiedemann as he entered the courtroom. 

In Bangkok, Thailand, weeping and angry relatives appealed at a news
conference for the activists' release. They were joined by a U.S. Rep.
Chris Smith, chairman of the House International Operations and Human
Rights subcommittee, who accused the government of committing a "public
relations disaster." Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has a constituent,
Michele Keegan, 19, among the detainees, described them ``idealistic,
empathetic and caring about democracy."  Smith said it would be
``premature'' to discuss new U.S. sanctions against Myanmar but "right now,
there's an opportunity, a small window, to release these people." In May,
Clinton renewed an order banning new investments by Americans in Myanmar.
The activists were detained Sunday, the day after the 10th anniversary of a
failed nationwide democracy uprising, for handing out small cards to
Myanmar citizens telling them the outside world supported their struggle
and to not give up. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been ruled by the
military since 1962. More than 3,000 demonstrators were gunned down during
the 1988 uprising. The 18 activists have been kept at a police guest house
in the capital. Diplomats who have visited them have described them as
cheerful, well-fed and treated humanely. The government issued a statement
this week saying their release had been delayed because they were being
uncooperative. The military is attempting to find a way to discourage
foreign activists from entering Myanmar and inciting revolt, while at the
same time avoiding repercussions from the governments of countries where
the activists come from. 

Earlier this year, the military government sentenced a British-Australian,
James Mawdsley, to five years in prison for handing out pro-democracy
leaflets. He was released after three months. Mawdsley had been detained in
1997 for a similar action, but was deported with just a warning not to
return. His trial was the first open to some members of the public in
decades and he was represented by a lawyer. Myanmar citizens put on trial
rarely receive an attorney to defend them, democracy and human rights
activists have said. Trials usually consist of reading out the charges and
sentencing the accused they say. Most trials take less than an hour.
Political prisoners are frequently subjected to torture and kept in
solitary confinement or cells meant for military dogs, human rights groups
and former prisoners say. 

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Myanmar Foreigners Get 5 Years 
Friday, August 14, 1998; 8:38 a.m. EDT

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Eighteen foreign activists arrested last week for
handing out pro-democracy leaflets in Myanmar were sentenced to five years
hard labor today after pleading guilty to violating sedition laws. The six
Americans, three Malaysians, three Indonesians, three Thais, two Filipinos
and one Australian were charged with violating section the 1950 Emergency
Provision Act. They had been questioned for six days. The sweeping law
allows authorities to hand out maximum 20-year jail sentences for
attempting to incite unrest or disrupt the peace and stability of the
state. Before the verdict was read, the defendants and foreign diplomats
who attended the trial appeared relaxed and jovial as the judge read out
the charges and asked for pleas from the accused after listening to
testimony for most of the day from nine prosecution witnesses. Speculation
in foreign embassies and outside the country was that the Myanmar
government would deport the activists after trying them. 

Various diplomats had asked during the day to consult with the defendants,
but were denied permission. A single judge, Khang Gyi, presided. There was
no jury. The trial was open to diplomats and journalists. The courtroom was
a concrete building outside the walls of Insein Prison, where hundreds of
political prisoners are kept along with violent criminals. A diplomat who
visited the American activists Thursday said embassies were not informed of
the trial until this morning. "I hope they will be treated leniently,''
said U.S. charge d'affaires Kent Wiedemann as he entered the courtroom. In
Manila, Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said: ``Let my people
go." In Bangkok, Thailand, weeping and angry relatives appealed at a news
conference for their release. They were joined by a U.S. congressman, Rep.
Chris Smith, R-N.J., who has a constituent among the detainees, Michele
Keegan, 19. Smith said it would be "premature'' to discuss new U.S.
sanctions against Myanmar but ``right now, there's an 
opportunity, a small window, to release these people." The activists were
detained Sunday, the day after the 10th anniversary of a failed nationwide
democracy uprising, for handing out small cards to Myanmar citizens telling
them the outside world supported their struggle and to not give up. 

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been ruled by the military in various
guises since 1962. More than 3,000 demonstrators were gunned down during
the 1988 uprising. 
The 18 foreign activists have been kept at a police guest house in the
capital. Diplomats who have visited them have described them as cheerful,
well-fed and treated humanely. The government issued a statement this week
saying their release had been delayed because they were being
uncooperative. The military is attempting to find a way to discourage
foreign activists from entering Myanmar and inciting revolt, while at the
same time avoiding repercussions from the governments of countries from
which the activists come. Earlier this year, the military government
sentenced a British-Australian national, James Mawdsley, to five years in
prison for also handing out pro-democracy leaflets. He was released after
three months. Mawdsley had been detained in 1997 for a similar action, but
was deported with just a warning not to return. His trial was the first
open to some members of the public in decades and he was represented by 
a lawyer.