The Nation - Khin Nyunt 'disturbed'

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Subject: The Nation - Khin Nyunt 'disturbed' by incursion

The Nation - Sep 2, 1999.
Headlines

Khin Nyunt 'disturbed' by incursion

BURMA's security chief Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt was ''disturbed'' by a recent
incursion into Thailand by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and
ordered his men to hunt those responsible, a senior Foreign Ministry
official said yesterday.

Khin Nyunt described the Aug 28 incident in Tak's Mae Sot border district in
which a Thai was injured as ''undesirable'', ministry spokesman Don
Pramudwinai said.

''The message was conveyed in a letter signed by Burma's Foreign Minister
Win Aung to his Thai counterpart, Surin Pitsuwan. The Burmese Ambassador to
Bangkok, Hla Maung, handed over the letter on Tuesday,'' Don said.

The ministry regarded Khin Nyunt's quick reaction to the incident as a good
indication of restoration of peace along the Thai-Burma border.

''This is the first time that the Burmese general has given a personal and
quick reaction to an incident,'' Don said.

In the letter to Surin, Win Aung quoted Khin Nyunt as saying that the
incursion was contrary to the spirit of good neighbours and was against
Burma's aspirations and commitment to making the Thai-Burma border
harmonious and friendly.

Thai-Burma relations have been affected by repeated incursions by the DKBA,
particularly during the dry season. The DKBA, which defected from the Karen
National Union, has made several attacks on Thai border camps for displaced
Burmese.

An informed source said that it is the first time that Burma had identified
the perpetrators as DKBA soldiers, it usually referred to them as armed
groups over which it had no control.

''It is widely known that the DKBA has already surrendered to the Burmese
government,'' Don said.

A source added that Khin Nyunt might have felt embarrassed by the incident
as it happened only four days after he gave an assurance to Surin at a joint
meeting in Rangoon that he would do his utmost to prevent incursions.

The Nation