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Burma-Fighting



DATE=3/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228823
TITLE=BURMA-FIGHTING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  ETHNIC BURMESE INSURGENTS HAVE STAGED A CROSS BORDER 
ATTACK FROM THAILAND INTO BURMA IN RETALIATION FOR RAIDS BY A 
PRO-GOVERNMENT GROUP.  THE ATTACK CAME AS THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT 
WAS CELEBRATING ARMED FORCES DAY.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY 
THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  ELEMENTS OF THE KAREN NATIONAL UNION, OR K-N-U, CROSSED 
INTO BURMA LATE THURSDAY TO ATTACK THEIR RIVALS, THE DEMOCRATIC 
KAREN BUDDHIST ARMY.

REPORTS SAY AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE 
K-N-U'S PREDAWN RAID ON THE D-K-B-A CAMP, JUST ACROSS THE 
THAI-BURMESE BORDER.

THE K-N-U SAID THE ATTACK WAS IN REVENGE FOR A SERIES OF RAIDS BY
THE  D-K-B-A ON KAREN REFUGEE CAMPS INSIDE THAILAND.

THE D-K-B-A BROKE AWAY FROM THE K-N-U IN 1994 AND ALLIED ITSELF 
WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN RANGOON.  IT HAS DEMANDED THAT KAREN 
REFUGEES RETURN TO AREAS OF BURMA UNDER ITS CONTROL, AND STARTED 
ATTACKING AND BURNING REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS IN THAI TERRITORY.

THAILAND HAS PROTESTED TO BURMA OVER THE MATTER AND THREATENED TO
TAKE  RETALIATORY MEASURES IF THE RAIDS DO  NOT  STOP.  BURMA 
DENIES ANY ROLE IN THE ATTACKS, SAYING IT HAS  NO  CONTROL OVER 
THE D-K-B-A.  IN A STATEMENT FAXED TO NEWS AGENCIES LATE 
THURSDAY, THE GOVERNMENT DESCRIBED THE RAIDS AS "INTERFACTIONAL 
CONFLICTS" IN THE KAREN MOVEMENT, ADDING THAT BURMA DOES  NOT  
ENCOURAGE ANY FACTION TO VIOLATE A NEIGHBOR'S TERRITORIAL 
SOVEREIGNTY.

THE LATEST RAIDS TOOK PLACE ONLY HOURS BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT HELD
ITS TRADITIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATIONS.  

IN HIS SPEECH COMMEMORATING THE OCCASION, GENERAL THAN SHWE 
ADOPTED A SOFTER TONE THAN USUAL.  HE SAID CONDITIONS MAY  NOT  
BE RIGHT TODAY, BUT THAT UNITY OF THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL GROUPS 
MUST BE ATTAINED.  HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE BELIEFS AND COMMITMENTS 
OF ABOVE GROUND PARTIES OR ORGANIZATIONS MAY  NOT  BE IDENTICAL, 
THERE IS  NO  REASON FOR ANYONE TO HARBOR ANY GRUDGE. 

THAN SHWE WAS QUICK TO SAY THAT BURMA IS STRONG ONLY WHEN THE 
MILITARY IS STRONG. 

AS THAN SHWE SPOKE, AN ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATION WAS HELD AT THE 
HOME OF PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  THE CEREMONY WAS 
ATTENDED BY SOME 500 PEOPLE, INCLUDING PARTY SUPPORTERS AND 
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS. 

AUNG SAN SUU KYI DID  NOT  SPEAK, BUT A STATEMENT WAS READ IN THE
NAME OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY.  THE GROUP SAID THAT 
ALL OF BURMA'S PROBLEMS CAN BE SETTLED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, JUST
AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S FATHER, GENERAL AUNG SAN, HAD ACHIEVED 
INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN THROUGH TALKS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC /MMK

27-Mar-98 8:07 AM EST (1307 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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