NEWS - Thailand Urges Armed Groups

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - Thailand Urges Armed Groups in Myanmar to Contain Fighting

NOTE: None of this would happen if the military wouldn't be the
aggressor and Ne Win ,et.al. havn't harassed and attacked these people
over the past 30 years.


Thailand Urges Armed Groups in Myanmar to Contain Fighting

            AP
            21-DEC-98

            BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Fearing for the safety of its
            citizens, Thailand on Monday urged neighboring Myanmar's
            military government and ethnic rebels to contain any
fighting
            to their side of the border. 

            Rebels from the Shan and Karen ethnic groups announced
            over the weekend that they have joined forces to fight the
            Myanmar army. Intelligence reports cited by the Thai army
            indicate that Myanmar is preparing for a major offensive
            against the rebels. 

            In a statement, Thailand's Foreign Ministry urged all sides
to
            respect Thailand's sovereignty and said no armed group
            would be allowed to use Thai soil to launch attacks. 

            More than 100,000 mostly Karen refugees from Myanmar,
            also known as Burma, are living in camps inside Thailand
            that have served as bases for the ethnic rebels. The
            refugees fled what they say is an ethnic cleansing campaign
            conducted by Myanmar's military. 

            The Karen have been fighting for autonomy from the
            government in Yangon since 1949. 

            Myanmar troops and their allies among the ethnic groups
            were accused last year of raiding and burning several camps
            to destroy support for the Karen National Union, the largest
            of the ethnic armies.