Thai Soldiers 'Murdered' by Burmese

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Thai Soldiers 'Murdered' by Burmese Troops

Burmese troops, who were acting as rearguards for the DKBA Karen 
rebels in their March 23 attack on Maw Kae refugee camp, raided a 
Thai border patrol post and took two Thai soldiers as hostages when 
they retreated.   Two other Thai soldiers who escaped said the 
Burmese troops were guarding the retreat route for the DKBA.

One of the hostages, s 36-year-old Sergeant Arbun Yoon, was a father 
of two, and was from Pitsuknaloke.  The unidentified other soldier 
was single and survived by his mother in Pitsuknaloke.

The SPDC troops, who also took two M-16s and a communications 
equipment, took the the two Thai soldiers to the hill base of the 
333d Tactical Command under the 33d Light Infantry Division.   The 
hill base is located between Kanelay and Mawki inside Burma.

According to reliable sources, SPDC troops who refused to respond to 
a written request from the Thai Border Committee brutally murdered 
the two Thai soldiers.  The DKBA, responding the letter, however, 
said the two were not in their custody.

Sgt Aryun's wife who refused to believe that he was dead said she was 
expecting her husband to return on April 14 because it is the 
designated "Family Day" in Thailand.  When the Thai soldier did not 
return, his wife sadly said she believed that the report about his 
death was true and that she would be making merit for him at a 
monastery.

The Thai Supreme Commander General Chettha is currently in Rangoon at 
the invitation of the Burmese generals enjoying the festivities being 
held to mark Thingyan water festival in Burma.


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