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Exiles: Burma army uses forced labo



Subject: Exiles: Burma army uses forced labor 

Exiles: Burma army uses forced labor  12/6  Examiner wire reports

        Bangkok The Burmese army has forced at least 4,000 villagers to
carry food
        and equipment for soldiers fighting ethnic Karen rebels, an exiled
student
        group said Thursday. 

        Many of the porters are women who have been raped by the soldiers,
the All
        Burma Students Democratic Front said in a statement released in
Bangkok. 

        The Burmese army launched an offensive in February aimed at wiping out
        Karen resistance to the military government. The rebels have lost
most of their
        key bases along the Thai border, and more than 10,000 refugees have
fled to
        Thailand to avoid the conflict. 

        The Karen have been fighting for autonomy since 1949. The latest
campaign
        began after cease-fire talks between the two sides broke down.