ABSDF: House of Cease-fire Leader B

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
September 29, 1998

 House of Cease-fire Group Leader Bombed

The house of the leader of a cease-fire group in northern Burma
was bombed by an unknown organization on August 22, according to
sources on the Sino-Burma border.

Four Chinese-made hand-grenades were thrown into the premises of
the Monkoo leader's house, although only one exploded. No one was
injured during the attack, however a four-wheel drive vehicle
parked in the compound was destroyed.

The house of Monsala, the leader of the Monkoo Defense Army
(MDA), also known as the Northern Shan State Special Region (1),
is located in Monkoo in north-eastern Shan state near the
China-Burma border.

According to sources from the northern border, the attack may
have been triggered by business disputes between rival groups, as
the Monkoo region produces a great deal of drugs and the MDA is
known to have been heavily involved in the trade. 

Tensions between Monsala and Chinese authorities arose last year
after Monsala reportedly hid two drug traffickers wanted by
Chinese authorities in his region. Chinese authorities
temporarily banned Monsala from travelling in China after this
incident.  

Recently Monsala, who is said to be very close to the generals of
Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council, issued a
statement in favour of the Burmese military regime, and objecting
to the National League for Democracy's (NLD) call for the
convening of parliament.

The Burmese Army and the MDA jointly administer Monkoo. The area
is well known for its border-trade route between Burma and China. 
Monkoo held the former headquarters of the Burma Communist Party,
and became the stronghold of the MDA after the Kokang group
entered into a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military
junta in March 1989.

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please call 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984