Japanese killed

[NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ERRORS-TO:INET:strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
FROM:NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
DATE:February 19, 1995
TIME12:18PM JST
SUBJ:Japanese killed with KNU

The Daily Yomiuri 
2/19/95
JAPANESE FIGHTING IN MYANMAR KILLED

Bangkok. A Japanese volunteer fighting for the Karen
National Union (KNU), an anti-government group in
Myanmar, was killed in an attack by the Myanmar
government troops on Feb. 8, KNU sources said
Saturday.

The man, identified as Tsutomu Imai, is believed to be
the first Japanese killed in the conflict, they said.

The sources said another Japanese and three French
nationals were fighting alongside the Karens, a
minority tribe based in eastern Myanmar.  Five French
volunteers, an American and an Australian have been
killed in the conflict between the Karens and
government forces from 1986 through 1992.

In an attack on the Karens' stronghold near the Thai
border on Feb. 8, Myanmar government forces rained
40,000 shells on the base, killing eight people,
including Imai, and injuring about 50 others.

The sources said Imai, who was in his mid-20s, was
from Aomori Prefecture and had been a member of the
Air Self-Defense Force.