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

Burma: Karen rebels abandon major



Subject: Burma: Karen rebels abandon major

/* Written 12:58 am  Nov 19, 1992 by burma@xxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.seasia */
/* ---------- "Burma: Karen rebels abandon major" ---------- */
Executive News Svc.($)
 
RTw  11/17 0232  KAREN REBELS ABANDON MAJOR CAMP
 
    CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Nov 17, Reuter - Karen rebels on Tuesday abandoned an
important camp by the Moei River on the Burmese-Thai border after a week-long
bombardment by Burmese government troops, guerrilla sources said.
    "We had to withdraw to a location about one kilometer north of Tawoohta,"
said a source reached by telephone.
    Tawoohta was the base of the Karen 7th Brigade and lies inside Burma about
100 km (60 miles) south of their headquarters at Manerplaw.
    Government mortar barrages killed at least 12 guerrillas and forced 600
others, as well as many civilians, to flee.
    Four Karen camps have now been overrun by government troops since August
in fighting that has killed about 400 combatants on both sides, according to
official Rangoon media reports.
    Rangoon has sent about 10,000 fresh troops to the eastern border for the
annual dry season offensive against the ethnic minority army.
    It declared a unilateral ceasefire in April at the end of the last
campaign.
    Burmese eastern region commander Major General Maung Aye, visiting Chiang
Mai for talks with his Thai counterparts on border security, said on Monday that
the army was going on the offensive again because of repeated Karen attacks.
    The Karen, a largely Christian minority, have been fighting for autonomy
since Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948.
 REUTER SUT DF JB