Dawn Gwin Update 18-12-94 (ABSDF)

[tormod.lien@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

                                                18 December 1994
 
Dear Friends,
 
To repeat the information from yesterday; Dawn Gwin has NOT fallen to 
the Tatmadaw. An outpost had been attacked, with buildings burnt down in 
the ABDSF 216 and a nearby NLD camp. However, the Slorc troops were 
pushed back from that place.
 
Dawn Gwin, despite the news reports, is not nor has not been in the hands 
of Slorc!
 
ALL recent news information from Thailand has been included here both 
exaggerated and accurate; along with any statements made thus far by the 
KNU, ABSDF and NCGUB. We hope that the statements will clear up the 
facts, as it is coming directly from the sources at the border area. For any 
further questions, please directly contact the numbers listed and not this 
address. And please freely distribute this information to friends, groups, 
governments and media.
 
Again, please help.
 
Thank you.
 
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INDEX of INFORMATION:
 
NCGUB: PRESS RELEASE December 12, 1994
ABSDF: STATEMENT December 13, 1994
KNU: STATEMENT December 13, 1994
KNU: STATEMENT December 14, 1994
KNU: STATEMENT ON PRESENT SITUATION
ABSDF: STATEMENT December 15, 1994
BKK POST: KNU ACCUSES RANGOON JUNTA OF AGITATION
NATION: SLORC BREAKS CEASEFIRE VOW WITH ATTACK ON 
KAREN REBELS
NBC: HR CRISIS FAX LINE IN GENEVA
ABSDF: STATEMENT December 16, 1994
ABSDF: REQUEST FOR HELP
NBC: REQUEST FOR ACTION
BKK POST: BURMESE TROOPS ROUT DISSIDENT STUDENTS
NATION: STUNNED STUDENTS SEEK REFUGE AFTER BURMESE 
ARMY OFFENSIVE
ABSDF: STATEMENT 17 December 1994
KNU: CURRENT SITUATION
BKK POST: BURMESE TROOPS HOLD STUDENTS HQ
NATION: FIGHTING DIES DOWN IN WAKE OF SHOCK BURMESE 
ARMY OFFENSIVE  
NATION: MONK CONFIDENT SUU KYI TO GO FREE
ABSDF: EMERGENCY DECLARATION
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NCGUB: PRESS RELEASE
December 12, 1994
 
(URGENT RELEASE)
 
SLORC TROOPS ATTACK MANARPLAW, DAWNGWIN AS 
BUDDHIST KARENS CLASH
 
Manaplaw, December 10 -- The Burmese military today launched a 
surprise attack on the headquarters of the Karen National Union (KNU) at 
Manaplaw and on Dawngwin where the All Burma Students' Democratic 
Front is headquartered. The attack is timed to coincide with reports of a 
growing tension between the Christian and Buddhist members of the Karen 
National Union.
 
The ruling military junta knowing that the conflict provided an 
unprecedented opportunity for it to make some progress in its military 
campaign against the KNU appears to have suddenly abandoned its widely 
propagandized efforts for cease-fire with the Karens.
 
The internal strife within the Karen National Union reportedly started last 
year when some KNU Christian officials stopped a Buddhist monk from 
building a pagoda on top of a hill near Manaplaw. The Karen officials 
stopped the project for security reasons as the construction site was too 
close to a restricted war zone.
 
The Buddhist monk who headed the pagoda project was from a monastery 
near the junction of the Salween and Moei rivers and is revered by the 
Buddhist Karen community in the Manaplaw area. The banning of the 
project angered the Buddhists. The Buddhist monk was also reported to 
have been preaching the Karen Buddhist community to become vegetarians 
and told them to stop supporting anyone bearing arms.
 
The Burmese Army exploited the situation. It conscripted members of the 
Christian Karen community as porters to carry war supplies while the 
Buddhist Karens were spared from this. This further aggravated the 
tension between the local Christians and Buddhists.
 
To defuse the situation, General Bo Mya, chairman of the Karen National 
Union, requested the Buddhist monk to come to Manaplaw for discussions 
but the Buddhist monk refused.
 
On December 4, a faction of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), 
about 300 forces, made up of Buddhist officers and soldiers took control of 
an area between Taw-lae-hta and the junction of the Moei and Salween 
rivers, north of Manaplaw, and demanded that the Karen officials who 
stopped the pagoda project be transferred. It was known that the faction 
was lead by a Karen non-commissioned Officer called Kyaw Than.
 
General Bo Mya in an effort to mediate the conflict sent his team of 
negotiators to the area. The negotiating team has succeeded in securing a 
truce between the two sides which were earlier reported to have exchanged 
fire a number of times.
 
Because of the clashes, some Karen troops defending Mae-Nyaw-Khei 
opposite Hti-Pa-Wai-Kyo (a hill-top on Sleeping Dog range occupied by 
the Burmese Army during the Manaplaw offensive in 1992) were 
mobilized and moved to different strategic areas.
 
The Burmese Army took advantage of the situation and occupied Mae-
Nyaw-Khei on December 11. Artillery shells are being launched on 
Manaplaw from Mae-Nyaw-Khei which is just four miles west of 
Manaplaw.
 
The Salween river between Mae-Nyaw-Khei and Manaplaw is a natural 
barrier preventing an all-out attack on Manaplaw from the west. But the 
foothold on high grounds has enabled the Burmese military to bombard 
Manaplaw without an actual assault.
 
Analysts say the Burmese Army will launch a ground assault on Manaplaw 
from the north and this strategy will involve the occupying of the 
headquarters of the ABSDF at Dawngwin.
 
The movement of the KNLA forces away from the frontier positions to the 
junction of the Moei and Salween rivers gave the Burmese Army a chance 
to easily penetrate the Dawngwin area.
 
A military column under the Command of Tactical Commander Col. 
Thuya Aung Ko of the South-Eastern Military Command from Papun is 
reported to be now at "Lae-Toe", 10 kilometers away from ABSDF 
headquarters in Dawngwin and is now threatening the 700 Burmese 
student dissidents residing there. SLORC's military column is about 400 
frontier forces backed by 1000 reserved forces from Infantry Battalion 19, 
Light Infantry Regiment (LID) (340) and LID (434). It was reported that 
Burmese military is instigating Buddhist in Papun area to reinforce 
mutinied faction of KNLA by providing food rations.
 
December 12, 1994
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ABSDF: STATEMENT
December 13, 1994
 
URGENT RELEASE
        
SLORC TROOPS ATTACK MANERPLAW, DAWN GWIN
 
In the morning on 11 December 1994, SLORC troops which stationed at 
Htee Par Wee Kyoe or a hill-top on Sleeping Dog range advanced to the 
eastern side of the mountain and occupied Mae Nyaw Khei.  Then, at 
10:30 a.m SLORC troops started pounding with artillery shells to 
Manerplaw. The aim of these troops is to occupy Mae Pa and then to 
overrun the Headquarters of the Karen National Union and other 
democratic forces.  Concurrently, Papun-based Infantry Battalion 19, Light 
Infantry Battalion 340 and Light Infantry Battalion 434 under the 
command of 1st Tactical Operations Command led by Col Thura Aung Ko 
of SLORC's South Eastern Command proceeded to Dawn Gwin, 
Headquarters of the ABSDF with the aim to occupy the students' 
headquarters where about 700 students are sheltering.  This SLORC 
military column composed of 1500 troops has started its offensive since the 
first week of December 1994.  
 
In the morning on 12 December 1994 about 400 advanced troops 
proceeded Lea Toe, located 10 kilometres west of Dawn Gwin, and 
attacked the first defensive line of KNU/ABSDF.  Casualties has not 
known yet.  SLORC reinforced 6 more battalions under the command of 
33rd Light Infantry Division and South Eastern Command, and their 
commanders arrived at Lae Toe and set up a Tactical Operations 
Command headquarters.
 
Foreign Affairs Department
ABSDF
13 December 1994
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KNU: STATEMENT
December 13, 1994
 
CONCERNING MUTINY OF SOME KNLA ELEMENTS BASED AT 
SALWEEN-MOEI JUNCTION
                                                December 13, 1994
 
        Some KNLA elements and civilians gathering around a Buddhist 
monastery at the junction of Salween and Moei rivers have agitated for the 
redress of their grievances allegedly resulting from the persecution of 
Buddhists by the Christians. They demanded 100,000 Bahts from the KNU 
Headquarters for holding a conference of Buddhist monks. The KNU gave 
the money demanded in due time.
 
        Some senior leaders of the KNU, Maj. Gen. Maung Maung, col. 
Htoo Htoo Lay, Pado Mahn Sha, Lt. Col. Jonny and Pado San Hlaing were 
sent to hold talks with the group for clearing up its misunderstanding. 
However, the mutinous group immediately put the 5 KNU Leaders under 
arrest and held them as hostages. Then, the Rev. U Wizana, the Abbot of 
Noe Phyu, together with 8 other Buddhist monks, went to see the group as 
mediators. Again the group put the Abbot and all the monks under arrest 
and issued an ultimatum, demanding the KNU President, the Abbot of Mae 
Sam Let monastery and the Interior and Religious Affairs Minister to come 
and see it by 9 a.m. of Dec. 11, 1994. The group further said in the 
ultimatum that any failure would make it to carry out its own arrangement.
 
        At 9.30 a.m. on Dec. 11, 94, soldiers from the group crossed the 
Salween to the side of Manerplaw with the intention of seizing the KNU 
Headquarters. Up to the last minute, the security forces of Manerplaw 
made the effort for a peaceful settlement. Finally, the security forces had to 
use force to repulse the mutineers, when they started to seize weapons from 
the security forces.
 
        On December 12, 94, Maj. Gen. Maung Maung said three of the 
monks were released with a demand for 100,000.00 Bahts more. Again the 
KNU gave the money as demanded just to pave the way for a peaceful 
settlement. From them, it was also learnt that the hostages were treated like 
criminals and at one point they were threatened to be shot. On the evening 
of Dec. 9, 94, three lower ranked officers from the districts were execute, 
by the mutineers, but one managed to escape with wounds to safety.
 
        Though the group cited religious persecution as the basis of their 
grievances, its treatment of the Rev. Abbot of Noe Phyu and the monks 
with him, has made it clear that the mutineers were using religion only as 
a pretext for hostilities against the Karen revolution.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KNU: STATEMENT 
December 14, 1994
 
CONCERNING THE RESUMPTION OF SLORC'S OFFENSIVE IN THE 
KAREN STATE      
 
(1)  In the last week of April, 1992, General Maung Hla made a world 
wide announcement saying that it ceased an operation in Karen State for 
the sake of reconciliation.
 
(2)  But it is observed that the SLORC troops often attack KNU positions 
which are far from the Thai-Burma border area.
 
(3)  But now the SLORC'S troops even started attacking KNLA position 
which are situated along the Thai-Burma border.  On (13-12-94) the 
SLORC troops from the No. 1. Tactical Command started attacking hill 
No. 2669 (Ler Toe), a KNLA position (22)miles north of Manerplaw.  On 
(14-12-94) at 141100 hours SLORC troops arrived Dawngwin -- ABSDF 
position.
 
(4)  Naw Ta, a KNLA position, situated thirteen miles south of Manerplaw 
was also attacked  by SLORC troops with 120MM, 81MM and 60MM 
mortars using not less than thirty shells.  On (14-12-94) the SLORC troops 
started attacking Naw Ta again from 140915 hours with various heavy 
weapons.
 
(5)  On (12-12-94) the SLORC troops also started attacking Kaw Moe Ra 
from 1245 hours to 1807 hours with 120MM, 81 MM and 60MM mortars.  
On (13-12-94) SLORC troops brought up one 106MM howitzer, field gun 
two 120MM  mortars together with the shells for attacking Kaw Moo Ra.
 
(6)  On one hand Karen National Union and the Karen National Liberation 
Army KNLA solemnly pledge that it will endeavour for the establishment 
of a federal union politically and on the other hand it will resist and 
counter attack the SLORC offensive unitedly with the ABSDF troops and 
all other allied forces.
 
Central Standing Committee 
Karen National Union
 
Date:  December 14, 1994
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KNU: STATEMENT ON PRESENT SITUATION
December 14, 1994
 
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
KAREN NATIONAL UNION
KAWTHOOLEI
 
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION
 
Press Release                                   December 14, 1994
 
CONCERNING PRESENT SITUATION AND SLORC'S REAL 
INTENTION
 
        Not long after the SLORC announced in 1992 the suspension of 
major offensives against the Karen Resistance areas in the interest of 
national reconciliation and unity it started quietly a propaganda campaign 
to sow dissension among the people in Karen state with the manipulation 
of religious differences. Through the work of its under-cover agents, it 
succeeded in organizing some unscrupulous opportunists for agitation in 
one area of the KNU. Matters came to a head when the agitators succeeded 
in creating misunderstanding among a small group of some lower ranking 
elements of the KNLA to call a strike on December 2, 1994. On December 
13, 1994, the KNU leaders, with the help of some DAB leaders and 
Buddhist monks resolved the misunderstanding and the problem of strike 
successfully.
 
        The SLORC, on hearing the news of the incident moved up heavy 
weapons and reinforcements to the front and has been shelling, with 
increased tempo, the KNLA positions in Kawmoora (Wangkha) and Nawta 
since December 10, 1994 in a manner not unlike in a preparation for a 
major offensive. On the morning of December 14, the SLORC troops 
launched an assault on Nawta after heavy shelling, but the KNLA 
defenders repulsed the assault causing much casualty among the attackers. 
This move by the SLORC has made the KNU leadership see the SLORC's 
affirmation for national reconciliation and unity in a different light and to 
start questioning the real intention of the SLORC.
        
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ABSDF: STATEMENT
December 15, 1994
 
URGENT RELEASE
        
SLORC BREAKS PROMISE FOR PEACE AND LAUNCH MAJOR 
OFFENSIVES IN KAREN STATE 
 
SLORC which halted offensives in Karen State since April 1992 resumed 
its dry season major offensives in Karen State in the second week of 
December 1994 to overrun the Headquarters of the Karen National Union 
(KNU) and other democratic forces.  SLORC troops under the command of 
33rd and 44th Light Infantry Division (LID) and South Eastern Command 
have attacked major bases of the KNU and headquarters of the ABSDF 
since 12 December 1994.  Intense fighting is continuing in all areas.
 
In the morning on 11 December 1994, SLORC troops which stationed at 
Htee Par Wee Kyoe or a hill-top on Sleeping Dog range advanced to the 
eastern side of the mountain and occupied Mae Nyaw Khei.  Later on it 
occupied Mae Pa.  
 
On the same day, Papun-based Infantry Battalion 19, Light Infantry 
Battalion 340 and Light Infantry Battalion 434 under the command of 1st 
Tactical Operations Command led by Col Thura Aung Ko of SLORC's 
South Eastern Command proceeded Dawn Gwin, Headquarters of the 
ABSDF, with the aim to occupy the students' headquarters where about 
700 students are sheltering.  This SLORC military column, composed of 
1500 troops, has started its offensive since the first week of December 
1994.  
 
In the morning on 12 December 1994 about 400 advanced troops 
proceeded Lae Toe, located 10 kilometres west of Dawn Gwin, and 
attacked the first defensive line of KNU/ABSDF.  Dawn Gwin has been 
under attack since 13 December after SLORC reinforced 6 more battalions 
under the command of 33 LID and South Eastern Command and intense 
fighting is still going on. 
 
>From 12-14 December 1994 SLORC troops under the Command of 44 LID 
launched another attack to Naw Ta stronghold, located south of 
Manerplaw, and stormed with artillery shells.  Another KNU stronghold, 
Wan Kha (Kawmoora) has also been bombarded with artillery shells since 
12 December.
 
Central Committee
ABSDF
15 December 1994
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BKK POST: KNU ACCUSES RANGOON JUNTA OF AGITATION
Friday December 16, 1994
 
THE Karen National Union claims undercover agents from Burma's State 
Law and Order Restoration Council have organised unscrupulous 
opportunists to carry out "agitation" in an area controlled by Karen 
guerrillas.
 
A KNU press release said that not long after SLORC announced in 1992 
the suspension of major offensives against Karen resistance areas, in the 
interests of national reconciliation and unity it began a propaganda 
campaign to sow dissension among people in Karen State through 
manipulation of religious differences.
 
On December 2, matters came to a head when the agitators succeeded in 
creating misunderstanding among a small group of lower-ranking elements 
of the Karen National Liberation Army to call a strike.
 
However, on December 13, the KNU leaders, with the help of some 
Democratic Alliance of Burma leaders and Buddhist monks resolved the 
problem.
 
The SLORC, on hearing the news of the incident, moved up heavy 
weapons and reinforcements to the front and has been shelling KNLA 
positions since December 10.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NATION: SLORC BREAKS CEASEFIRE VOW WITH ATTACK ON 
KAREN REBELS
Friday, December 16, 1994
by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
 
THE Burmese junta has broken its ceasefire pledge and launched the first 
major offensive against ethnic Karen guerrillas in nearly three years, 
capitalizing on internal religious dissension and a mutiny by a group of 
Buddhist Karen fighters.
 
The Karen National Union (KNU), in a statement released yesterday, 
accused the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) of 
sending agitators to stir up dissension between Buddhists and Christians, 
and questioned SLORC's intentions and earlier calls for national 
reconciliation.
 
The Buddhist-Christian conflict climaxed on Sunday when several hundred 
Buddhist guerrillas in and around a Buddhist temple on the confluence of 
the Moei and Salween rivers clashed with mainforce KNU fighters.
 
The mutineers temporarily held hostage a group of mediators sent to settle 
the dispute, but released them after fighting which resulted in several 
casualties.
 
The KNU blamed SLORC for the mutiny, saying it had tried to "sow 
dissension" among the Karen people through the manipulation of 
"religious differences".
 
"Through the work of its undercover agents, it (SLORC) succeeded in 
organizing some unscrupulous opportunists to agitate in one area of the 
KNU," said the statement.
 
According to the statement, the Burmese army began heavy shelling of 
Karen bases at Kawmoora and Nawta on Saturday, one day before the 
mutiny.
 
It said the SLORC troops who attacked Nawta, which is opposite 
Thailand's Tak province, were repulsed with heavy casualties.
 
"This move by SLORC has made the KNU leadership see the SLORC's 
affirmation of national reconciliation and unity in a different light and to 
start questioning the real intention of SLORC," added the statement.
 
Thai border authorities have confirmed that since early December SLORC 
had been moving heavy weapons and reinforcements into its stronghold 
around Htee Par Wee Cho, or Sleeping Dog Hill the frontline where the 
Burmese and Karen troops have confronted one another for the past few 
years.
 
The offensive resumed after a lull of nearly three years after the time when 
the KNU and the SLORC are quietly working out a formula for their first 
meeting to negotiate peace. While SLORC has insisted that ceasefire talks 
take place in Moulmein, the capital of the Mon State, the Karen demand 
that they occur in Rangoon in the presence of the United Nations. 
 
Thai authorities expressed "extreme surprise" at the Burmese offensive but 
confirmed fighting was continuing yesterday. They said shelling was 
detected yesterday along the Karen-controlled border with Thailand.
 
The Burmese troops were about 10 kms from the KNU Kawmoora camp on 
the Moei River opposite Tak's Mae Sot district, and about 10 kms from the 
dissident students' headquarters of Dawn Gwin in upper Salween River 
opposite Mae Hong Son province.
 
The All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), which established 
its bases in the KNU areas said the Burmese army's dry season offensive 
was aimed at over-running the Karen headquarters at Manerplaw and other 
bases of anti-SLORC democratic forces.
 
It said intense fighting was continuing and that the 33rd and 44th light 
infantry divisions of the Burmese army's southeastern command had 
attacked and occupied Mae Nyaw Khei and Mae Pa outposts on Sunday.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NBC: HR CRISIS FAX LINE IN GENEVA
December 16, 1994
(address:) hkk@xxxxxxxxxxx
 
We wish to draw your attention to the newly establish 24-hour "human 
rights crisis fax" at the UN Human Rights Center in Geneva, to which 
individuals and organizations can report human rights violations. 
 
The number is  (+41) 22 917 0092.
 
Please fax your concerns regarding the current SLORC offensive and the 
human rights violations which invariably is an integral part of SLORCs 
activities.
 
Norwegian Burma Council
16.12.94
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ABSDF: STATEMENT
December 16, 1994
 
STATEMENT ON SLORC'S MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST 
ABSDF AND KNU
 
Troops from the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) have
started the military offensive against the students and ethnic
Karen forces on December 12, 1994 along the Thai-Burmese border.
 
According to the information received from our headquarters in
Dawngwin, Burma, about 1,400 troops from the SLORC's army have
captured Lae-Toe which is 10 km west of Dawngwin, the headquarters
of the ABSDF and three-hours walking distance from Dawngwin.
Severe fighting broke out on 13 December between the SLORC's troops
at Lae-Toe and the ABSDF and the Karen National Liberation
Front(armed forces of the Karen National Union) combined forces.
Another column of the SLORC's troops are now marching toward the
strategic hill Kalimu Kyo, east of Dawngwin.
 
The troops from Papun in Karen State under the command of
South-East Military Command Headquarters have been mobilized since
the first week of December to exploit the situation after the
religious conflict erupted within the Karen National Union(KNU).
As the conflict intensified between the Buddhist and Christian
Karen, the SLORC's troops quickly captured the strategic hill
Mae-Nyaw-Khei on December 11, South-East of Manerplaw, the
headquarters of the KNU. Since December 12, fighting between the
SLORC's forces and the KNU and the ABSDF combined forces has
intensified.
 
Evacuation of women and children from Dawngwin and Manerplaw
headquarters are being under way.  Except a report of injuries
among some members of the ABSDF, the detail information of the
causalities during the battle are not yet known.
 
We highly suspect that the SLORC's intelligence network has
increased the misunderstanding between the Buddhist and Christian
Karen members of the KNU. That is the most ruthless, brutal and
inhuman game that the Burmese military dictatorship has played
since they have seized power in 1962.  The SLORC's military
offensive against the ethnic and democratic forces contradicts with
the SLORC's claim for their interest on national reconciliation and
cease-fire talk with ethnic armed groups.  Besides, it also
indicates that the SLORC is not sincere in their talk with Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and also with the United Nations in order to restore
democracy, transfer of power to a civilian government and national
reconciliation in Burma.
 
We would like to call on Governments, Non-Governmental
Organizations and Burmese democratic and support groups around the
world to take effective actions including armed embargo against
SLORC to immediately stop their  military offensive against the
ABSDF and the KNU.
 
All Burma Students' Democratic Front( ABSDF)
Europe Office, P. O Box 6720, ST.Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway
 
Date. December 16, 1994
 
For More Information, please contact;
 
Aye Chan Naing (Representative-Europe)
tel & fax:47 - 22 - 41 41 43
e-mail:absdf@xxxxxxxxxx
 
ABSDF Europe Office, Oslo, Norway
Min Aung Myint (Foreign Relations Dept.)
tel&fax:66 - 1 - 920 8286
 
Head Office, ABSDF, Bangkok, Thailand
Dr Thaung Htun (Foreign Secretary)
tel:1- 202-393 7342
fax:1- 202-393 7343
Central Executive Committee Member, ABSDF, New York, USA
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ABSDF: REQUEST FOR HELP
 
International Campaign to Stop SLORC's Military Offensive
Against the ABSDF and the KNU
 
Oslo, December 16, 1994
 
Dear friends,
 
We would like to call on you and your organization to join the
International Campaign to Stop SLORC's military offensive Against
the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the Karen
National Union (KNU) forces along the Thai-Burmese border areas.
 
The information we received today from our office in Bangkok, the
ABSDF's headquarters Dawngwin is under heavy fire as of yesterday
evening and the situation is not in our favour.  To protect the
Dawngwin is not important any more than to safe the lives of the
students.  Although women and children have been evacuated, there
are still over 1,000 members of the ABSDF in the camp or around the
camp.  And the food and medicine are urgently needed.  The KNU and
the ABSDF's combined forces are also fighting against SLORC's
troops around Manerplaw, the headquarters of the KNU and Democratic
Alliance of Burma (DAB).
 
The ABSDF Europe Office in Norway would like to request you to join
the International Campaign to Stop SLORC's Military Offensive. We
would like to request you to coordinate your actions and activities
with all the others groups, campaigning against the SLORC's military
offensive.
 
Please send us your name or name of your organization including
your address, phone & fax number and e-mail address if you would
like to join.  We like to use your name as a supporter of the
campaign.  Even if you don't want to join, we would like to urge
you to take every possible actions or activities to stop the
SLORC's military offensive for example: call on your Government
officials, members of  parliaments and Foreign Ministry officials
and urge them to publicly condemn the SLORC's military offensive,
tell the SLORC to stop their offensive immediately and call for
international armed embargo against the SLORC.
 
Please act now!  Let us unitedly open the new frontier against the
SLORC military regime in the international arena.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Aye Chan Naing (Representative-Europe)
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
Europe Office
 
P.O Box 6720, ST. Olavs Plass
0130 Oslo, Norway
tel & fax: 47 - 22 - 41 41 43
tel : 47 - 22 - 20 00 21
E-Mail: absdf@xxxxxxxxxx
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NBC: REQUEST FOR ACTION
December 16, 1994
(address:) hkk@xxxxxxxxxxx
 
 The Norwegian Burma Council supports ABSDF's appeal to mobilize
governments and public opinion against the SLORC offensive the
Karen and ABSDF areas. In addition to approaching politicians and
the  media, we suggest that direct faxes be sent to Burma to the
fax numbers  listed in Burma Alert No 10, vol 5 (Oct. 94) page 6.
In view of the  Socialist International's stand on Burma as
expressed in its last meeting  in Tokyo, we suggest that
Socialist leaders and parliamentarians be  approached on a
priority basis.
 
ONWARD ! Norwegian Burma Council 16.12.94
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BKK POST: BURMESE TROOPS ROUT DISSIDENT STUDENTS
Saturday, December 17, 1994
Bangkok, Reuters
 
BURMESE government troops have captured and razed the headquarters 
of dissident students in southeastern Burma, sending hundreds of rebels 
into hiding in the jungle, student sources said yesterday.
 
"Initial reports confirmed that Burma troops have captured our 
headquarters at Dagwin, and some of the student militia are reported 
wounded, said Shan Lay foreign affairs secretary for the All Burma 
Students Democratic Front (ABSDF).
 
The fate of nearly half the 1,500 student soldiers based in the strategic 
buffer camp at Dagwin was still unknown, Shan Lay said, but indications 
are that many of them are hiding in dense jungle or in the homes of nearby 
villagers.
 
The other half escaped down the Salween river to Karen rebel bases further 
south to flee what is shaping up to be a steady advance of Burmese forces 
toward Manerplaw, the headquarters of the Karen National Union (KNU) 
50 kilometres away.
 
A Thai army source quoted intelligence reports as saying about 10,000 
government troops were involved in the bombarding of Dagwin from early 
on Thursday.
 
The ABSDF was formed by Burmese students who fled Rangoon to the 
jungles along the Thai border after the junta cracked down on a pro-
democracy movement in 1988, killing hundreds and probably thousands of 
protesters.
 
The students and the KNU linked up with exiled dissident politicians in a 
continuing struggle against the military rule of Rangoon. All are based at 
Manerplaw between the Moei and Salween rivers about 20 kilometres 
northeast of Rangoon.
 
The KNU is regarded as the strongest of the more than a dozen ethnic 
minority groups which have fought for autonomy from Rangoon since 
Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948, but it has recently been 
weakened by a major split in its ranks.
 
Several hundred Buddhist guerrillas, backed by monks and villagers, are 
occupying a hilltop monastery at the junction of the Moei and Salween 
rivers in protest against the mainly Christian leadership of the KNU.
 
Thai army sources have said the mutineers killed at least three out of 15 
envoys whom the KNU sent to negotiate with them, and detained the rest 
except one.
 
The KNU leadership believes government agitators are behind the split.
 
"This has all been planned," KNU official Em Marta told Reuters 
Thursday.
 
Negotiations over their grievances, which include allegations of 
mistreatment and discrimination, were continuing.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NATION: STUNNED STUDENTS SEEK REFUGE AFTER BURMESE 
ARMY OFFENSIVE
Saturday, December 17, 1994
by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
 
THE Burmese army yesterday captured the headquarters of dissident 
students on the Salween River and continued its mortar attack on the 
Karen headquarters further down stream.
 
The lightning Burmese offensive by troops of the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council (SLORC) and the fall of Dawn Gwin took the students 
and the ethnic Karen National Union (KNU) guerrillas by surprise, causing 
hundreds of students to seek refuge across the river in Thailand.
 
The capture of Dawn Gwin has severed one of the two supply lines to the 
Karen headquarters of Manerplaw on the Moei River, which is also 
accessible by the Salween River.
 
Thai officials expressed alarm at the Burmese offensive, the first in nearly 
three years since the Burmese junta announced a unilateral ceasefire 
against armed ethnic groups in April 1992. Troops have been deployed 
along the border to prevent a military spillover and territorial violations.
 
Authorities are also worried that the offensive will drive a new wave of 
refugees into the Kingdom.
 
Informed border sources said mortar shelling of several Karen border 
camps continued yesterday after the fall of Dawn Gwin, with the prime 
target the KNU headquarters at Manerplaw, 50 kilometres south of Dawn 
Gwin on the Moei River.
 
Shells were also reported falling on Kawmoora, the Karen special 101st 
military base on the Moei River opposite Thailand's Mae Sot district, and 
Naw Hta, another Karen base which is about 50 kms south of Manerplaw.
 
Sources said that about 700 lightly-armed students of the All Burma 
Students' Democratic Front were stunned and unprepared by the ground 
attack by two Burmese battalions which started early this week. The 
Burmese forces in the area were supported by three or four local battalions.
 
The students scattered in the jungle after the fall of their camp but many 
managed to cross the river into Thailand. They were disarmed on arrival 
and will be allowed to remain here on a temporary basis. They must return 
to Burma when the situation permits, Thai officials said.
 
The Burmese army sent in heavy weapons and deployed more troops early 
this month around Htee Par Wee Cho, or Sleeping Dog Mountain, where it 
confronted Karen forces and seized several frontline outposts after the 
KNU withdrew its fighters to settle an internal religious conflict with a 
group of Karen mutineers. 
 
"The frontline around Dawn Gwin was weakened after the Karen 
withdrawal and the Burmese army must have capitalized on the situation to 
launch an offensive against the students who possess only small and light 
arms," said one Thai authority who has been monitoring the border 
situation.
 
"We [Thailand] don't know why the SLORC decided to launch an 
operation now, but the most important thing is to monitor if it [SLORC] 
will continue its offensive to attack Manerplaw or will halt the fighting 
after the fall of Dawn Gwin," he said.
 
While some Thai authorities believed that operations were staged to force 
the Karen group to begin peace talks with Rangoon, others believed that 
the offensive dispelled any hope of the two sides meeting to end the long 
war which has lasted for four decades.
 
Border security officers said they could not predict if the Karen 
headquarters would fall, but one official said capturing Manerplaw would 
cost the Burmese army "very dearly".
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ABSDF: STATEMENT
17 December 1994
 
PRESS STATEMENT - For Immediate Release
 
PRESENT SITUATION OF RECENT FIGHTING IN DAWN GWIN 
AREA
 
Since the first week of December 1994, there had been reports that SLORC 
troops were preparing to launch an offensive against the Headquarters of 
ABSDF in Dawn Gwin in the KNU-controlled area. Concurrently, this was 
the time of a conflict within the Karen National Union (KNU) because of 
religious differences.   
 
A total of 14 SLORC military companies (Coys) -- three Coys from the 1st 
Column of Infantry Battalion (IB) 19, three Coys from the 1st Column of 
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 434, two Coys from the 2nd Column of LIB 
434, three Coys from the 1st Column of LIB 340, and three Coys from the 
1st Column of LIB 431, comprised of over 1,000 troops in all -- launched 
the planned offensive against Dawn Gwin. 
 
On 11 December SLORC troops occupied Lae Toe outpost located 6,000 
yards west of Dawn Gwin. Two days later, on 13 December fighting took 
place between SLORC troops and ABSDF's Student Army near Lae Toe 
outpost.
 
In the evening on 14 December the Student Army attacked SLORC troops, 
who attempted to burn down buildings of ABSDF's 216th Regiment (Regt) 
and nearby NLD camps, located north of Dawn Gwin.
 
SLORC troops arrived at the Dawn Gwin area, and retreated after being 
engaged by the Student Army. Buildings of the 216th Regt were razed to 
the ground. Subsequently, the Student Army has been taking positions on 
hilltops in the Dawn Gwin area and are ready to repulse any further 
SLORC aggression.
 
At present, there are no more SLORC troops in the Dawn Gwin area as 
they have retreated to the west 12 km from ABSDF Headquarters. In these 
recent clashes with SLORC troops, there were no casualties reported from 
the Student Army. The number of SLORC casualties has not yet been 
confirmed.
 
Central Committee
Dawn Gwin
17 December 1994
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KNU: CURRENT SITUATION
December 17, 1994
 
(address:) fink@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
A KNU Representative asked me to post the following (paraphrased) on 
the net:
 
        Calm has been restored in KNU territory.  Internal conflicts were
generated by SLORC agents who led some Buddhist Karen to believe that 
the Karen leadership (predominantly Christian) was only interested in the
creation of a Christian Karen state and Buddhists would have no place in
this state. SLORC troops implemented a policy of not taking Karen
Buddhists as porters and slaves in return for their refusing to join the
KNLA.
         Those Karen who rose up against the KNU now understand that they 
were misled by SLORC agents, and all captives have been released.  The 
KNU is committed to freedom of religion for all.
        During the period of internal conflict, travel on the Moei River
was restricted.  Now, however, boats are operating as normal.  SLORC
sought to stir up internal distention so that SLORC troops could more
easily attack the Karen. Clearly SLORC is not committed to peaceful
negotiations.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BKK POST: BURMESE TROOPS HOLD STUDENTS HQ
Sunday, December 18, 1994
Reuters Mae Sot
 
BURMESE government forces were in a stand-off with rebels from ethnic 
minority Karen yesterday, with troops reported giving up one rebel outpost 
but holding fast tot he dissident student headquarters captured earlier this 
week.
 
Troops have withdrawn from Nawhta, a guerrilla satellite camp used to 
monitor movements in the Moei Valley in southeastern Burma, after 
launching a big attack on Wednesday, guerrilla sources said.
 
Nawhta frequently changes hands between the government and the Karen 
National Union (KNU), the strongest of more than a dozen ethnic minority 
groups that have fought for autonomy from Rangoon since Burma gained 
independence from Britain in 1948. 
 
The camp is 20 km south of Manerplaw, the KNU headquarters and the 
focus of dissident activity against the junta in Rangoon. 
 
Manerplaw sits between the Moei and Salween rivers about 280 km 
northeast [sic; southeast] of Rangoon. 
 
The alliance based there groups the KNU with other ethnic minority 
armies and pro-democracy fighters.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NATION: FIGHTING DIES DOWN IN WAKE OF SHOCK BURMESE 
ARMY OFFENSIVE  
Sunday, December 18, 1994
by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
 
SHELLING and fighting have nearly ended in the wake of the Burmese 
army's offensive against a dissident student camp north of the headquarters 
of the ethnic Karen movement opposite Thailand's Mae Hong Son province 
yesterday.  
 
Thai border authorities said the Burmese troops fired a few mortars 
yesterday morning on Kawmoora, the Karen special 101st military base 
opposite Thailand's Tak province, and also on scattered students who had 
abandoned their Dawn Gwin headquarters opposite Mae Hong Son early 
on Friday when they were attacked on the ground by two Burmese 
battalions.  
 
After capturing Dawn Gwin, located on the Salween River, Burmese troops 
burned it down then retreated to a station on a hill a few kilometres to the 
west, said the authorities.  
 
The Burmese troops did not advance towards or continue shelling the 
Karen headquarters of Manerplaw, about 50 kms south of Dawn Gwin, but 
the army's presence around the student camp automatically cut off the 
Karen supply line and communications coming from the northern Thai 
village of Mae Sam Lap.  
 
"The fighting has died down, but we must closely monitor the situation for 
a few more days to see if the Burmese army will call it quits or wait to 
launch more offensive attacks on the Karen," said a Thai authority.  
 
The Burmese army launched a lightning offensive against the Karen and 
students' border camps early this week, breaking its own self-proclaimed 
unilateral ceasefire of: April 1992 against armed ethnic groups.  
 
Some Thai officials had earlier predicted that the ruling Burmese junta or 
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) staged the offensive 
to pressure Karen guerrillas to enter peace dialogues.  
 
The Karen National Union (KNU), one of the three remaining armed 
ethnic groups, still refuses to hold peace talks with the Slorc unless talks 
are held in Rangoon with a UN witness. The Slorc wants the negotiations 
to take place in the Mon State's capital of Moulmein without a third party.  
 
Officials said yesterday that the Burmese army has now taken several 
outposts closer to Manerplaw with its successful attacks and has managed 
to enclose the Karen headquarters on the north, south and west. leaving the 
camp open to the Moei River and Thailand on the east.  
 
A statement released yesterday by the dissident All Burma Students' 
Democratic. Front said a total of 14 Burmese companies, over 1,000 
troops, were employed in the operation against their Dawn Gwin camp.  
 
They said the Burmese troops had retreated 12 kms to the west of the camp 
after burning it down.  
 
The statement said there were no reports of casualties on the student side 
and that losses in the Burmese army have not yet been confirmed.  
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NATION: MONK CONFIDENT SUU KYI TO GO FREE
Sunday, December 18, 1994 
by Ralph Bachoe
 
REWATA, the monk responsible for bringing Aung San Suu Kyi and Slorc 
together, says he is confident the detained Nobel Peace Prize winner will 
soon be released.  
 
But he is reluctant to say when.
 
The monk, on his way back from Japan, stopped over in Chiang Mai last 
night for a short rest, during which he also met Karen National Union 
leaders Gen Bo Mya and Nai Shwe Kyin separately.  
 
The Karen leader asked the revered monk to convey his best wishes to Suu 
Kyi, and is praying for her speedy release.  
 
No details of the meetings with the Karen and Mon leaders were available.  
 
Sawadaw U Rewata leaves for Rangoon today.  
 
He said the main reason for his visit to Rangoon, his third trip since July, 
was to solicit funds from the faithful to build a peace pagoda in England.  
 
"But in the meantime, I hope I will see her during my trip."  
 
He said he had not received any details of recent meetings between Suu Kyi 
and Slorc  
but he had heard she was very pleased.
 
Slorc discussed with her the economic and political situations in Burma.  
He said the atmosphere now between Suu Kyi and Slorc was good. This he 
said had "brought hope to about everybody that she would be released 
soon".  
 
"Now they have achieved some mutual understanding and a kind of 
friendship."  
 
He did not elaborate on what he meant by mutual understanding, saying 
only that he not want to "jeopardise his future peace initiative".  
 
What goes on between Suu Kyi and Slorc "depends on them".  
 
He said his main concern was getting Suu Kyi and Slorc together, and 
finally gaining  
her freedom.  
 
He is confident that after her release the two protagonists will be able to 
solve the political problems.  
 
On a compromise with Slorc, the monk says:  
 
"I think she wants to work for the country and that she would have to 
decide for herself on how to work things out with the Slorc."  
 
The State Department, in a letter to the New York Times, said it would 
seek Suu Kyi's opinion, and no one else's, on whether there was sufficient 
political reforms in Burma.  
 
U Rewata responded, laughing:  
 
"It is a very difficult question. I can't say anything about this."  
 
As for whether he was going to ask Slorc to release Suu Kyi, should he 
meet Slorc officials on this trip, he said he had already asked Slorc in May 
last year.  
 
"But they explained some problems. I don't want to disclose these 
problems. I also realised why she has to be detained for so long.  
 
"They (Suu Kyi and Slorc) understand one another. They have held 
dialogue twice. I hope that she will be released soon.  
 
Explaining his role as a peacemaker, the monk said:  
 
"I think this idea came from me at first.  
 
"Last year in November I went to see the United Nations political affairs 
director-general and complained to him: I said, you ask for two things: 
Free Aung San Suu Kyi and transfer power, but Slorc cannot do these 
things."  
 
He told UN officials that cutting off aid and imposing political sanctions 
was not right. He said they should first find out the problems in Burma.  
 
"They [UN officials] should find out why they [Slorc] cannot transfer 
power."  
 
The UN official replied that he had a point and suggested the monk see the 
State Department. He saw officials from both the State Department and the 
National Security Council. 
 
"I told them the same thing and they realised that they also had never 
thought about it," U Rewata said.
 
He met only one official from the NSC but a few from the State 
Department.
 
He said he had to cancel a meeting scheduled with the NSC last month 
because of time and also because a woman who had arranged the meeting 
had fallen ill. He said he had to leave for Japan.
 
The monk also tackled the question of whether it helps the political and 
human rights situation if foreign governments agree to invest in Burma.
 
"This depends on the country involved. There are some countries which are 
only interested in doing business like 'constructive engagement'."
 
No one is interested in Burmese democracy. Their interest is Burmese 
resources. 
 
"Therefore if any country wants to help Burma in business and aid it 
should find means to discuss with Slorc which will actually bring about 
democracy to the country."
 
On the Manerplaw incident, the monk said:
 
"I was very sad when I heard about the Christian-Buddhist conflict in 
Manerplaw. My main work is in Christian-Buddhist dialogue.
 
"I am the patron for the Inter-Faith Council. Also, I am the director of the 
Multi-Faith Centre and work with other religions. It is time for us to live 
together, not to divide and not to criticise any other religions.
 
"This news is very painful for me. I am not very happy about this situation. 
For me all I want is to see Buddhists and Christians live together."
 
He said he was very relieved when told by Gen Bo Mya that the conflict 
among the Karen soldiers had been resolved.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
END