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VOA-SKIRMISHES BETWEEN SPDCTROOPS A



Subject: VOA-SKIRMISHES BETWEEN SPDCTROOPS AND ETHNIC KAREN

DATE=1/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243832
TITLE=BURMA / BORDER (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THAI MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SKIRMISHES
BETWEEN BURMESE TROOPS AND ETHNIC KAREN IN RECENT DAYS.  THE FIGHTING IS
SAID TO BE TAKING PLACE IN THE REGION WHERE A ONE-BILLION-DOLLAR GAS
PIPELINE IS BEING BUILT BETWEEN BURMA AND THAILAND.  RON CORBEN IN BANGKOK
HAS MORE.

TEXT:  MILITARY SOURCES SAY THE BURMESE ARMY HAS BROUGHT AT LEAST FIVE
BATTALIONS INTO THE WESTERN REGION AHEAD OF THE ANNUAL DRY-SEASON OFFENSIVE
AGAINST ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS THAT OPPOSE THE GOVERNMENT IN RANGOON.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SEVERAL CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WITH ETHNIC
MINORITY GROUPS, BUT MANY ARE CONSIDERED FRAGILE.

THAI MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY SEVERAL SKIRMISHES BETWEEN ETHNIC KAREN AND
BURMESE TROOPS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT DAYS NEAR A BILLION-DOLLAR GAS
PIPELINE BEING BUILT BY FRANCE.  THE GAS IS TO BE DRAWN FROM THE YADANA
FIELD IN ANDAMAN SEA, WHICH IS OVERSEEN BY THE UNOCAL COMPANY OF THE UNITED
STATES.

THAI MILITARY FORCES ALONG THE BORDER HAVE BEEN ON ALERT IN
ANTICIPATION OF CROSS-BORDER INCURSIONS ARISING FROM THE
DRY-SEASON OFFENSIVE.

DURING THE FIGHTING LAST YEAR, ETHNIC KAREN TROOPS LOYAL TO
RANGOON SACKED AT LEAST ONE MAJOR REFUGEE CAMP INSIDE THAILAND  AND LAUNCHED
ATTACKS AGAINST OTHER CAMPS ALONG THE BORDER.

UP TO 90-THOUSAND BURMESE REFUGEES ARE LIVING IN CAMPS.  IN
RECENT MONTHS, THAILAND'S MILITARY HAS BOOSTED CAMP  PROTECTION BY POSTING
ELITE TROOPS TO PREVENT CROSS-BORDER INCURSIONS.

THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS THE BURMESE ARMY IS BEING HIT BY A RISING  NUMBER OF
DESERTIONS AND BY DISSENT WITHIN THE RANKS DUE TO  INADEQUATE RATIONS AND
ABUSE BY OFFICERS.

REFUGEE SOURCES ALONG THE BURMESE-THAI BORDER CONFIRM REPORTS OF  BURMESE
ARMY DESERTIONS.  THE NUMBERS ARE SAID TO BE IN THE TENS  TO HUNDREDS,
THOUGH BURMA'S ARMY HAS EXPANDED IN RECENT YEARS TO  AS MANY AS 400-THOUSAND
TROOPS.

MANY SOLDIERS ARE SIMPLY PRESS-GANGED INTO THE ARMY AND LOOK TO  ANY
OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE. BUT REFUGEE AID WORKERS SAY THE SCALE  OF THE
DESERTIONS HAS SURPRISED MANY. (SIGNED)

NEB/RC/RRM

06-Jan-99 8:16 AM EST (1316 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
 .