VOA: Brit Gets 12 Years Prison in B

[dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: VOA: Brit Gets 12 Years Prison in Burma


7 years for possession of "anti-government leaflets."  Watch what you
carry into Burma...

DATE=9/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BURMA / ACTIVIST (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253360
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO: A Burmese court has sentenced a British-
Australian political activist to a 12 year jail 
sentence, after he was arrested for handing out pro-
democracy leaflets. Ron Corben reports from
Bangkok, it is the third time the 26 year old man has 
been arrested for pro-democracy activities.

TEXT: James Mawdsley, a former teacher in the refugee 
camps along the Thai-Burma border, was arrested 
earlier this week by Burmese military intelligence, 
police and immigration officials.  He was taken into 
custody in the northern Burmese border town of 
Tachilek.

He had crossed over from neighboring Thailand's most 
northern township of Mai Sai, 840 kilometers from 
Bangkok, late Tuesday afternoon, before being arrested 
while in possession of anti-government leaflets.

This was the third time in three years Mr. Mawdsley -- 
who holds a British and Australian passport -- has 
been detained by Burmese authorities. He was 
previously deported for his pro-democracy activities. 

Australian officials in Rangoon told V-O-A the embassy 
was officially notified by the military government 
early Thursday morning of Mr. Mawdsley's detention and 
sentencing.
    
Mr. Mawdsley received five years under Burma's 
Immigration Act and seven under a law governing 
printing and publications.  He remains in a prison in 
the town of Kengtung near Tachilek.
    
His first arrest came in September 1997 after he 
handcuffed himself to a school gate.  After a brief 
two-hour interrogation by Burmese military authorities 
he was deported to Thailand.
    
He was again detained on April 30th last year, at 
Moulmein market, southeast of Rangoon, where Mr. 
Mawdsley was caught distributing pro-democracy 
pamphlets and tapes. 
    
He was sentenced to five years imprisonment and a fine 
for illegal entry and anti-government activities. He 
served three-months in the infamous Insein prison in 
solitary confinement before again being deported.
    
Following appeals by his parents and the Australian 
and British embassies Mr. Mawdsley was released for 
humanitarian reasons by the Burmese military, on the 
condition he would never return to Burma. 
    
Burma's official news agency was reported as saying 
Tuesday that after the earlier leniency shown to the 
activist, he now faces severe action.
    
In a recent interview in Thailand, Mr. Mawdsley said 
he believes in non-violent resistance, drawing 
inspiration from India's independence leader, Mahatma 
Gandhi, and Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu 
Kyi.
    
Mr. Mawsdley said that it was only through, what he 
termed, persistence that these sorts of actions are 
going to have an effect. Burma has been accused by 
international human rights groups of torture, 
political suppression and harassment of its people.
    
His protest comes amid stepped up security in Burma 
ahead of calls by Burmese dissidents and students in 
exile for public protests throughout the country on 
September ninth. The 9-9-99 anti-government campaign 
has already led to some 40 arrests of students in 
Burma.(signed)

NEB/RC/GC/FC



02-Sep-1999 06:32 AM LOC (02-Sep-1999 1032 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
 .