Kawmoora Offensive

[tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

>From hag2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thu Feb  9 09:46:53 1995
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 12:45:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Kawmoora Offensive
To: Coban Tun <tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

The Burmese (SLORC) troops normally use Thai soil when they attack the 
KNU or the Mons or the Karanni.  I had a bitter experience in 
1989 when the Kawmoora camp was attacked by the Burmese troops. At the 
time I was acting as the chairman of the All Burma Students' democratic 
front and visited the Kawmoora to encourage the students who were 
fighting along with the KNU , Arakanese, Kachins and Pao troops against the 
SLORC intruding offensive.
	We intercepted the enemy tranmission line and found out that 
about 300 Burmese troops were crossing the Moei river to the Thai side and 
planned to attack from the front line and from the Thai side.
As a counter measure the KNU commondos and the Students crossed the 
river and guarded the Thai side to prevent this two pronged attack.  
Unfortunately, the Thai border guards arrived and told us that we have no right 
to use Thai soil, if KNU or SLORC troops cross the border they will fight both 
troops. They promised us if SLORC used their soil they would not hesitate 
to force them out of Thailand, initially  using an air attack to bomb the 
intruders.  We went back to our Kawmoora base, hoping that the Thai would 
keep their promise.  But at dawn our camp was attacked from  both the front 
line and the Thai side.  The enemy were taking a position from the Thai market 
opposite from Kawmoora.  We were waiting for the Thai army to attack the 
SLORC but in reality The Thai army retreated two kilometers away and watched.
One Thai army plane circled  around our camp but there was no air attack
as they had promised us.  The KNU sent the best commandos without hesitation 
and attacked the SLORC troops who were stationed in the Thai market place.  
Luckily we won the battle, killing 70 enemy soldiers while on our side we 
lost our 3 best commandos.
	The Colnel who lead the Burmese troops fled to the Thai Army and begged 
for help.  He was later escorted by the Thai Army back to Myawaddy.
	My main concern about this accident is the fact that the Thai 
 Army allowed the Burmese Army to attack us. I believe that the Thai Army 
had a vested interest in allowing this attack to occur. The Thai General 
Chavalit Younchaiyu made a deal with the Burmese General Saw Maung 
providing General Chavalit Younchaiyu with Burmese logging rights. When 
the conflict occurred it was in General Chavilit's best interests to 
allow the Burmese Army to attack without interference from the Thai 
military. General Chavalit resigned his position in the military and 
is currently the Interior Minister for the Thai government. In this new 
position he has gained wealth and prestige due to the logging and fishing 
rights he acquired in Burma; as a result he continues to favor the SLORC.  
	I am worried that the KNU leaders, including General Bo Mya, 
are under the Thai Army's control and that the KNU are not allowed to go 
anywhere without the Thai Army's permission. I would like the international 
community to pressure Thailand into not supporting the SLORC. 

Additionally I would like Thailand to allow the KNU leaders and the 
ABSDF students to have entrance into Burma from whatever border area 
that these two groups choose. Lastly, I believe that the Thai government 
should allow the NGO's to help the refugees who have fled from the 
fighting without any interference or disturbances.

Htun Aung Gyaw  
Graduate student of Asian Studies, Cornell Unerversity