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>From the Thai papers, February 24, 1997


THE NATION

Allies look on as Karen take beating 

Slorc's offensive against the largest resistance group has highlighted the
weakness of the smaller ethnic armies as well, Aung Zaw writes. 

The National Democratic Front (NDF), a collection of ethnic groups opposed
to Rangoon's rule, ended its fourth congress on Feb 15 with the release of a
statement that ''strongly condemned" the use of arms by the government
against the Karen National Union (KNU). 

But apart from angry words, it became apparent at the close of the congress
that the NDF could do little to stop the Rangoon-directed onslaught against
the KNU, its most powerful member. 

The NDF was set up in 1976 at the KNU headquarters by the Shan State
Progressive Party, the Palaung Liberation Organisation, the Lahu National
United Front, the Karen National Union, the Palaung State Liberation
Organisation, the Karenni National Progressive Party and the Arakan
Liberation Party. Later the New Mon State Party, Kachin Independence
Organisation, Chin National Front and Wa National Organisation joined the
group. 

However, the Kachins and Mons returned to the ''legal fold" a few years ago
while the remaining groups, with the exception of the KNU are all small and
have little political influence. 

The main purpose of the recent NDF congress was to re-invigorate the group
after it fell into inactivity following the formation of the Democratic
Alliance of Burma in 1988. 

At last week's congress the group released a 10-point statement. The main
point being a call for the establishment of a genuine federal union. The
statement denounced the Slorc-sponsored national convention, and rejected
Slorc cease-fire agreements as a tactic to divide and rule the ethnic groups. 

The congress also welcomed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's speech on
the 50th anniversary of Union Day on Feb 12 in which she called for all
nationalities to join hands and establish a genuine federal union. 

Additionally, the congress' statement strongly stated that a tripartite
dialogue is the most appropriate means to solve Burma's political problems. 

Internal problems 

But the congress isn't also without its own troubles. The Karenni National
Progressive Party (KNPP), which hosted last week's meeting, submitted
resignation papers at the congress. The reason: The KNPP's fight to be
recognised as an independent state. 

''Karenni state is not a part of Burma," said Able Tweed, a KNPP foreign
ministry official said. 

Still, he stated, ''We are ready to join the NDF if there is a genuine
federal union. And we will continue to support the NDF from outside anyway." 

At their jungle hideout in Karenni territory the NDF delegates discussed
Burma's future federal union and urged their KNPP comrades not to leave the
band. 

Overshadowing these matters, however, was Slorc's major offensive against
the KNU. 

Khun Okker, president of the Pa-O People's Liberation Organisation, which
was founded in 1991, said the attack did not come as a surprise. 

''We all knew that Slorc would attack the KNU." 

Khun Okker reasoned the military government wasn't happy with a seminar held
in a Karen-controlled area in January which was attended by the Kachin, Mon,
and Wa, groups which have all reached cease-fire agreements with Slorc. At
the seminar many ethnic groups expressed their frustration about the current
political situation, complaining that the peace promises made by the junta
had not been kept. 

''We built up solidarity at the seminar," said Khun Okker, The Pa-O leader
said the KNU's outright rejection of Slorc's ''peace demands" was another
contributing factor behind the attack. 

''The Burmese army is very powerful so they could take over land in the KNU
area but our struggle isn't over," he said. 

Slorc has shown that it could not solve the existing political problems
through peaceful means, he said. 

''The Slorc's victories will only be temporary because the regime has failed
to politically win over the KNU," he said, adding that the show of military
might against the Karens was also intended to frighten the other ethnic groups. 

NDF strategy 

So what will be the NDF's strategy to counter Rangoon now that one of its
most powerful allies, the Karen, have been beaten? 

Khine Soe Naing Aung, an Arakanese leader and secretary of the NDF said,
''We will resist if Slorc applies military pressure." 

He declined to elaborate further saying only that the NDF had a secret plan. 

For the current offensive, he had few words: ''Slorc is politically defeated." 

In fact, apart from the KNU, the NDF has little military power to flex and
does not pose a major threat to the ruling junta. 

''The NDF has shown its weakness as it has no well-organised plan on how to
withstand the offensive and support the KNU," said on observer of the congress. 

Some of the delegates also said they should be more pragmatic. 

''We have to be realistic. We have little military power and it is
impossible to attack the junta," said one delegate who declined to be
identified. 

Moreover, since the NDF ethnic leaders cannot travel to many areas inside
Burma except for a few areas along the border, few people among the general
population in Burma know of their resistance. 

As the Rangoon generals step up their military campaign to wipe out the
decades-old Karen insurgency the future for the NDF is looking increasingly
uncertain. 

Nevertheless, as long as the junta refuses to address the underlying ethnic
issues and the demands for a federal union the ongoing civil war that is
being waged by the poorly organised border-based groups is likely to go on. 

''The strife will continue," said one delegate. ''But for how long? The
people have suffered enough." 

AUNG ZAW is a freelance journalist. He contributed this story to The Nation. 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
BANGKOK POST

Intelligence work to be upgraded

To protect Thais from Burmese raid

Military intelligence work is to be upgraded along the Thai-Burma border in
order to protect Thais from the Burmese offensive against Karen rebels.

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro is to meet commanders of the
First, Second, Third and Fourth Army Regions and the Special Warfare Command
Unit to thrash out what improvements can be made, says an army source.

Areas of Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Ranong, Tak and Mae Hong Son may be
targeted as offensives against minority groups along their borders are expected.

The commanders and the Supreme Command Headquarters are also thought to have
agreed to closer coordination of their intelligence work.

Matters arising from the planned meeting are expected to be raised with the
army chief's Burmese counterpart Gen Maung Aye at a meeting between the two
men on Tuesday at Tachilek on the Burmese side of the border.

The source said these high-level talks would concentrate on the problem of
the partially built Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge linking Tak's Mae Sot
district and Myawaddy in Burma. No work has been done on it since 1995.

Border problems, particularly the encroachment into Thailand by the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which attacked Karen refugee camps in
Thailand, will also be on the agenda.

Gen Chettha will ask Burma's ruling junta, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, to keep the DKBA out of Thailand.

He will also suggest that the area of Doi Lang in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai
district be made a military-free zone.

Both countries claim the area as their own and have a military presence there.

Gen Chettha is said to believe keeping the troops there is a waste of money.

Saroj Chavanaviraj, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs, will also
attend the meeting and will discuss a possible official visit to Burma by
Premier Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE NATION

Border issues under review 

THE commanders of the Thai and Burmese armies will meet today to discuss the
border situation and other bilateral issues. 

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said he would meet his Burmese
counterpart, Gen Maung Aye, at the headquarters of the Burmese Eastern
Region, immediately across the border from Tachilek in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai
district. 

He said he will raise the issue of the influx of displaced Karen, who have
crossed into Thailand following a series of attacks by a Rangoon-backed
faction, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Other issues include the
Thai-Burmese friendship bridge across the Moei River and problems with
border demarcation. 

Chettha said that he had set up a joint intelligence operation headed by Lt
Gen Thanom Vatcharapuk, commander of the 3rd Army Region, to ensure that
news of developments along the volatile Thai-Burmese border is accurately
gathered and quickly assessed. 
___________________________________________________

BANGKOK POST

Burma refuses to return truck belonging to police

Committee talks prove unsuccessful

Tak

Burma has refused to return a pick- up truck belonging to the Thai Police
Department which a group of Burmese soldiers seized during a raid on
Thursday at Mae Odoh in Tambon Klothor, Umphang district.

Talks over the return of the vehicle in Myawaddy yesterday during the local
Thai-Burmese Border Committee meeting between Col Suvit Maenmuan and his
Burmese counterpart Lt-Col Saing Phone proved to be unsuccessful.

Deputy Commander of the Third Army Region Maj-Gen Sommai Vichavorn said that
Thai authorities were informed that the return could not be made at a local
level because their Burmese counterparts had already reported the incident
to their superiors.

Therefore, any decision on the matter would need a higher level negotiation.

According to Maj-Gen Sommai, over 100 Burmese troops exchanged fire on
Thursday with the combined forces of 12 Thai soldiers and Border Patrol Police.

Although some of the Burmese were injured, the BPP could not protect its
belongings, allowing a pick-up, rifle ammunition, communication radios and
dry food to be snatched.

The two sides led by Deputy Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment Task
Force Col Chainarong Thanarun and Capt Tin Tun of Burmese Division 88's Wing
301 met for the first time on Friday to discuss the problems.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, the Burmese military attache sent a letter to
Thailand's Third Army Region expressing regret at Thursday's incident in
Umphang saying it was caused by a "misunderstanding."

A Burmese television news programme monitored in Mae Sot yesterday also
reported that over 400 members of the Karen National Union have surrendered
to the Burmese government at Kya-In Seikkyi Military Command, opposite
Umphang district about 80 kilometres from the border.



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