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Karen-SLORC talks



DATE=4/5/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-156250
TITLE=BURMA / REBEL TALKS / L
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK

INTRO:  REPORTS IN THAILAND SAY LONG-ANTICIPATED PEACE TALKS 
BETWEEN ETHNIC KAREN REBELS IN BURMA AND THE RANGOON MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT WERE TO HAVE BEGUN, TUESDAY.  V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON 
REPORTS THE KARENS DECIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO HOLD PEACE TALKS 
WITH RANGOON LEADERS:

TEXT:  THE REPORTS -- Quoting unidentified thai military 
officials and other sources along the border -- say the talks 
were to be held in a small town (Myabadai) in Karen state.

As of tuesday afternoon, there had been no mention of the talks 
by military-controlled burmese radio or television.  Karen rebel 
sources in Bangkok were unavailable for comment.

however, news reports from the town of Mae Sot -- along the 
Thai-Burma border -- quote sources as saying the powerful first 
secretary of Burma's ruling military government, Lieutenant 
General Khin Nyunt, would head a delegation in talks with the 
Karen.

Since 1988 -- WHEN BURMA'S MILITARY VIOLENTLY CRUSHED A 
PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING -- A NUMBER OF ETHNIC REBEL GROUPS HAVE 
WORKED OUT CEASEFIRE AGREEMENTS WITH RANGOON.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE KACHIN INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATION -- WHICH,
WITH THE KARENS, FORMED THE BACKBONE OF A DEMOCRATIC RESISTANCE 
ALLIANCE -- FINALIZED A PEACE PACT WITH THE JUNTA.

AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE KAREN NATIONAL UNION (K-N-U) -- UNDER
INCREASING PRESSURE FROM THAILAND -- BEGAN QUIET CONTACTS.

IN JANUARY, KAREN LEADER GENERAL BO MYA SAID HIS GROUP WOULD 
BEGIN FORMAL UNILATERAL TALKS.  HOWEVER, HE VOWED NOT TO ABANDON 
ALLIES IN THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE OF BURMA.

AFTER 1988, THE KAREN HEADQUARTERS AT MANERPLAW -- NEAR THE THAI 
BORDER -- BECAME A REFUGE FOR DISSIDENT STUDENTS AND POLITICIANS 
WHO FLED TO THE JUNGLE.

REPRESENTATIVES OF PRO-DEMOCRACY STUDENT GROUPS VOWED TO CONTINUE
THEIR FIGHT.  RECENT REPORTS SAID AS MANY AS TWO THOUSAND 
STUDENTS, WHO TOOK UP ARMS REMAIN, IN KAREN AREAS.

            // REST OPTIONAL //

IN JANUARY, KAREN SOLDIERS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE CONFISCATED 
WEAPONS FROM STUDENT FIGHTERS AND BRIEFLY DETAINED ONE STUDENT 
LEADER DESCRIBED AS BEING OPPOSED TO UNILATERAL TALKS WITH 
RANGOON.  (SIGNED)

NEB / WOD / WOD

05-Apr-94 6:49 AM EDT (1049 UTC)
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