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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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.