bbc-Burmese opposition condemns gun

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Subject: bbc-Burmese opposition condemns gunmen 

Sunday, October 3, 1999 Published at 13:20 GMT 14:20 UK
World: Asia-Pacific

Burmese opposition condemns gunmen

The Burmese opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has condemned
"categorically" the actions of five armed students who seized control of the
Burmese embassy in Bangkok on Friday.
In a statement, the party headed by Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi said the seizure of the embassy and the taking of hostages went directly
against its non-violent principles.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party says it understands the students' frustration
However, the statement said that the NLD leadership understood the
aspirations and frustrations behind the action, which it said were "an
effect of the many acts of injustice and cruelty repeatedly perpetrated by
the military regime in Myanmar [Burma]".

"Violence breeds violence," the statement added.

The main group representing exiled Burmese students has also dissociated
itself from the gunmen and praised Thailand for the peaceful resolution of
the crisis.

'Sincere regrets'

The All Burma Student's Democratic Front also expressed "sincere regrets and
genuine apology" to the Thai authorities.

The group added that it hoped "punitive measures will not be taken against
the peaceful democratic and ethnic groups as a consequence of this recent
crisis".

Mystery continues to surround the affiliation of the five gunmen who stormed
the Burmese embassy compound trapping more than 80 Burmese officials and
foreign nationals.

The Thai authorities allowed the gunmen safe passage out of Thailand
Their demands included the release of all Burmese political prisoners,
dialogue between the military government and the opposition, and the
convening of a democratic parliament.

After a tense stand-off the Thai authorities agreed to guarantee the gunmen
safe passage out of the country and on Saturday the group was flown to the
Burmese border following the release of all their hostages.

Reports say they have sought sanctuary with the Karen National Union (KNU),
an ethnic rebel group based on the border that has been fighting a
long-running war against the Burmese Government.

"I will accept them in even though they are not our group's members because
they have the same passion that we do to oppose the Burmese junta," KNU
leader Bo Mya is quoted as saying from his stronghold near the Thai province
of Tak.

'Not terrorists'

The Thai Government has said it will take no action against the gunmen as
long as they leave Thai territory.

The Thai Interior Minister said on Saturday that he did not believe the
attackers were terrorists but merely students who were seeking democracy in
their homeland.

Correspondents say such a statement is bound to grate with Burma's military
leadership which condemned the action as "a pure act of terrorism".

It could also upset relations between two members of the Association of
South East Asian Nations (Asean) - a regional grouping which has a tradition
of not commenting on or interfering in the internal affairs of fellow
members.
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