BURMA BOMB EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: BURMA BOMB EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION WIDENS

DATE=4/9/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-212630
TITLE=BURMA BOMB (L)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:    

INTRO:  THE INVESTIGATION OF THE PARCEL BOMB ATTACK AT THE HOME 
OF A SENIOR BURMESE GENERAL WIDENS.  BURMA'S RULING MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT SAYS THE PARCEL BOMB, WHICH KILLED THE ELDEST DAUGHTER
OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL TIN OO, WAS MAILED FROM JAPAN.  BURMESE 
EXILES IN JAPAN ARE DENYING THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE 
ATTACK.  VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST
ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.

TEXT:  JAPAN-BASED BURMESE POLITICAL ACTIVISTS QUICKLY MOVED TO 
DENY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATTACK FOLLOWING A REPORT BY THE BURMESE 
GOVERNMENT THAT THE PARCEL BOMB ORIGINATED IN JAPAN.

THE BURMA JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE, AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF 
FOUR GROUPS, ISSUED A STATEMENT IN TOKYO WEDNESDAY DENYING ANY 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARCEL BOMB THAT KILLED GENERAL TIN OO'S 
DAUGHTER SUNDAY.  THE GROUP SAID THE MOVEMENT AGAINST THE BURMESE
MILITARY IS -- AS THE STATEMENT PUT IT -- "PEACEFUL, DISCIPLINED,
AND WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF JAPANESE LAW."

THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT IN RANGOON ISSUED A STATEMENT LATE TUESDAY
SAYING THAT THE BOMB THAT EXPLODED AT GENERAL TIN OO'S RESIDENCE 
WAS AIRMAILED FROM JAPAN.  THE GOVERNMENT WENT ON TO SAY THAT IT 
HAD REASON TO BELIEVE THE BOMBING WAS CARRIED OUT BY ANTI-BURMESE
GOVERNMENT GROUPS IN JAPAN WHO HAVE RESORTED TO TERRORISM.

SOURCES IN RANGOON SAY THE PARCEL, SHAPED LIKE A BOOK, HAD 
JAPANESE STAMPS AND A POSTMARK ON IT, BUT  NO  RETURN ADDRESS. A 
BRIEF ITEM IN BURMESE STATE-RUN NEWSPAPERS WEDNESDAY SAID IT WAS 
A BOOK WITH JAPANESE WRITING.  THE BOMB CONCEALED INSIDE WENT OFF
WHEN CHO LEI OO, GENERAL TIN OO'S ELDEST DAUGHTER, OPENED THE 
PARCEL SUNDAY EVENING.  HER FATHER, A SENIOR MEMBER OF BURMA'S 
RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL WAS  NOT  INJURED 
WHEN THE BOMB WENT OFF.  IT IS  NOT  CLEAR IF HE WAS HOME AT THE 
TIME.

THE KYODO NEWS AGENCY IN TOKYO REPORTS THE JAPANESE POLICE ARE 
LOOKING INTO THE CASE.

JAPAN HAS CONSIDERABLE BUSINESS INTERESTS IN BURMA AND IT IS THE 
COUNTRY'S BIGGEST AID DONOR.  IT ALSO HAS A VOCAL ANTI-BURMESE 
GOVERNMENT LOBBY THAT HOLDS DEMONSTRATIONS AND PRESSURES JAPANESE
FIRMS  NOT  TO INVEST IN BURMA.

THE ATTACK HAS MYSTIFIED ANALYSTS, WHO SAY THE USE OF PARCEL 

BOMBS IS UNHEARD OF IN BURMA.

OTHER DISSIDENT GROUPS HAVE ALSO DISCLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY AND, 
LIKE THE TOKYO-BASED GROUPS, BLAME THE ATTACK ON AN INTERNAL 
GOVERNMENT POWER STRUGGLE.  INDEPENDENT DIPLOMATIC ANALYSTS IN 
RANGOON, HOWEVER, DISMISS THAT THEORY, SAYING THAT THE RULING 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT PLACES A PREMIUM ON UNITY.  AS ONE DIPLOMAT 
PUT, THEY DO  NOT  SOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES THIS WAY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/FC/CF



09-Apr-97 4:55 AM EDT (0855 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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