Update on fighting in KNPP region

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

Burma Update March 11, 1996
	Slorc troops bombard on Naw Kaw Ki hill
	Slorc launched an air attack on the Naw Kaw Ki hill where the
alliance forces of KNPP and ABSDF were stationed, on March 10 1996.
Fighter planes from the Slorc Air force bombarded three separate times on
the hill, which is an another strategic hill of the alliance forces. Naw
Kaw Ki hill is situated 30 kilometers northeast of Thailands Mae Hong Son
province.
	Three fighter planes bombarded three rockets and seven bombs
during its 25- minute attack on the area at 11:10 am on March 10 and
returned back.  At 2:30pm, in its second attack, six rockets and eight
bombs were again shelled within 15-minute attack.  Another five fighter
planes attacked again with seven rockets and eight bombs during 40- minute
attack. All these fighter planes were from Meikhtila No.(51) group under
the command of Meikhtila Air Base (503), it is learnt. No casualties from
the alliance forces was reported.
	Previously, similar air attack was launched on the Naw Kaw Ki at
5:30 pm on March 9, 1996. Four fighter planes from the Slorc Air force
bombarded on the hill for 15 minutes, but no casualties from the alliance
forces was reported.
	After the retreat of the alliance forces from Nonglong hill on
March 6, Slorc has captured the strategic hill. During the Nonglong battle
in last recent days, over 70 soldiers from Slorc were killed including one
Lt.Col and about 150 were wounded.  One major from the Slorc was among the
death. On the alliance forces, one KNPP soldier was killed and five
wounded.  No casualties from ABSDF fighting forces. The wounded soldiers
were carried back to Loikaw military hospital by army helicopters for
three days.
	The firece fighting is still going on between two Slorc military
columns, composed of 300 soldiers from LIB 102, 421, 423 and 424, and KNPP
forces in the region which is just 3 kilometers north of Nonglong hill. 
Yesteday, at 3:30pm on March 10, ABSDF student camps of Ahle Sakhan and
Yan Aung hill were destroyed and burnt by the Slor troops.  Defected MTA
soldiers killed by rival groups
	Some defected MTA soldiers were reportedly killed by UWSA (United
Wa State Army), a rival armed groups of former MTA troops in the second
week of January on their way back to their homes in Mai Sut, southeastern
Shan State. About 80 defected MTA soldiers from Lwe Lin were carried to
Mai Sut by three army trucks escorted by the Slorc soldiers. Each truck
was escorted by 4-5 Slorc soldiers. The convey was ambushed near Ka Hway
Kon village, Mai Sut township by USWA troop. Many MTA soldiers were killed
including four Slorc soldiers. The remaining fled from the scene and
escaped. Later the USWA troops burnt down the three military trucks. 
	Another killing was occurred during the first week of February by
Ta Lu Ni, a group of Lahu militia in Main Hai district, in Tacheleik
township, Shan State. 17 MTA soldiers went to Mai Ko village to surrender
to the Slorc troops. They were welcomed at Nan Hoke Chaung Phya, Main Hai
district by the soldiers from Slorc Light Infantry Regiment (359) and
transferred to the Lahu militia.  Later, all 17 were killed by the Lahu
militia as a retaliation of their past deeds, according to the source from
Shan State.  ABSDF News Agency ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)