SLORC's offensive against Khun Sa

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Subject: SLORC offensive against Khun Sa

DATE=3/15/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-175334
TITLE=BURMA FIGHTING (S-O)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THERE ARE REPORTS OF FIGHTING BETWEEN BURMESE GOVERNMENT
TROOPS AND FORCES LOYAL TO GOLDEN TRIANGLE DRUG KINGPIN, KHUN SA.
V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON IN OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU REPORTS THAI
MILITARY FORCES ALONG THE BORDER ARE ON ALERT AND MONITORING THE
NEW DRY-SEASON OFFENSIVE BY BURMESE TROOPS:

TEXT:  THAI MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY SEVERAL THOUSAND BURMESE
TROOPS ARE THOUGHT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE OFFENSIVE IN BURMA'S
EASTERN SHAN STATE.

REPORTS REACHING BANGKOK SAY BURMESE ARTILLERY BEGAN BOMBARDING
KHUN SA POSITIONS 15 TO 20 KILOMETERS FROM THE BORDER, TUESDAY.
THE SHELLING CONTINUED WEDNESDAY

THAI BORDER POLICE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY SEVERAL HUNDRED
SHAN AND OTHER MINORITY PEOPLE CROSSED THE BORDER AFTER THE
FIGHTING ESCALATED.

KHUN SA HAS CONTROLLED SOUTHERN SHAN STATE FOR YEARS.  HE IS
PROTECTED BY A WELL-EQUIPPED ARMY ESTIMATED TO NUMBER ABOUT TEN
THOUSAND PEOPLE.  HE IS FINANCED BY PROFITS FROM THE GOLDEN
TRIANGLE OPIUM TRADE.

BURMESE MILITARY LEADERS HAVE VOWED TO WIPE OUT KHUN SA.  BUT
RANGOON FORCES -- USING CHINESE WEAPONRY -- HAVE SO FAR FAILED TO
DO SO.

SEVERAL HUNDRED BURMESE SOLDIERS AND KHUN SA TROOPS WERE KILLED
DURING A GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE, LAST YEAR.

THE UNITED STATES CONSIDERS KHUN SA TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MAJOR NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS.  IN 1990, HE WAS INDICTED BY A U-S
COURT ON HEROIN-TRAFFICKING CHARGES. (SIGNED)

NEB / DM / WOD

15-Mar-95 6:39 AM EST (1139 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America