BBC-Burmese military say guerrillas

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Subject: BBC-Burmese military say guerrillas killed mediators 

Sunday, August 15, 1999 Published at 12:05 GMT 13:05 UK
BBC-World: Asia-Pacific

Burmese military say guerrillas killed mediators

The Burmese military government says ethnic Karenni fighters in the north of
the country have tortured and killed two peace mediators they had invited
for talks.

A government statement said the two -- named as Daw Phraemoe and U Hla
Din -- had been involved in negotiating the surrender of more than
one-hundred members of the Karenni National Progressive Party to the
military last month.

But when they returned at the invitation of the group for more talks, they
were murdered.

The Burmese military statement gave few more details, and there has been no
word from the Karennis.

The KNPP is one of many minority groups which have been fighting the Burmese
government almost since independence in 1948.

Most have now made cease fire with the military authorities.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service