[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

SCMP-Thai soldiers clash with intru



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: SCMP-Thai soldiers clash with intruders from Burma

South China Morning Post
Friday, October 15, 1999
THAILAND

Soldiers clash with intruders from Burma
ASSOCIATED PRESS in Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Updated at 4.10pm:

Thailand claimed on Friday that fighters from Burma crossed the border and
sskirmished with Thai soldiers in the first such clash since a hostage drama
at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok two weeks ago soured relations between the
two countries.
The identity of the intruders was uncertain, with Thai officers describing
them as either Burmese troops or ethnic guerrillas allied to the military
regime in Rangoon who are often used to launch raids against anti-government
rebels operating along the rugged border.

Thai officials said intruders penetrated about one kilometre into Mae Hong
Son province on Thursday afternoon and were chased off after about 15
minutes of fighting with Thai forces, who fired eight mortar rounds at them.

A Thai army battalion reinforced the area on Friday, a military officer
said.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Sanan Kajornklam said he
suspected the attackers, whom he estimated numbered a dozen, were ethnic
guerrillas who have been used by Burma's government to raid refugee camps in
Thailand.

But an officer in the Thai army task force in Mae Hong Son, 650 kilometres
nnorth of Bangkok, said on condition of anonymity that the intruders were
about 100 Burmese soldiers and that tensions remained high.

The Thai side of the long border is strung with camps housing some 100,000
refugees who have fled the Burma army's suppression of rebel groups over the
past half-century. Most refugees support the rebels.

Five anti-government student militants disappeared after being flown to one
of the camps October 2, ending their siege of Burma's embassy, where they
had taken 38 people hostage to demand democratic rule in their homeland.

Their escape, worked out with Thai authorities to end the crisis without
bloodshed, infuriated the military regime in Rangoon and resulted in Burma
closing the border.