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BKK POST: Burma denies role in Kar
- Subject: BKK POST: Burma denies role in Kar
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 06:39:00
March 22, 1998
THAI-BURMESE BORDER
Burma denies role
in Karen raids on
camp
Thais urged to act against DKBA forces
Wassana Nanuam
Burmese military leader Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt has given the
go-ahead for Thai forces to take action against the Democratic
Karen Buddhist Army if it persists with attacking refugee camps
in Thailand, the army chief said yesterday.
Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said that
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Peace and
Development Council, Burma's ruling body, told him this when
they met in Rangoon on Friday.
Gen Chettha quoted the Burmese military leader as telling him
that Burmese soldiers were not involved in DKBA attacks on a
Karen refugee camp in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son,
several weeks ago, and another attack on the Huay Kalok camp
in Mae Sot last week.
"He (Khin Nyunt) insisted that Rangoon has nothing to do with
the attacks and that the Burmese government does not support
the DKBA. Since he insists, we have to believe him. He is sorry
about it but said that he can't control the DKBA and the Thai
army can take any action against them," Gen Chettha said.
Gen Chettha was in Rangoon to accompany Privy Councillor
Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to a function to open the Nikko Hotel
there last Friday. During the function he met and talked to both
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and Burmese army chief Gen Maung Aye.
The Thai army chief said that it was difficult to prevent DKBA
attacks against refugee camps because they were all Karens who
used to be in the same group, the Karen National Union.
The KNU is the only major ethnic insurgency yet to sign a
ceasefire with Rangoon's ruling junta. They still trade with each
other and trade conflicts might have been responsible for the
attacks, he said.
The army chief said KNU rebels also cross the border to burn
DKBA camps but the Thai military will be searching refugee
camps for arms to prevent this in the future.
"However, we can't take violent action in such search because
we will be criticised by humanitarian groups again. It's a difficult
position for us to be in," Gen Chettha said.
The general said Thailand will no longer tolerate DKBA attacks.
He can directly call up Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to prevent any violent
incidents, Gen Chettha said.
He will be in Rangoon again early April since he has made an
appointment with Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to discuss proposals for
joint fisheries with Burma that is being drafted by the Agriculture
Ministry.
Gen Chettha said that he did not raise the issue of logging in the
Salween National Park with the Burmese military leader since it
was an internal matter for Thailand to solve.
Logs felled illegally in the park have been taken across the river
to Burma, stamped as Burmese logs and then "imported" back
into Thailand.
He added there have been no reports of Burmese soldiers
involved in the illegal logging at Salween though it is possible
low-ranking Burmese soldiers might be involved.
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Last Modified: Sun, Mar 22, 1998