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ABSDF NEWS AGENCY (r)



Press Release
April 20, 1996
SLORC CAPTAIN DEFECTS TO ABSDF  
 
	Captain Kyaw Soe, Grade-3, General Staff Officer from Regional
Command Military Headquarters (Loikaw) has defected to ABSDF through KNPP
troops. Captain Kyaw Soe is a law graduate and has 21 years of military
service.  He decided to defect due to the power abuse and corruption among
the military high officials in the Slorc army. 
	He joined army with the aim to be a people's soldier, as directed
by General Aung San. He became frustrated for the current policy by the
Slorc, he said. Slorc's on-going "National Convention" is injudicious both
from the legal point or political point of view, Captain Kyaw Soe spoke at
length about Slorc's "National Convention."  He observed that the
Convention was a sham convention because all the participants were
hand-picked. He expressed his full support for the tripartite dialogue
proposed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which would comprise democratic forces,
ethnic forces and Slorc. Comprehensive political dialogue is the only
means of proceeding with democratization and true national reconciliation
in Burma, he said. 
	Similarly, police private Myint Oo, 24, (Police BC. La. 136319)
from Shar Daw police station, Karenni State defected to KNPP on April 11,
1996. Many Slorc military soldiers have defected to the KNPP and ABSDF
alliance force but it is the first time that a police private joined the
alliance forces, it is learnt. 
	According to him, every household in Karenni State is now required
to pay 300 kyats per month for porter fees.  Previously, before the
cease-fire, local people were ordered to pay fees only to the Slorc. 
However, at this time, people are required to pay not only to the Slorc
but also to all cease-fire groups in the region. There are two cease-fire
groups: Karenni Nationalities People's Liberation Front and Kayan New Land
Party, mobilising in the region. 
	In addition to the Slorc, businessmen are taxed 2,500 kyats for
each teak truck going from Karenni State to Rangoon at every KNPLF check
point. 


FORCED RECRUITMENT IN SHAN STATE  
 
	One person from each township and village in Mai Kai township,
Shan State was forcibly recruited by Slorc Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)
514, under the command of the Eastern military command.  The order, signed
by Battalion Commander Major Kyaw Zeya and dated December 5, 1995, demands
that each township and village LORC send one new recruit to LIB 514 which
is based in Mai Kai.  Those who fail to supply new recruits will be fined
20,000 kyats, according to the order. 


ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)