AFP : (VBSW) gunmen say back Aung S

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Subject: AFP : (VBSW) gunmen say back Aung San Suu Kyi   

Myanmar dissident gunmen say back Aung San Suu Kyi
   
   BANGKOK, Dec 10 (AFP) - An armed group that stormed Myanmar's embassy in 
Bangkok said Friday they supported opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
denying reports they were against her.
   "We support Daw (eds: honorific) Aung San Suu Kyi's non-violent way to 
democracy, and her leading role in the Burmese democracy movement," the 
statement received here said.
   "We regard anyone fighting for democracy as our ally, and we will always 
support people fighting for democracy, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," it 
said.
   Five pro-democracy dissidents held 38 people hostage at the Myanmar
embassy for more than 24 hours on October 1 before exchanging them for a
helicopter 
and fleeing to the Thai-Myanmar border.
   Earlier reports quoted the leader of the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors 
(VBSW), who goes by the name Johnny, as saying the armed group was frustrated 
with the Myanmar opposition leader and and Nobel peace prize winner and would 
fight her if she ever came to power.
   Myanmar's military rulers meanwhile Friday denied the gunmen were on its 
soil and called for Thai authorities to arrest them.
   In recent weeks local newspapers have published photographs and interviews 
with the VBSW, stating that they are hiding out in the jungles of eastern 
Myanmar with a splinter group of Karen rebels.
   "Since they are not inside Myanmar territory they are out of our 
jurisdiction," said a junta statement received here by AFP.
   "We hope and expect that the competent Thai authorities will take
necessary legal action against those who had committed international
terrorism," it
said. Thailand has promised to try the gunmen if they are found in the
country.
   de/agr/



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