Written by U Ne Oo on 2000-01-31
Dear Friends:
As all Burma Observers are aware, there has been a very
serious development
with regards to ethnic rebel groups at Thai border. On January
24, about
10 armed rebels from the so-called God's Army, a splinter group
of Karen
National Union headed by two 12 years old twin boys, took
control of Ratchaburi
provincial hospital and requested Thai doctors treat their
wounded colleagues.
Later, the gunmen also requested Thai army stop shelling their
base and
Thai authorities giveauthorities give free passage to refugees. On early morning
of 25
January, the Thai Commandoes raided the hospital and reportedly
killed
the gunmen. All civilians in hospital were reported unhurt
(news/analysis
enclosed).
Prior to this
incident,
we received internet reports about Burmese military launching an
attack
on God's Army. Reports also said Thai military had been shelling
the rebel
base after 4-Thai soldiers were killed in landmine explosion in
Burmese
territory. God's Army is God's Army is made up of 100 fighters, including
children guerrillas.
The Burmese army motive for attacking God's Army is unknown.
However, the
God's Army had accepted the 5 student fugitives who staged a
siege of Burmese
Embassy in Bangkok in October 1999. Considering unusual rage
expressed
by Burmese military leaders about the Bangkok Embassy Siege
(FEER, 18-Nov-99),
one possibility is that the SPDC/SLORC taking revenge on the
God's Army.
The tension at
Thai-Burmese
border has reachrder has reached the most dangerous phase when Thai Commandoes
killed
all gunmen who seized Ratchaburi hospital. Unconfirmed report
claims that
the God's Army has vowed a revenge on killing of its comrades.
The mainstream
KNU and larger part of Burmese exiled community will unlikely to
take revenge
on that incident.
However, one cannot ruled out the revenge by disgruntled
individuals
or by isolated groups. In worst case scenario, there is
possibility of
SPDC/SLORC agents or the hardline elements within Thai military
inciting
ary
inciting
violence in border community to serve their political ends.
The ethnic
conflict in Burma
is certainly spilling over into Thailand, in addition to the
refugee flows.
This situation is threatening security of Thailand. We must call
upon United
Nations Security Council to decisively intervene the situation
in Burma.
Enclosed is my letter to UN Security Council president and
members. Please
make effort to write to UNSC and your government. I have also
included
addresses of Sedresses of Security Council members and Telefax numbers.
With best regards, U Ne Oo.
ENCLOSURES:
1. LETTER TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS (31/1/2000)
2. ADDRESSES OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
3. INTERNET/PRESS RELEASE ON (25/1/00) ABOUT THAI HOSPITAL SIEGE
4. LATEST NEWS ON THAI
SIEGE, SOUTH
CHINA MORNING POST (27/1/00)
(1) LETTER TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS (31/1/00)
Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA.
January 31, 2000.
H.E. ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE
President, UN Security Council
Ambassador, Argentina Mission to UN
One United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017. USA.
Your E10017. USA.
Your Excellency:
I call your attention to the recent developments at the
Thailand-Burma
border. In recent weeks, the Burmese military launched an attack
against
a small-splintered Karen guerrilla army, known as God's Army.
The God's
Army is headed by two 12 years old twin boys and is made up of
100 armed
rebels, including children guerrillas. There was also disturbing
reports
about the Thai army's 9th Division became involved in the fight
between
Burmese arween
Burmese army and the rebels. The Thai army reportedly shell the
rebel base
after 4 Thai soldiers killed in a landmine explosion in Burmese
territory.
On the morning of 24th January, ten armed rebels from God's
Army took
control of Ratchaburi provincial hospital, and demanded Thai
doctors treat
their wounded colleagues. Later, the gunmen also demanded Thai
army stop
shelling their base and Thai authorities give free passage to
the refugees.
On early morning of 25th January, the Thai commandoes raided the
hospital the
hospital
and reportedly killed all the gunmen. The God's Army has
reportedly vowed
to take revenge on killing of their comerades.
For several years, there have been a large number of
refugees and displaced
people from Burma crossing over into Thailand. I also like to
recall, as
in earlier communication to you in 6th September 1999, the
Burmese military
junta has engaged in illicit drug production and trafficking.
For long
time, Thailand has been inundated by heroin and cheap
amphetamine-type-stimulant
tabletsmulant
tablets produced in Burma. At this time, it become evident that
the political
and military conflict in Burma has spilled over into Thailand in
its most
violent form. It is clear that the situation in Burma is
threatening the
peace and security of Thailand.
I therefore call upon you to convene the UN Security Council
meeting
to discuss the situation in Burma. The UN Security Council must
demand
the Government of Burma to improve its human rights records
immediately
and to accelerate the transition towards demon towards democratic rules.
In closing, I thank you for your kind attention to this
matter.
Yours respectfully and sincerely
(Sd.U Ne Oo)
Copy to:
1. H.E. Arnold Manuel Listre (Argentina), President of
Security Council
2. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
(2) ADDRESSES OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS OF FEBRUARY 2000
UN Security Council has 15 members, 5 Permanent Members
(United
States, China, France, United Kingdom and Russian Federation)
and 10 elected
by General Assembly to the Security Council. Current 10 members
of SC elected
are Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali
Namibia, Netherlands,
Tunisia and Ukraine. The Presidency of Security Council is
assigned in
rotation. Currently, Presidency is held by Agentina, The Hon.
Ambassador,
ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE.
| H.E. ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE
President, UN Security Council Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations One United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017. USA. Telefax: (+1-212)980-8395 |
H.E. RICHARD HOLBROOK
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations 799 United Nations Plaza New York, N.Y. 10017-35k, N.Y. 10017-3505 Telefax: (+1-212)415-4443 |
| H.E. MR SERGEY V. LAVROV
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations 136 East 67th Street New York, N.Y. 10021 Telefax: (+1-212)628-0252 |
H.E. SIR JOHN WESTON
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 885 Second Ave 885 Second Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017 Telefax: (+1-212)745-9316 |
| H.E. MR LI ZHAOXING
Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations 350 East 35th Street New York, N.Y. 10016 Telefax: (+1-212)634-7626 |
H.E. M JEAN-BERNARD MERIMEE
Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 245 East 47th Street, 44th Floor 44th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Telefax: (+1-212)421-6889 |
(3) INTERNET/PRESS RELEASE POSTED ON TUESDAY 25, 2000; 6:00AM
GOD'S ARMY: OUR YOUNG LIBERATORS IN WRONG STEP
There has been a dramatic development at the Ratchaburi province in recent hours. About 10 armed rebels from God's Army, which led by 12 years old twin brothers and a splinter group of Karen National Union, has taken contro has taken control of local Thai hospital and demanded Thai doctors treat their colleagues. The Thai authorities sent down a 300 strong police force to handle the hospital siege. Thai interior minister instructed police to take tough action against the rebels.
In recent weeks, the Burmese army has been in its dry season offensive against God's Army, which made up of 100 guerrillas. There have been unconfirmed reports of Thai army shelling of these rebels, after having lost four soldiers in an explosion of landmine within Burmese terrtory. The God's Army is certainly under pressure from two armies. The rebels demand, so far, seems to be to treat their wounded colleagues at that hospital. Whether Burmese army has any taste for military victory over the God's Army is something to ponder. But any suggestion on this hospital siege as terrorist activity may considered being far-fetched.
For outside observers, the overall political picture at the
Thai/Burmese
border have suddenly become confusing since November-1999. The
plight of
Burmese migrant workers, though, have eased somewhat. But, there
are unconfirmed
reports of Thai military pushing the refugees(recent arrivals)
across Burmese
border. The UNHCR has also been requested by
Thai NSC to step up efforts to stem the tide of inflow of
Burmese refugees
into Thailand. Recent reports by Bangkok Post regarding
repatriation of
refugees to Burma are also not helping to alleviate our
confusion. Some
information blackout on the Internet has also been detected.
One notable thing of our political m
One notable thing of our political movement is that its precarious existence amongst powerful international political forces. The ethnic rebel fighters, especially, have to rely on the understanding of neighboring government/army. In politics, these supports are fragile and slight mistake could have make a lot of damage.
Though political consequence for the God's Armys hospital siege may be undesirable, it will be quite unfair to blame the God's Army for taking such drastic action. Only those who are on the ground would know the kind of pressure applied by Burmese and Thai army. I am quite concern about the situation in Thailand as the usual communications from our groups via internet are not receiving. Another unfortunate factor: passing away last December of U Tin Maung Win, who was the Vice-chair of DAB. When activist of this stature died, various contacts and leadership went away with him. There is certain vacuum exists as regards ethnic federal movement.
In any case, I can certainly foresee a tougher time ahead for all our pro-democracy groups in Thailand. Furthermore, a lot more refined political judgment will have to be made by our refugees and pro-democracy leaders by themselves, in order to keep our ethnic federal movement alive.
With best regards, U Ne Oo.
(4) LATEST NEWS ON THAI SIEGE
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2000.
Troops' border action spurred Karen attack
The Thai security forces that so proudly and decisively ended
the siege
may also houdly and decisively ended
the siege
may also have triggered the crisis. Several sources said the
Thai army
had recently appeared to let Burmese troops move across Thai
territory
to attack the self-styled God's Army in their border enclave.
As a result, the hard-pressed breakaway group of perhaps 150
Karen
Christian fighters decided to lay mines on a key "backdoor"
pathway into
their stronghold.
The seeds of an unfolding crisis continued to be sewn a week
ago when
four Thai soldiers - allegedly chasing God's Army people inside
Burmee inside
Burmese
territory, according to one source - trod on some of the
landmines and
were blown up.
In retaliation, the army started shelling the nearest Karen
community,
inflicting casualties on soldiers and civilians. In
desperation,
10 of the Karen burst across the border and tried to put
pressure on the
Thais by taking hostages. It may have been just a whim that led
them to
target the hospital.
The God's Army - no more than a few score fighters and
perhaps a few
hundred families - lived families - live in a tough world. They were trying to
hold off
an army notorious among human rights observers for killing,
raping and
pillaging in vulnerable Karen villages.
Unfortunately for the God's Army, the 9th Infantry Division
opposite
them is notorious for its rough handling of refugees and
dissidents and
its close relations with its Burmese army counterparts across
the border.
Several pro-democracy activists in Thailand said this
engagement with
the regime's dark side was both morally and polmorally and politically wrong.
"It would not be good for Thailand to dance to the song of
Rangoon,"
said Somchai Homlaor, the Secretary-general of the Asia Forum on
Human
Rights.
"If we don't stay neutral in this conflict then the violence
is likely
to spread to Thailand."
This may already be happening. Unconfirmed reports from the
border
claim that God's Army - under the mystical leadership of
12-year-old twin
brothers - have sworn revenge for the killings.
