VOA-BURMA / FAMILIES

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=8/14/98
BURMA / FAMILIES 
GARY THOMAS
BANGKOK
 

INTRO:  AS 18 FOREIGN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS WERE BEING TRIED IN 
BURMA, THEIR RELATIVES WERE APPEALING FOR THEIR RELEASE.  THE 18 
WERE DETAINED IN RANGOON SUNDAY FOR HANDING OUT PRO-DEMOCRACY 
LEAFLETS.  AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM 
BANGKOK, THE RELATIVES CAME TO THAILAND IN THE HOPE OF GETTING 
INTO BURMA TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONES.

TEXT:  IT WAS AN EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL TIME FOR THE RELATIVES 
FRIDAY MORNING -- KNOWING THAT, EVEN AS THEY SPOKE IN BANGKOK, 
THEIR LOVED ONES WERE UNDERGOING A TRIAL IN RANGOON.

SOME WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL THEIR EMOTIONS.  MRS. EVA SANA -- 
MOTHER OF ELLEN SANA OF THE PHILIPPINES -- KEPT A HANDKERCHIEF TO
HER EYES AS SHE STRUGGLED THROUGH SOBS TO PLEA IN HER NATIVE 
LANGUAGE FOR THE RELEASE OF HER DAUGHTER AND THE OTHER 17 
DETAINEES.

                          // TAGALOG ACTUALITY, IN AND UNDER //

OTHERS -- SUCH AS AUSTRALIAN GREG VICARY, BROTHER OF DETAINEE 
ALISON VICARY -- WARNED THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT THE INTERNATIONAL 
OUTCRY WOULD GROW, IF THE DETAINEES WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY FREED.

CHRIS SMITH -- A U-S CONGRESSMAN FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY -- 
CAME ON BEHALF OF ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS WHO IS DETAINED, AS 
WELL AS THE OTHER FIVE AMERICANS IN CUSTODY.  HE SAID BURMA'S 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS COURTING DISASTER -- BUT COULD STILL TURN 
EVENTS TO ITS ADVANTAGE, IF IT WOULD RELEASE THE DETAINEES AND 
OPEN A DIALOGUE WITH THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT.

                             // SMITH ACTUALITY //

         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 ACTUALITY //

THE DETAINEES ARE FROM SIX COUNTRIES -- THE UNITED STATES, 
THAILAND, THE PHILIPPINES, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA.  
THE GROUP OF RELATIVES WENT TO THE BURMESE EMBASSY FRIDAY TO 
REQUEST VISAS.  THEY WERE TOLD THE RULES HAD BEEN CHANGED -- IT 
WAS NOW A SEVEN-DAY WAIT INSTEAD OF ONE DAY.  THEY WERE ALSO TOLD
THAT INTERVIEWS WOULD BE REQUIRED BEFORE THEY WOULD BE GRANTED A 
VISA.

BENYO NICODEMOS -- WHOSE BROTHER CHRISTIAN EVERT IS AMONG THE 18 
-- SAID THE  ACTIVISTS DID NOTHING WRONG IN EXPRESSING SUPPORT 
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN  BURMA. 

                           // NICODEMOS ACTUALITY //

         DEMOCRATIZATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS IS LIKE THE AIR.  SOME 
         PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.  BUT IF YOU CLOSE 
         ALL THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS AND EVERYBODY WILL SHOUT 
         VERY LOUD, "WE NEED AIR.  WE NEED DEMOCRACY."

                              // END ACTUALITY //

HE ADDS BURMA'S RULERS SHOULD LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY 
IN HIS NATIVE INDONESIA, WHERE PRESSURE FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS 
FORCED PRESIDENT SUHARTO OUT, AFTER 32 YEARS IN POWER.  (SIGNED)