-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- ASIA 'Excommunication' An anglo-Burmese businessman friendly with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to thre years in jail for owning unauthorized telephones and fax machines. James Leander Nichols, also known as Leo Nicholas, was punished for having two fax machines and a telephone switchboard with nine lines in his home, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's political party said. In an effort to discourage contact between Burmese citizens and the outside world, Burma's military government requires people to get permission to own a fax machine, satellite dish, or sophisticated phone system. News Services The Atlanta Constitution/The Atlanta Journal Alec -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMZ9ArCKJGkNBIH7lAQFrrAQAw7g/OeEU0IbK+4haxL4r7CWez9R1MqH6 W0Zq1l59XlRDkCCPj34HqrXGchg1Wnnw6LMK7B41JMRl68jvkVLmLnZ9FHwehZ9V R2WzRM+VzHwcpxQ4Fha1pwdq4Lm5naeS+3FiTQDcbTATT7hpBSiLOXhMNSlxFcBP G2KtNA2iZAM= =g8jc -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----