KNU Report, February 21,1997

[So_Nou@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Situation Update     February 21,1997

KNU No.6 Brigade Area

Being trapped behind the enemy line and facing hunger for two days, a number
of 500 refugees in the area safely arrived on Thai soil on February 18,1997.
According to these escapees, many villagers were still trapped inside Burma
and were hiding in the deep jungle. These villagers were lack of food for
more than 4 days now. Some villagers while hiding in the jungle were found by
the Slorc troops and were sent back to their villages where they were
vulnerable to Slorc's persecution.

A company of eighty soldiers from KNU No. 16 Battalion that recently defected
to the Slorc had returned and joined hands again with their troops on
February 19,1997.

KNU No.4 Brigade Area

2274 families with a total number of 11877 people were homeless and scattered
in the deep Mergui-Tavoy jungle due to the Slorc's major offensive launched
against the KNU..Many of these villagers could not make their way out to
safety to Thailand yet but were hiding in the deep jungle. Those who were
caught while hiding received a severe punishment from the Slorc troops. Young
childeren and old people were killed, men were forced as porters and women
were raped infront 
of the family. 

Since the beginning of the offensive, 14 skirmishes occured between the Slorc
troops and the KNU troops which the Slorc side suffered 132 casualities and 7
from the KNU side.

KNU Information Center





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