>Subject: BBC-Torture fear for Burm

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: >Subject: BBC-Torture fear for Burmese prisoner 

>From: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx>
>Subject: BBC-Torture fear for Burmese prisoner 
>Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 02:00:14 +0900
>
>Tuesday, September 7, 1999 Published at 16:21 GMT 17:21 UK
>BBC-
>
>UK
>
>Torture fear for Burmese prisoner
>
>James Mawdsley was twice deported from Burma
>
>A British-born pro-democracy campaigner jailed in Burma has been refused
>access to British diplomats.
>The UK Foreign Office said that a consul based in Rangoon was not allowed to
>see James Mawdsley.
>
>James has "deep commitment" to cause of democracy in Burma
>His father, David Mawdsley, fears the Burmese authorities are torturing his
>son.
>
>The Foreign Office says it is "most concerned" about the situation.
>
>David Mawdsley spoke out after a British consul despatched to see his son at
>the jail in the remote town of Kengtung was turned away.
>
>James Mawdsley, 26, was sentenced to 17 years in jail after a summary court
>hearing convicted him of entering Burma illegally carrying anti-government
>literature.
>
>He had already been deported from Burma twice for taking part in
>pro-democracy protests, and spent 99 days in solitary confinement in a
>Burmese jail last year.
>
>His father said: "My interpretation of this is that he is being tortured and
>they are refusing to let diplomats see him simply because they don't want
>the western world to have a view of what they are doing to him right now."
>
>'Breach of rights'
>
>The Foreign Office confirmed that consul Tiffany White travelled to Kengtung
>to visit Mr Mawdsley, bringing him a parcel of supplies, but was denied
>access.
>
>A spokesman said: "She spent several hours in the police station awaiting
>clearance from the authorities, but the police refused to let her see him or
>take the supplies to him."
>
>He said Britain had pointed out to Burma that denying consular access to a
>UK citizen was a breach of the Vienna Convention.
>
>Mr Mawdsley said his son had been tortured during his previous spell in
>prison.
>
>"Last time we kept quiet about the torture. We wanted him out and managed to
>secure his release after 99 days.
>
>"Then we were keeping a low profile. This time James has been sentenced to
>17 years and we want people to know what is happening."
>
>Australia pushing for access
>
>James, who grew up in Lancashire, became involved in Burma's pro-democracy
>movement after meeting Burmese refugees in New Zealand four years ago.
>
>He also holds an Australian as well as a British passport, and Australian
>diplomatic staff are also pushing the Burmese authorities to allow access.
>
>James's father described him as a "very religious young man" with a deep
>commitment to the cause of democracy and human rights in Burma.
>
>
>
>
>