BURMESE TROOPS LOOT THAI VILLAGE

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
Date: January 16, 1998
  
                                    
                                    
                    BURMESE TROOPS LOOT THAI VILLAGE
                    --------------------------------                

At about 8am on January 9, 1998, soldiers from Burmese Army
Infantry Regiment 19, based in Papun south-east of Rangoon, looted
a village market on the Salween River on the Thai side of the
Thai-Burma border.
  
An eyewitness told the ABSDF that about 50 Burmese soldiers crossed
the river on four large barges and moved towards Mae Sam Laeb
village and a Thai army camp, located near the junction of the Moei
and Salween Rivers.
  
Upon seeing the approaching Burmese soldiers, the Thai soldiers
retreated from their station as they feared an armed clash with the
Burmese army would lead to a loss of life among the villagers and
would reduce the market place to ashes. The villagers also fled the
scene.
  
The Burmese soldiers took the opportunity to loot the entire
market, and returned to the Burmese side about two hours later.
  
According to the eyewitness, the looting was in retaliation for an
incident that happened earlier that morning involving the commander
of Infantry Regiment 19, Lieutenant-Colonel Thet Htoo, and four
other Burmese soldiers. 
  
The colonel and his men arrived at about 7am at Mae Sam Laeb to buy
some food at the market. They were wearing their uniforms and the
colonel was carrying a pistol.
  
Following an inspection by Thai soldiers, the pistol was
confiscated as it is illegal for Burmese soldiers to carry arms in
Thailand. Lieutenant-Colonel Thet Htoo was enraged by the actions
of the Thai soldiers and consequently returned to Burma and came
back with 50 men to loot the village.
  
This problem of looting by Burmese troops is likely to be raised by
Thai officials at the next meeting of the Thai-Burma Border
Committee.
  
On the same day, Burmese troops led by Major Yel Lin Htun stopped
a boat on the Salween River and told the owner to buy him some
goods worth about 3000 baht. When the boat owner said that he did
not have enough money, the soldiers detained eight passengers. The
fate of these passengers is unknown. Major Yel Lin Htun is the
deputy commander of Light Infantry Battalion 434, which is based in
Papun but stationed at Pha Seldo outpost about ten kilometres up
stream from Mae Sam Laeb.
  
All Burma Students' Democratic Front
  
For further information please call 01 654 4984.