[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

NEWS- A High-Ranking Military Offic



Subject: NEWS- A High-Ranking Military Officer's Car Attacked By

Hand-Grenade In Rangoon
To: burmanews@xxxxxxxxx, "Burma Net-l @igc.apc.org" <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.2 (32)
X-Sender: strider@xxxxxxxxxxxx

All Burma Students' Democratic Front
Media Release 47/99
A High-Ranking Military Officer's Car Attacked By Hand-Grenade In
Rangoon


29 August 1999

The car of a Burmese Army official, Col. Win Swe, was attacked by a
hand-grenade thrown from a second, unidentified car while driving along
the Min Yae Kyaw Swar Bridge on Lay Daung Kan road of Tamwe Township in
Rangoon. The explosion badly damaged the vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta,
and injured two of the Colonel's relatives in the car. One victim
sustained a head injury while the other was badly wounded in his left
arm; they are both currently hospitalised at the Rangoon General
Hospital.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on August 18, 1999, and the motive
behind the grenade attack is yet to be substantiated.

"Nobody knows for the certain reason [for the attack]. Both sides may
have military background, and it is obvious that ordinary people don't
have bombs," a Rangoon resident commented. Col. Win Swe is currently
stationed at a military base in Oke Kyin, Hlaing Township of Rangoon.

According to Aung Thu Nyein, the General Secretary of the All Burma
Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), "The incident reminds me of a
previous bomb blast at Gen.Tin Oo's resident which killed his daughter.
Tin Oo is a powerful rival of Gen. Khin Nyunt. The Burmese people,
including many military men, are convinced that no ordinary man from the
street would risk such an attempt. This kind of action is likely to be
undertaken by military men who often deem themselves above legal
repercussion."

"These kinds of incidents, including the recent explosive attack in
Tamwe," Aung Thu Nyein continued, "tend to occur as a consequence of
vicious internal - including social and economic- rivalry among the
military cliques, and possibly relating to drugs as well."