ABSDF Border Update

[NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ERRORS-TO:strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
FROM:NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
DATE:February 16, 1995
TIME 1:35PM JST
SUBJ:Border Update from ABSDF

Situation Update:
Along the Thai-Burmese border
14 February 1995

On 8 February, one ABSDF boat was ambushed by
DKBA/SLORC troops in the Salween River at Mae
Sakoo Hta (known as Mae Sakoo in Thai), about 15
miles north of Dawn Gwin.  All the 7 students in the
boat were hit.  One boat driver, Soe Naing, was hit,
thrown with violence into the river and died on the
spot.  Others jumped into the Salween River, 4 of them
could manage to escape to the eastern bank of Salween
(Thailand).  They were sent to Mae Sod for further
treatment following severe injuries.  Khin Tun Kyi,
who is one of the members of Central Committee and
also Quarter Master General of the ABSDF, wounded
on that boat, which was dragged by DKBA/SLORC
troops.  It was reported that the commanding officer of
the SLORC ordered DKBA/SLORC troops to kill him
and later on he was shot to death.  One student is still
missing and it is believed that he also died.

On 8 February at night, DKBA and SLORC troops
crossed the Salween River and took 400 sacks of rice
provided for the Karen refugees near Pu Kwe Hta area,
located nearby and in the north of Mae Sakoo Hta. 
DKBA troops asked the Karen villagers in the area to
join them while SLORC troops ordered all the
villagers to go back to Burma.  The villagers have
been forced to go back to Burma by SLORC troops at
gun point.  There is no protection from Thai authorities
for the refugees in that area.

On 9 February, round about noon, Maj Zaw Htet,
deputy commander of SLORC LIB 5 under the
command of LID 66 wrote a letter to the students
asking them to lay down their arms and return to
"legal fold".  This letter was carried by a Thai
nationality.

On 9 February at about 9 p.m., 8 DKBA soldiers
armed with automatic rifles and M79 grenade
launchers crossed into Thailand, entered Mae La
refugee camp in Me Ram Mat district of Tak province,
raided Padoh Mahn Yin Sein's house.  He is a
Buddhist Central Committee member of KNU and
Chairman of Pa-an district and others who were
arrested along with him were Jeffery Win; Pa-an
district judge, and his wife, Saw Aung Maw Aye.  

On 13 February, about 6:00 a.m., NLD house in Mae
Sariang was raided by the immigration police and 18
members of the NLD were brought to police station. 
Later on they were released after paying 10,000 Baht
to the police.

On 14 February, at about 11:00 a.m., ABSDF office in
Mae Sariang was raided by the immigration police and
all the people were brought to police station.  They
were Lt. Col Aye Myint (Retd.), Lwin Moe, Thet Lin,
Ba Than, Win Myint Thein and Zaw Naing.  They
were released on the same day.

On 14 February, in the morning, 2 students from
ABSDF, Naing Naing and Hla Mtint, were fired on by
DKBA/SLORC troops on their way back from ending
the family members and children of the students to
New Yaung Ni Oo village, located on the Thai side of
the border.  They narrowly escaped by running into the
jungle which is deep inside on the Thai soil.  2 other
students -- Tin Win and Tun Tun -- walked along the
bank of Salween River (in Thailand) from Mae
Samlab (Thaw Lae Hta) to Mae Kar Hta (located
opposite site of the former headquarters of the ABSDF
in Dawn Gwin).  On their way, they came across
SLORC troops on the Thai soil and ran for their lives. 
Both of them could manage to escape.  Tin Win went
back to Mae Samlap and Tin Win joined the family
members at New Yaung Ni Oo Village.  Since the fall
of Dawn Gwin, DKBA/SLORC troops crossed into
Thailand and searching for the students and KNU on
the Thai side of the border.

As of 5 February, 134 porters, age from 12 to 62,
escaped to Paw Pa Hta area opposite Tasong Yang
district of Tak province.  They are students, peasants,
workers and street vendors from Moulmein and
Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Kyaikhto, Bilin, Martaban,
Paung and Thaton in Mon State, Kawkareik, Pa-an
and Hllaingbwe in Karen State and Rangoon.  They
were forced to carry heavy loads of ammunition and
food for the SLORC troops.  They were not fed enough
and properly.  Sometimes, they were given a little salt
and fish-paste.  They had to rely on the streams for
drinking water.  Those who got sick were given neither
medicine nor medical treatment and earth is their bed. 
Ko Lu Maw from Kyaikhto was stabbed to death in
Manerplaw by SLORC sergeant Toe Toe from LIB
205, under the command of LID 22, as the victim
could no longer carry his load.

Central Committee