BKK Post, March 4, 1998. Curfew im

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

March 4, 1998.  Curfew imposed in  10 border villages in security move

              Following a raid by Karen rebels

              Supamart Kasem

              Acurfew has been imposed in more than ten villages in border
              areas of Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces to prevent security
              threats from the Rangoon-backed Democratic Karen Buddhist
              Army (DKBA).

              The move came after the DKBA forces attacked a security force
              unit in Salween National Park in Mae Sariang district of Mae
              Hong Son, killing a park official and injuring two villagers. The
              intruders also took three Thais hostage on Saturday.

              A military source said the 4th and 7th infantry regiment task
              forces in Tak's Mae Sot district and Mae Hong Son's Mae
              Sariang district had already imposed a curfew on ten border
              villagers and prohibited motorists from using Tha Song Yang and
              Mae Sariang Highway from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

              A number of military forces, rangers, local and border patrol
              police and military volunteers had been dispatched to ensure
              safety along the highway and prevent illegal entry via many
              border passes, the source added.

              According to another military source in Mae Sot, Fourth Infantry
              Regiment Task Force commander Col Chatchapat
              Yamngarmriab ordered the establishment of a special task force
              to guard border areas of Tha Song Yang district.

              The task force, which consists of some 200 infantry soldiers,
              local and border patrol police and villagers, is headed by Col
              Chaluay Yamphochai.

              The DKBA troops who were believed to be involved in illegal
              logging in border areas attacked a security force unit in the
              Salween National Park only a few days after they threatened to
              attack refugee camps and border officials in Tak and Mae Hong
              Son, the source said.

              In another development, the newly-established special task force
              arrested six Karens and seized M16, AK47 and M79 assault
              rifles, carbines and shotguns from them in Tha Song Yang district
              on Monday.

              The suspects have been charged with robbing the kamnan of
              Tambon Mae Wa Luang Phamohae Rungroengkhae of cash, a
              pistol and valuables totalling 35,000 baht on Monday.

              Tak police chief Pol Maj-Gen Sompong Chalermwan said the
              Karens had given police information about the case that an
              unidentified number of men set fire to a police checkpoint on Tha
              Song Yang-Mae Sariang Highway on February 16.

              Police are gathering evidence for the case and will soon issue
              warrants for the arrest of at least three suspects.