Bangkok Post (11/5/99) (r)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

<center><bold>Military closes northern border as Burmese clash with
Karen</bold> 

</center>

All checkpoints along the northern border with Burma have been closed
because of fighting between ethnic rebels and Burmese government forces,
a Third Army spokesman said yesterday.


Gen Chamlong Photong said the border areas in Tak and Chiang Mai
provinces had been sealed since May 31 to prevent hostilities from
spilling into Thailand.


Security officials said rebels from the Shan State Army and Karenni
National Progressive Party had launched a joint attack on Burmese troops
in and around Homong, a town that was once the stronghold of Shan drug
warlord Khun Sa._ AP