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DATE=3/13/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-175414
TITLE=BURMA / REBELS (L-O)
 
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
 
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BURMESE DEMOCRACY GROUPS ARE URGING THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN 
RANGOON.  MEANWHILE -- AS V-O-A SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT DAN 
ROBINSON REPORTS -- LEADERS OF THE KAREN REBEL ORGANIZATION WERE 
REPORTED CONTINUING A MEETING JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM 
THAILAND TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE REBEL LEADERSHIP.

TEXT:  THE EXILE NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF 
BURMA (N-C-G-U-B) URGES CONCRETE ACTION TO PRESSURE THE RANGOON 
GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN AN IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL POLITICAL 
DIALOGUE.

A STATEMENT FAXED TO NEWS AGENCIES IN BANGKOK WELCOMES THE RECENT
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RESOLUTION ON BURMA.

LAST WEEK, THE U-N COMMISSION EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERN OVER WHAT 
IT CALLS EXTREMELY-SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BURMA.  IT 
ACCUSED THE RANGOON GOVERNMENT OF -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- 
ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS, TORTURE AND FORCED RELOCATION OF PEOPLE.

THE STATEMENT ISSUED MONDAY BY THE EXILE DEMOCRACY COALITION 
COINCIDED WITH BURMA HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE 
DEATH OF A STUDENT (MAUNG PHONE MAW) SHOT BY BURMESE SECURITY 
FORCES IN 1988.

THAT INCIDENT WAS FOLLOWED BY DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS BURMA AND A 
MILITARY CRACKDOWN IN WHICH TROOPS GUNNED DOWN AS MANY AS SEVERAL
THOUSAND DEMONSTRATORS.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- THE BURMESE DEMOCRACY LEADER IN HER SIXTH 
YEAR OF HOUSE ARREST -- DECLARED MARCH 13TH HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN 
BURMA.

IN BANGKOK (MONDAY), ABOUT 15 BURMESE STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED 
OUTSIDE BURMA'S EMBASSY.  THEY WAVED POSTERS DEMANDING HUMAN 
RIGHTS BE RESPECTED IN BURMA AND CALLING ON THE BURMESE 
GOVERNMENT TO END ITS OFFENSIVE AGAINST REBEL FORCES ALONG THE 
BORDER.

AFTER THE FALL OF THEIR MAIN HEADQUARTERS (MANERPLAW), KAREN 
REBELS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW CAMP (AT KANAELAY) 
IN SOUTHEAST BURMA -- AGAIN VERY CLOSE TO THE BORDER WITH 
THAILAND.

THAI PRESS REPORTS SAY ONE THOUSAND KAREN FIGHTERS DEFEND THE 
CAMP AGAINST ANY BURMESE GOVERNMENT ATTACK, AS LEADERS OF THE 
REBEL ORGANIZATION MEET TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES. 

IN RECENT INTERVIEWS, KAREN LEADER GENERAL BO MYA HAS VOWED TO 
CONTINUE HIS FIGHT FOR AUTONOMY -- DESPITE REBEL MILITARY 
DEFEATS.

            // REST OPTIONAL //



BO MYA HAS SAID THE KAREN NATIONAL UNION (K-N-U) -- WHICH HAS 
FOUGHT AGAINST CENTRAL CONTROL FROM RANGOON FOR MORE THAN 40 
YEARS -- WOULD PROBABLY MAKE WAY FOR A YOUNGER GROUP OF LEADERS 
ADVISED BY A SPECIAL COUNCIL STILL TO BE FORMED.



IN ADDITION TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, BURMA'S MILITARY 
WAS CRITICIZED LAST WEEK BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN 
UNION, AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.  (SIGNED)

NEB / TMS / WOD

13-Mar-95 6:05 AM EST (1105 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America