voa on the crisis [report 2]

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ATE=10/1/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=THAILAND - BURMA EMBASSY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254577
BYLINE=RON CORBEN
DATELINE=BANGKOK
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

    /// EDS: WATCH CN WIRE FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES ///

INTRO:  In Bangkok, gunmen who seized control of the 
Burmese embassy have released two of their hostages.  
Negotiations are continuing for the release of up to 
40 other people still being held.  The hostages' 
release today (Saturday) follows an overnight stand-
off in talks between the attackers - a group of young 
Burmese who call themselves "vigorous student 
warriors" - and the Thai authorities.  The gunmen have 
been demanding safe passage to the Thai-Burmese 
border.  Ron Corben reports from Bangkok.

TEXT:  Hostage-takers at the Burmese embassy in 
Bangkok, brandishing automatic rifles and carrying 
hand grenades, released two hostages Saturday morning 
-- a Thai woman and a Burmese embassy employee.

Both were led away from the embassy compound, located 
in the city's financial and diplomatic district, to 
waiting ambulances that took them to hospitals.

The Burmese man was wearing a sling on his right arm.

Talks between Thai negotiators and a dozen gunmen 
holding hostages at the embassy resumed early 
Saturday, local time, after a tense overnight stand-
off at the compound, which was seized Friday in a 
daring daylight raid.

Thai police say they were discounting threats by one 
of the attackers that hostages would be killed unless 
the gunmen are flown to the Thai-Burmese border by 
helicopter.  

The Thai authorities say they rejected the demand.

// OPT //  Thai police have taken into custody several 
young Burmese men at the scene outside the compound 
for questioning.  // END OPT //

One of the atackers' initial demands - a call for the 
release of all political prisoners in Burma, and for 
the Burmese military government to enter into 
meaningful dialogue with the opposition National 
League for Democracy - has been dropped.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who visited the 
scene overnight, called for a peaceful end to the 
stand-off, without bloodshed. 

Hostages contacted by telephone said they were being 
well treated.

                    /// REST OPT ///

Up to 40 people were being held hostage in the embassy 
compound.  The attackers made a daring raid on the 
compound just before noon local time Friday.

They seized control of the Embassy's passport and visa 
section, rounding up several foreigners and about 20 
Thais, along with Burmese staff and their families who 
live in apartments at the rear of the compound.

Senior Thai police officials said the hostages 
included nationals from France, Canada, Singapore and 
Malaysia.  Hostages contacted inside the building by 
telephone say the group included an American, an 
Australian and a German national.

The armed attackers, calling themselves the "Vigorous 
Burmese Student Warriors," lowered the Burmese 
national flag, replacing it with a banner emblazoned 
with a red fighting peacock, considered a symbol of 
the anti-military movement in Burma.

Burmese student groups in exile in Thailand as well as 
leaders from the Burma's ethnic Karen refugee 
community have condemned the attack, denying any links 
with the group.   (Signed)

NEB/RC/WTW



01-Oct-1999 23:05 PM EDT (02-Oct-1999 0305 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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