BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Eighteen foreign activists jailed by the military junta in Myanmar for distributing anti-government leaflets were expelled from that country Saturday and arrived in Bangkok to weeping relatives.

``Of course, I’m very happy,″ screamed Ellene Sana, 36, of the Philippines. ``I didn’t want to stay there any longer.″

The activists, including six Americans, were convicted in a one-day trial in Myanmar on Friday of violating the Emergency Provisions Act and sentenced to five years’ hard labor. The catch-all law has been used to sentence hundreds of political prisoners to terms as long as 20 years.

In addition to the Americans, the activists include three Indonesians, three Malaysians, three Thais, two Filipinos and an Australian.

Family members, fellow activists and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the House International Operations and Human Rights subcommittee, waited in the Bangkok airport’s VIP lounge for the Myanmar Airways flight.

A banner hung in the lounge read ``Welcome Home, Democracy Heroes.″ Relatives carried bouquets of flowers.

Smith, a New Jersey Republican, had traveled to Bangkok to press for the release of the activists in the neighboring country, but he was denied a visa to enter Myanmar. One of the activists, Michele Keegan, 19, is from Hamilton Township, N.J.

The activists were whisked off to a news conference Saturday as they arrived.

Diplomats from the activists’ respective countries attended Friday’s trial in a small concrete courthouse outside the walls of Insein Prison, north of Yangon.

While there was rejoicing in the courtroom following the verdict, the reaction was more somber in Washington.

``While we’re pleased that these American citizens will be returning to the United States, this episode is a reminder that there is an absence of protection of human rights in Burma and a failure of the Burmese government to allow freedom of expression,″ said White House spokesman Mike McCurry.

The other Americans are Nisha Marie Anand, 21, of Atlanta; Joel Edward Greer, 34, of New York; Tyler Richard Gianni, 28, of Virginia; and Sapna Chatpan, 21. The hometowns of Greer, Gianni and Chatpan were not available.

Some observers said the episode appeared calculated to discourage foreign activists from coming to Myanmar and inciting revolt, while at the same time avoided worsening relations with the international community.

There was a single judge but no jury at the seven-hour trial, which was open to diplomats and journalists.

The activists were detained Sunday, the day after the 10th anniversary of a failed nationwide democracy uprising in Myanmar, for handing out small cards to Myanmar citizens telling them the outside world supported their struggle and not to 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.

Diplomats who had visited the activists before the trial had described them as cheerful and well-fed.

This article was published by the Associate Press on Aug. 14., 1998 and can be found at: