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Press Release
For Immediate Release

26 December 1994



	ABSDF ATTACKS SLORC TROOPS AT PAPUN

On 25 December 1994, at 00:30 hours, the special military column of the 
Student Army of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front attacked the 
State Law and Order Restoration Council at three strategic points; the 
No (1) Headquarters of the Military Strategy of the South-eastern 
Command of the SLORC, the Headquarters of the No (19) Light Infantry 
Regiment of the SLORC in the town Papun, located in the eastern part of 
the Karen State, and the Security Military Post at the Iron Bridge on the 
Yun-Salin Stream.

All three locations came under a coordinated attack simultaneously. The 
battle continued for some 25 minutes, before the military columns of the 
Student Army systematically withdrew after achieving its objectives.

Meanwhile, SLORC troops had unsuccessfully fired 60mm, 81mm and 
120mm artillery shells in the vicinity of the attacking Student Army, but 
no casualties occurred except for the destruction by the heavy artillery of 
a house owned by U Pe War Par and a local Buddhist monastery in the 
middle part of the village, Mae Nang Nwe. The number of dead and 
wounded personnel of the SLORC is still undetermined.

The Student Army were caused to attack the military base of the SLORC 
under the following circumstances:

1) SLORC attacked and attempted to occupy Dawn Gwin, ABSDF 
Headquarters, and Manerplaw; thereby SLORC broke its 2-year ceasefire 
announcement by its own volition, and was not provoked in any manner, 
except to take advantage of the temporary situation recently in the KNU-
controlled area in an attempt to physically crush the democratic forces 
instead of through peaceful dialogue;

2) SLORC intends to build a dam in the Dawn Gwin area, where 
ABSDF Central Headquarters is located, not only threatening the 
students but villagers and the delicate river ecosystem, all for the need 
for monetary funds to prolong power; and

3) the Dawn Gwin-Manerplaw area has gained national and 
international political importance as the focal point of the democratic 
resistance against the ruling military regime, and therefore ABSDF has 
acted in order to safeguard ourselves against aggression by the military 
regime.

As a result of SLORCs unwillingness to stop its human rights violations 
and suppression of the peoples of Burma, ABSDF were forced to defend 
ourselves in 1988 in pursuit of the principles of freedom and democracy 
that the military dictatorship fears. ABSDFs goals are not and have 
never been to solve political questions by military means; but by peaceful 
political means, as was witnessed during the 8888 Uprising and in the 
May 1990 elections. The military dictatorship has been attacking and 
killing students, whether on the streets, in their beds, or in the jungle. 
Still, despite mounting pressures, SLORC continues with these brutal 
and deportee tactics, even as they stand before the world and talk about 
national reconciliation and use meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi for 
photo ops at the UN.

As long as SLORC does not hand over power to the rightfully elected 
representatives chosen by the people, as long as SLORC continues its 
wanton abuse and destruction of the countrys natural resources for their 
own personal political and material wealth, and as long as SLORC 
arrogantly pretends that Burma is on the path to peace and prosperity 
while treating its citizenry inhumanely; ABSDF will continue to bravely 
and without hesitation oppose SLORC by all means necessary and at any 
place necessary to repel their pungency and, united with all the peoples 
of Burma, rid the country of the scourge of suppression once and for all.

We beseech the SLORC to do the following immediately, for the sake of 
the country:

1) Declare a nation-wide, unconditional cease-fire TODAY,

2) Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners 
NOW,

3) Transfer power to the legitimate representatives elected in 1990 
DIRECTLY,

4) Sponsor genuine political meetings with ALL groups - ethnic and 
democratic - with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.



Central Committee
ABSDF						26 December 1994