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VOA Latest News on BURMA/BOMB




DATE=5/6/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-213850
TITLE=BURMA / BOMB ( L ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  BURMA IS DENYING ALLEGATIONS THAT THE RECENT BOMB BLAST 
THAT KILLED THE DAUGHTER OF A SENIOR GENERAL, WAS THE RESULT OF 
AN INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLE, WITHIN THE RULING MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT.  THE DENIAL CAME IN A COMMENTARY IN STATE-RUN 
NEWSPAPERS TUESDAY.  AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS 
FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, AUTHORITIES ARE NOT 
OFFERING ANY SOLID EVIDENCE INDICATING WHO WAS BEHIND THE ATTACK.

TEXT:  IN A COMMENTARY IN BURMESE NEWSPAPERS, THE GOVERNMENT 
DENOUNCED AS "SHAMELESS DEEDS" ALLEGATIONS THAT AN INTERNAL POWER
STRUGGLE CAUSED THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL TIN OO'S ELDEST 
DAUGHTER.

THE COMMENTARY QUOTED GENERAL TIN OO AS SAYING THE BOMBING WAS 
THE WORK OF "TERRORISTS" WHO WANTED TO KILL HIM.  THE ARTICLE 
SAID BURMESE EXILE GROUPS WERE ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH THE KAREN
NATIONAL UNION AND ENCOURAGING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY,
WHICH THE WRITER REFERRED TO AS THE "NOTORIOUS LEAGUE FOR 
DEMONS."

THE KAREN NATIONAL UNION IS AN ARMED INSURGENCY MOVEMENT FIGHTING
FOR AUTONOMY FROM THE RANGOON GOVERNMENT.  THE NATIONAL LEAGUE 
FOR DEMOCRACY IS THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT LED BY AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI.  BOTH HAVE DENIED ANY ROLE IN THE APRIL SIXTH ATTACK AT 
GENERAL TIN OO'S HOME.

ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT, A PARCEL ARRIVED AT TIN OO'S 
HOME  BEARING A JAPANESE POSTMARK AND STAMPS.  IT LAY UNOPENED 
FOR SEVERAL DAYS  UNTIL CHO LEI OO, THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER, 
OPENED IT, DETONATING THE BOMB INSIDE.

MANY RANGOON-BASED ANALYSTS HAVE EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM AT THIS 
ACCOUNT, WONDERING HOW AN UNSOLICITED PARCEL COULD BE DELIVERED 
TO THE HOME OF ONE BURMA'S MOST SENIOR OFFICIALS WITHOUT FIRST 
BEING SCREENED.

BURMESE OFFICIALS HAVE SO FAR NOT PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED THE 
CULPRITS, EXCEPT  TO BLAME THE ATTACK, IN BROAD TERMS, ON EXILE 
GROUPS.  NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND NO ARRESTS MADE.

IT WAS THE SECOND BOMBING IN SEVERAL MONTHS.  TWO BOMBS PLANTED 
AT A  BUDDHIST SHRINE IN RANGOON WENT OFF DECEMBER 25TH, KILLING 
FIVE PEOPLE AND WOUNDING 17.

HOWEVER, THE BOMBING AT GENERAL TIN OO'S HOME WAS DIFFERENT  FROM
THE CHRISTMAS DAY ATTACK, IN THAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A PARCEL 
BOMB HAS BEEN USED.  EXPERTS SAY A PARCEL BOMB IS MORE 
SOPHISTICATED AND REQUIRES MORE EXPERTISE WITH EXPLOSIVES. 

NEB/GPT/FC