Mobilisation starts Wars; a history

[dawnstar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Mobilisation starts Wars; a history lesson

Dawn Star wrote:
> 
> We know this junta is stupid, but perhaps we really underestimate just
> how stupid they are. Mobilisation of troops on the border? Do they know
> history, and the code of war? Signs of belligerance and troop
> mobilisation between the cousins Willy and Nicky blew up the world for
> four years (1914-1918). Does the junta intend now to go out with a bang?
> 
> Troop mobilisation is a sign of belligerency. I would like to have some
> expert opinion out there, if there any experts, on this subject. If and
> when a nation feels threatened, or is threatened, does it have the right
> to retaliate? Or will the Thais just let their borders get over-run
> while the junta attempts to extend their war outside their borders. Will
> this be their new ploy to justify the existence of a bloated army? The
> external enemy? If they think they can get away with that, the whole
> world will see it for what it is.
> 
> History will never be the same. How five student rebels peacefully with
> the cooperation of the host government started a war against themselves.
> Its insane, but then, this junta is just crazy. Lets hope the world is
> not.
> 
> dawn star
> 
> > Myanmar troops may be preparing to cross Thai border
> >      Posted on 10/10/99, 09:44 AM CST. Email this story to a friend.
> >
> >      Source: Nando.
> >      Posted by: ShweInc NEWs
> >
> >      MAE HONG SON, Thailand (October 10, 1999 7:21 a.m. EDT
> > http://www.nandotimes.com) - Troops from Myanmar are pouring
> >      into border regions opposite Thailand's northern Mae Hong Son province
> > and may be preparing to attack refugee camps in
> >      Thailand, sources said Sunday.
> >
> >      Ethnic minority leaders and Thai intelligence sources said an attack
> > may be planned to retaliate for the seizure earlier this month
> >      of Yangon's embassy in Bangkok by pro-democracy student gunmen.
> >
> >      A senior Thai intelligence source told AFP he estimated that the
> > number of Yangon's troops in the area had increased in recent
> >      days from some 10,000 to between 20,000 and 30,000.
> >
> >      The Yangon junta closed the 1,440 miles border after five gunmen
> > stormed its Bangkok embassy Oct. 1, holding nearly 40 people
> >      hostage for 24-hours.
> >
> >      The gunmen, who initially called for the junta to hold talks with the
> > democratic opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi, were later
> >      provided with an escape helicopter to the border by Thai authorities.
> >
> >      Myanmar officials while thanking Thailand for ending the hostage drama
> > peacefully have also accused Bangkok of being too
> >      soft on the gunmen, and pressured authorities here to get tough with
> > exiled dissidents.
> >
> >      They say the border camps harbor armed anti-junta forces and called
> > Saturday for Thailand to use an "iron first" to wipe out
> >      terrorism.
> >
> >      Meanwhile, the U.N. refugee agency Friday said it had completed the
> > movement of refugees from Huay Kalok camp in
> >      northwestern Tak province deeper inside Thailand to reduce the risk of
> > cross-border raids by junta-backed guerrilla forces.
> >
> >      Thailand hosts some 100,000 Myanmar refugees, mainly of Karen and
> > Karenni ethnic origins, who have fled suppression of
> >      ethnic insurgencies in military-run Myanmar.
> >
> >      Last year, several Karen refugees were killed and thousands were made
> > homeless when guerrilla forces backed by the junta
> >      raided camps on Thai territory.
> >
> >      After the storming of the embassy, Thailand said it would increase
> > security at diplomatic missions and crack down on several
> >      thousand exiled Myanmar students believed living here.
> >
> >      Bangkok and Yangon have been engaged in an escalating war of words
> > over the crisis, with senior Thai ministers arguing that
> >      the hostage-taking reinforced the need for democratic change inside
> > military-ruled Myanmar.
> >
> >      But Yangon has angrily denied any responsibility.