Backing Freedom Fighters, Ex-Aide Says : Rohrabacher’s Trip Is Called Unofficial

U.S. Rep.-elect Dana Rohrabacher’s apparent illegal entry into strife-torn Burma earlier this week is part of an unofficial fact-finding trip designed to encourage “freedom-fighters around the world,” a former aide said Friday.

Rob Rule, a former campaign press spokesman for Rohrabacher, said from Los Angeles that the congressman-elect is gathering “photographs, interviews” and other evidence for a report he will make to Congress about events in the region.

“It could be described as a non-governmental, fact-finding trip,” Rule said. “But he is acting as a private citizen and (the trip) is not” at taxpayers’ expense.

According to press reports, Rohrabacher crossed from Thailand into Burma on Tuesday and promised a crowd of more than 800 anti-government students that he would seek U.S. support for their cause.

Foreigners Restricted

Burmese authorities have restricted foreigners from entering the country after a series of violent, student-led demonstrations erupted in August. The State Department has issued advisories for Americans traveling in the region. Frances Jones, spokeswoman for the bureau of consular affairs at the State Department, said Friday that Rohrabacher did not consult with U.S. authorities about the trip.

“He didn’t work through us in any way,” Jones said. “Any statements attributed to him represent his views only. While we support the aspirations of the Burmese people for a more open and democratic government, it cannot be achieved by violence.”

Jones said that while Rohrabacher may have broken Burmese law by entering the country, there was no “indication he broke any U.S. laws. We would only be interested if he were arrested or detained,” she added.

Rule said Rohrabacher re-entered Thailand without mishap and has continued his travels. The itinerary of the trip is being kept secret out of concern for Rohrabacher’s safety.

“There are dangerous places in the world where he could easily become a target,” Rule said. “Because of the nature of his travels, he doesn’t want people to know he is coming.”

‘Technically Illegal’

Rule said Rohrabacher knew in advance that his entry into Burma was “technically illegal” but contended that “in that area of the world, it is the only way you get into that part of the country; it’s the way everybody gets in.”

Local Republican leaders, meanwhile, said they were aware in advance of Rohrabacher’s trip, adding that they were not concerned about the Burma excursion.

“I kidded him before he left about signing up for a frequent-flyer program if he were going to continue to make these kinds of trips,” said Orange County Republican Chairman Thomas A. Fuentes. “Dana has had a long history of concern and empathy for freedom fighters in many areas of the world. . . . I think he’s a refreshingly energetic and enthusiastic second generation of the Reagan Administration.”

Rohrabacher, a former Reagan White House speech writer, won a seat in Congress from the conservative 42nd Congressional District, which covers portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. He is expected to return to California for a “belated Thanksgiving celebration” with his family on Nov. 27, Rule said.