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Subject: The Nation - Minister cools Burma fears on embassy security

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The Nation - Dec 13, 1999.
Headlines=20

Minister cools Burma fears on embassy security

DEPUTY Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday shrugged off =
speculation that the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok would be stormed again =
but said security measures have nonetheless been stepped up.=20

He described the security measures as ''fully satisfactory'' but =
stressed that no authority can offer 100 per cent protection.=20

''We have responded to the embassy's request for more security =
protection after the incident. Both sides are satisfied with the =
security detail we have provided for the embassy and its staff,'' =
Sukhumbhand said.=20

He also downplayed reports that the Burmese dissidents who seized the =
embassy on Oct 1 were planing to strike at Burmese government operations =
in Thailand, stressing that ''the source of that report is not clear''.=20

On Thursday, the Associated Press released photographs showing two of =
the five dissidents who raided the Burmese Embassy, at a camp in Burma's =
Karen state, opposite Ratchaburi province.=20

The group had stormed the embassy on Oct 1, taking hostages at gunpoint =
and demanding the Burmese military regime release political prisoners in =
Burma.=20

They are now reportedly taking refuge with a splinter group of Karen =
rebels known as ''God's Army''.=20

The group's leader, Kyaw Ni, has vowed to continue their fight, adding =
fuel to theories that his band will strike again at Burmese government =
targets.=20

Kyaw Ni, who is also the head of the Vigorous Burmese Students Warriors =
(VBSW), was also reported to have called for a meeting of his 18-member =
group on Saturday.=20

The news item angered Rangoon who responded by demanding that Thai =
authorities detain them immediately. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, =
however, denied that the band were in Thailand.=20

Bathan, the secretary-general of the Burma Students' Association based =
at the Maneeloy holding centre in Ratchaburi, said he did not believe =
that Kyaw Ni would strike at the Burmese Embassy again.=20

''If he plans to do so, he will not publicise it,'' Bathan said.=20

Aung Su, secretary-general of another exiled students group -- the =
Overseas National Students Organisation -- believed that Kyaw Ni would =
continue ''fighting'' through colleagues.=20

''Do not expect him to surrender ... no way. His comrades will act on =
his behalf,'' Aung Su said.=20

The Nation


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT face=3Darial,Times><FONT =
size=3D+1><B>The Nation=20
- Dec 13, 1999.</B></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT face=3Darial,Times><FONT=20
size=3D+1><B>Headlines</B></FONT> <FONT face=3Darial,Times><FONT =
size=3D+2></DIV>
<P>
<H2><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D4>Minister cools Burma fears on embassy =

security</FONT></H2></FONT><FONT face=3Darial,Times><FONT size=3D+.5>
<P>
<P>DEPUTY Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday shrugged off=20
speculation that the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok would be stormed again =
but said=20
security measures have nonetheless been stepped up.=20
<P>He described the security measures as ''fully satisfactory'' but =
stressed=20
that no authority can offer 100 per cent protection.=20
<P>''We have responded to the embassy's request for more security =
protection=20
after the incident. Both sides are satisfied with the security detail we =
have=20
provided for the embassy and its staff,'' Sukhumbhand said.=20
<P>He also downplayed reports that the Burmese dissidents who seized the =
embassy=20
on Oct 1 were planing to strike at Burmese government operations in =
Thailand,=20
stressing that ''the source of that report is not clear''.=20
<P>On Thursday, the Associated Press released photographs showing two of =
the=20
five dissidents who raided the Burmese Embassy, at a camp in Burma's =
Karen=20
state, opposite Ratchaburi province.=20
<P>The group had stormed the embassy on Oct 1, taking hostages at =
gunpoint and=20
demanding the Burmese military regime release political prisoners in =
Burma.=20
<P>They are now reportedly taking refuge with a splinter group of Karen =
rebels=20
known as ''God's Army''.=20
<P>The group's leader, Kyaw Ni, has vowed to continue their fight, =
adding fuel=20
to theories that his band will strike again at Burmese government =
targets.=20
<P>Kyaw Ni, who is also the head of the Vigorous Burmese Students =
Warriors=20
(VBSW), was also reported to have called for a meeting of his 18-member =
group on=20
Saturday.=20
<P>The news item angered Rangoon who responded by demanding that Thai=20
authorities detain them immediately. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, =
however,=20
denied that the band were in Thailand.=20
<P>Bathan, the secretary-general of the Burma Students' Association =
based at the=20
Maneeloy holding centre in Ratchaburi, said he did not believe that Kyaw =
Ni=20
would strike at the Burmese Embassy again.=20
<P>''If he plans to do so, he will not publicise it,'' Bathan said.=20
<P>Aung Su, secretary-general of another exiled students group -- the =
Overseas=20
National Students Organisation -- believed that Kyaw Ni would continue=20
''fighting'' through colleagues.=20
<P>''Do not expect him to surrender ... no way. His comrades will act on =
his=20
behalf,'' Aung Su said.=20
<P>The Nation</P></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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