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Bkk Post-Pro Rangoon rebels take he



Subject: Bkk Post-Pro Rangoon rebels take headman hostage

Bkk Post April 28, 1999.
Renegades take headman hostage

Tak-Pro-Rangoon Karen rebels yesterday freed an assistant village headman
whom they kidnapped from Mae Sot on Sunday night, but held a village chief
hostage instead after half of the ransom money was paid.

Maung Pe Pansithong, assistant head of Ban So Khlo in tambon Mae Song, was
freed after Lator Ratamnuay, the headman, crossed into Burma to pay half of
the 200,000-baht ransom to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

After releasing Maung Pe, the renegades held Mr Lator and promised to
release him after another 100,000 baht was paid.

Col Chayuti Boonparn, commander of the Fourth Infantry Regiment Task Force,
said the kidnap was an act of revenge as Maung Pe's son, Anuwat Pansithong,
had refused to pay money to Tu Li, a renegade, for the rent of an elephant
four years ago.

Mr Anuwat had reportedly sold the elephant for 150,000 baht.

As Mr Anuwat was not in the house when the kidnap took place, Tu Li's band
took his father across the border.

A team of Tha Song Yang police and Border Patrol Police were put on full
alert at the opposite the renegade base.