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FTUB CAMP BURNT DOWN BY THAI ARMY



All Burma Students' Democratic Front



                    FTUB CAMP BURNT DOWN BY THAI ARMY
                    ---------------------------------

Date: May 9, 1997

A jungle camp under the administration of Free Trade Unions of
Burma (FTUB) was burnt down by Thai rangers in an apparent
attempt to coax Burmese counterparts across the border.

Twenty rangers in black uniforms arrived at Lake Chaung camp in
the early morning of May 9 along with an interpreter from a
nearby camp known as Zala refugee camp. The rangers held 12
occupants of the camp at gun point and told them they had been
sent to the camp by their superiors. The rangers said they would
burn the camp down because the authorities did not want
opposition groups to exist inside Thailand. The rangers also told
the FTUB members to move into the refugee camp.

The commander of the unit said FTUB members could report the
incident to anyone they liked as his unit was merely carrying out
orders.

The FTUB was allowed to take pictures of the burning camp. The
rangers also took pictures of the burning huts and told the FTUB
through the interpreter that they would give the pictures to the
SLORC.

The FTUB camp, located at Htataphang in Mae Sarieng District, was
previously occupied by the NLD-L.A.

As a result of the fire, the FTUB lost a hall, 10 huts, 5 houses,
a barracks, a kitchen, a chicken house, a pigsty, a small
warehouse for food, and office equipment and materials that
couldn't be moved in time.

Source: FTUB