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STATEMENT REGARDING SLORC'S MILITAR



Subject: STATEMENT REGARDING SLORC'S MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN KARENNI 

                        
			THE GOVERNMENT OF KARENNI


       Statement regarding SLORC's military activities in Karenni 
      -----------------------------------------------------------
                   following the cease-fire agreement
                   -----------------------------------
                                    

After a series of talk KNPP and SlORC agreed to a cease-fire and
a ceremony was held in Loikaw on March 21, to mark and solemnize
the cease-fire agreement.

KNPP had made it known that it agreed to the cease-fire because
SLORC had agreed to the 16 points it had put forward.

Among the 16 points agreed upon are-

-that the present military status quo in both SLORC designated
and KNPP designated area areas be maintained.
-that there be a stop to portering in the whole of Karenni.
-that there be no more collecting of porter fees in Karenni.

In spite of the agreement, SlORC on June 15, started collecting
porter fees in SLORC designated areas. It started rounding up
porters, horses and tractors.

On June 17, two battalions of SLORC troops crossed the Salween
river and moved into KNPP designated areas, one battalion massing
at the confluence of Mae Su Rin stream.

KNPP protested and the answer from the SLORC was that national
election in Thailand was about to take place and that it foresaw
troubles along the border once the election was over. As a
result, it said, it needed to move troops to the border for the
security of the state.

KNPP replied that whatever happen in Thailand would be purely
Thai internal affairs and that it saw no reason for troubles
along the border.

SLORC next said that the Thais were stealing logs and timber
along the border, and the troops that it had moved into KNPP
designated areas were to stop them from doing so, and not to
attack the Karennis. It also said that the Thais had arrested two
of their men and were refusing to release them.

On June 26, the battalion that had been stationed at the
confluence of Mae Su Rin stream moved deeper into KNPP designated
area, and another two battalions crossed the Salween River from
Ywa Tit and moved into KNPP designated area around Mae Su Rin
confluence. It is estimated that SLORC has moved about 2000
troops into KNPP areas.

The fact that SLORC has been collecting porter fees, rounding up
porters and moving troops into KNPP areas is a clear breach of
the cease-fire agreement reached between SLORC and KNPP. All the
reasons given for moving SLORC troops into KNPP areas are simply
fictitious and groundless.  As a matter of fact, SLORC has
pressured KNPP to vacate three border passes where it wants to
garrison its forces- BP(9), BP(11) and BP(12). KNPP has refused
to bow to SLORC's pressure and it is believed SLORC intends to
take these posts by force.

KNPP desires peace. It does not want a resumptions of
hostilities. It deems SLORC hostile activities highly deplorable,
and hopes that SLORC will abide by the agreement reached between
the two parties. On the other hand, KNPP sees it as its duty to
defend itself and its territorial integrity.

Hence, should SLORC continue braking the cease-fire agreement,
and should it refused to withdraw the troops it has moved into
KNPP areas, It will be SLORC, and not KNPP that will have to
assume the responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities.

Karenni is a small nation under siege. It has been fighting for
survival for decades, and will continue doing so in spite of  the
heavy odds against it. If SLORC should use its military might to
attack Karenni - which KNPP believe it well- KNPP expects and
requests all sympathetic and democratic forces the world over to
extend humanitarian assistance to the Karenni people.



June 28, 1995
                                                           
                                                            (signed here)
                                                            Aung Than Lay
                                                            Prime Minister