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NEWS - Military offensive to flush (r)



Subject: Re: NEWS - Military offensive to flush out gunmen begins

how many soldiers in a burmese Batallion? 
and what numbers are we talking about here, now many soldiers invovled?

ds
> 
> BBC - November 17, 1999
> 
> Military offensive to flush out gunmen begins
> 
> Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 15 Nov 99
> 
> Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 15th November
> 
> Dear listeners. The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council]
> forces have begun an offensive in the Kamawplaw region which is
> under the control of the KNU [Karen National Union] 4th Brigade in
> southern Burma's Karen State where the five students who seized
> the Bangkok Burmese embassy are supposedly hiding. DVB
> correspondent Htet Aung Kyaw filed this report.
> 
> [Htet Aung Kyaw] After the five students who seized the Bangkok
> Burmese embassy refused to surrender to the Thai authorities, the
> SPDC forces yesterday launched a fierce offensive in the area
> where the students are supposedly hiding. The Kamawplaw
> offensive was conducted by Tactical Operations Command Nos 331
> and 332 under the 33rd LID [Light Infantry Division] and includes nine
> columns from LIB [Light Infantry Battalion] Nos 116, 119, and 102.
> 
> When DVB contacted the KNU 4th Brigade, a KNU major, on
> condition  of anonymity, confirmed the offensive. He said three
> battles took place  yesterday and the SPDC suffered at least one
> dead and five wounded. He  went on to say that the battles took
> place in the region between Aungthawara, the headquarters of the
> 33rd LIB, and Kamawplaw area and the battles could  get fierce.
> 
> According to DVB sources, the SPDC forces under 33rd LID and 9th
> Battalion are clearing the KNU 4th Brigade region and many villagers
> were massacred in the Myitmoeletkha area. Villagers who fled the
> fighting were captured by the SPDC forces before they reach the
> Burma-Thai border. More than 100 villagers who managed to escape
> to the Maepyarkhee border area were refused entry into Htan Hin
> refugee camp by the Thai authorities.
> 
> The Thai side is exerting great pressure for the surrender of the
> five students and the day before yesterday they have arrested
> and jailed over 200 villagers from Tagonlun village, who are
> sympathizers of God's Army. Furthermore, some observers pointed o
> ut that since the Thai authorities have blocked the border area where
> the students are hiding, it seems they are supporting the SPDC
> offensive.
> 
> According to sources close to the students, the talks [between the
> students  and Thai authorities] broke down because the Thai
> authorities rejected the proposal by the students, who wanted the
> trial to take place in a third country.
> 
> So far, there has been no response from the Thai authorities regarding
> the SPDC offensive. According to border sources, since the Border
> Patrol Police 9th Battalion has not yet been stationed along the
> border, it is believed that the SPDC forces might cross the border and
> enter Thailand.