AP: Myanmar Reports 4 Dead in New C

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Subject: AP: Myanmar Reports 4 Dead in New Clash 

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Myanmar Reports 4 Dead in New Clash 
Friday, June 25, 1999; 10:29 a.m. EDT 

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- A Myanmar army officer said fresh fighting 
between government troops and ethnic Karen guerrillas on Friday had left 
four soldiers dead and two other wounded. 
The officer, speaking on customary condition of anonymity along the 
Thai-Myanmar border, said the troops were attacked while on patrol at the 
site of a land mine blast that destroyed a passenger bus on Wednesday. 
Thai military officials were unable to confirm the reports of the renewed 
fighting. 
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Wednesday's 
explosion killed eight people, including a Buddhist monk, and left 16 
injured. It was reportedly planted on a bridge near the eastern border town 
of Myawaddy. 
The Myanmar authorities blamed both attacks on the Karen National Union, 
which has been fighting for autonomy for the ethnic Karen minority for half 
a century. 
The military government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, regards the KNU as 
a terrorist group. The Karens accuse government soldiers of systematic 
murder, rape and arson. 
More than 100,000 ethnic Karens live in refugee camps scattered along the 
border in Thailand. 



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