31/1/00:REQUEST TO UN SECURITY COUN

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

WRITTEN FRIDAY 4-FEB-2000; 6:00AM

Dear Friends:

As all Burma Observers are aware, there has been a very serious
development with regards to ethnic rebel groups at Thai border. On
January 24, about 10 armed rebels from the so-called God's Army, a
splinter group of Karen National Union headed by two 12 years old twin
boys, took control of Ratchaburi provincial hospital and requested Thai
doctors treat their wounded colleagues. Later, the gunmen also requested
Thai army stop shelling their base and Thai authorities give free
passage to refugees. On early morning of 25 January, the Thai Commandoes
raided the hospital and reportedly killed the gunmen. All civilians in
hospital were reported unhurt (news/analysis enclosed).
	Prior to this incident, we received internet reports about Burmese
military launching an attack on God's Army. Reports also said Thai
military had been shelling the rebel base after 4-Thai soldiers were
killed in landmine explosion in Burmese territory. God's Army is made up
of 100 fighters, including children guerrillas. The Burmese army motive
for attacking God's Army is unknown. However, the God's Army had
accepted the 5 student fugitives who staged a siege of Burmese Embassy
in Bangkok in October 1999. Considering unusual rage expressed by
Burmese military leaders about the Bangkok Embassy Siege (FEER,
18-Nov-99, report enclosed), one possibility is that the SPDC/SLORC
taking revenge on the God's Army.
	The tension at Thai-Burmese border has reached the most dangerous phase
when Thai Commandoes killed all gunmen who seized Ratchaburi hospital.
Unconfirmed report claims that the God's Army has vowed a revenge on
killing of its comrades. The mainstream KNU and larger part of Burmese
exiled community will unlikely to take revenge on that incident.
However, one cannot ruled out the revenge by disgruntled individuals or
by isolated groups. In worst case scenario, there is possibility of
SPDC/SLORC agents or the hardline elements within Thai military inciting
violence in border community to serve their political ends.
	The ethnic conflict in Burma is certainly spilling over into Thailand,
in addition to the refugee flows. This situation is threatening security
of Thailand. We must call upon United Nations Security Council to
decisively intervene the situation in Burma. Enclosed is my letter to UN
Security Council president and members. Please make effort to write to
UNSC and your government. I have also included addresses of Security
Council members and Telefax numbers.

WITH BEST REGARDS, U NE OO.

ENCLOSURES:
1. LETTER TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS (31/1/2000)
2. ADDRESSES OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
3. INTERNET/PRESS RELEASE ON (25/1/00) ABOUT THAI HOSPITAL SIEGE
4. LATEST NEWS ON THAI SIEGE, SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (27/1/00)

***********************************************
(1) LETTER TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS (31/1/00)

Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA.

January 31, 2000.

H.E. ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE
President, UN Security Council
Ambassador, Argentina Mission to UN
One United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017. USA.

Your Excellency:

re: Thailand-Burma border situation

I call your attention to the recent developments at the Thailand-Burma
border. In recent weeks, the Burmese military launched an attack against
a small-splintered Karen guerrilla army, known as God's Army. The God's
Army is headed by two 12 years old twin boys and is made up of 100 armed
rebels, including children guerrillas. There was also disturbing reports
about the Thai army's 9th Division became involved in the fight between
Burmese army and the rebels. The Thai army reportedly shell the rebel
base after 4 Thai soldiers killed in a landmine explosion in Burmese
territory.
	
On the morning of 24th January, ten armed rebels from God's Army took
control of Ratchaburi provincial hospital, and demanded Thai doctors
treat their wounded colleagues. Later, the gunmen also demanded Thai
army stop shelling their base and Thai authorities give free passage to
the refugees. On early morning of 25th January, the Thai commandoes
raided the hospital and reportedly killed all the gunmen. The God's Army
has reportedly vowed to take revenge on killing of their comerades.
	
For several years, there have been a large number of refugees and
displaced people from Burma crossing over into Thailand. I also like to
recall, as in earlier communication to you in 6th September 1999, the
Burmese military junta has engaged in illicit drug production and
trafficking. For long time, Thailand has been inundated by heroin and
cheap amphetamine-type-stimulant tablets produced in Burma. At this
time, it become evident that the political and military conflict in
Burma has spilled over into Thailand in its most violent form. It is
clear that the situation in Burma is threatening the peace and security
of Thailand.
		
I therefore call upon you to convene the UN Security Council meeting to
discuss the situation in Burma. The UN Security Council must demand the
Government of Burma to improve its human rights records immediately and
to accelerate the transition towards democratic rules.
	
In closing, I thank you for your kind attention to this matter. 

Yours respectfully and sincerely
(Sd.U Ne Oo)

Copy to:
1. H.E. Arnold Manuel Listre (Argentina), President of Security Council
2. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
*****************
(2) ADDRESSES OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS OF FEBRUARY 2000

UN Security Council has 15 members, 5 Permanent Members (United States,
China, France, United Kingdom and Russian Federation) and 10 elected by
General Assembly to the Security Council. Current 10 members of SC
elected are Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali
Namibia, Netherlands, Tunisia and Ukraine. The Presidency of Security
Council is assigned in rotation. Currently, Presidency is held by
Agentina, The Hon. Ambassador, ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE.

Argentina:
**********
H.E. ARNOLD MANUEL LISTRE
President, UN Security Council
Permanent Representative 
         of Argentina to the United Nations
One United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017. USA. 
Telefax: (+1-212)980-8395

United States of America:
*************************
H.E. RICHARD HOLBROOK 
Permanent Representative of 
 the United States to the United Nations 
799 United Nations Plaza 
New York, N.Y. 10017-3505 
Telefax: (+1-212)415-4443 

Russian Federation:
*******************
H.E. MR SERGEY V. LAVROV
Permanent Representative of 
   the Russian Federation to the United Nations 
136 East 67th Street 
New York, N.Y. 10021 
Telefax: (+1-212)628-0252 

United Kingdom of Great Britain:
********************************
H.E. SIR JOHN WESTON
Permanent Representative of 
    the United Kingdom to the United Nations 
One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 
885 Second Avenue 
New York, N.Y. 10017 
Telefax: (+1-212)745-9316 

France:
*******
H.E. M JEAN-BERNARD MERIMEE
Permanent Representative of 
  France to the United Nations 
One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza 
245 East 47th Street, 44th Floor 
New York, N.Y. 10017 
Telefax: (+1-212)421-6889 

China:
******
H.E. MR LI ZHAOXING 
Permanent Representative of 
the People's Republic of China to the United Nations 
350 East 35th Street 
New York, N.Y. 10016 
Telefax: (+1-212)634-7626 
--------------------------------------------------------------

(3) INTERNET/PRESS RELEASE POSTED ON TUESDAY 25, 2000; 6:00AM

GOD'S ARMY: OUR YOUNG LIBERATORS IN WRONG STEP

There has been a dramatic development at the Ratchaburi province in
recent hours. About 10 armed rebels from God's Army, which led by 12
years old twin brothers and a splinter group of Karen National Union,
has taken control of local Thai hospital and demanded Thai doctors treat
their colleagues. The Thai authorities sent down a 300 strong police
force to handle the hospital siege. Thai interior minister instructed
police to take tough action against the rebels.

In recent weeks, the Burmese army has  been in its dry season offensive
against God's Army, which made up of 100 guerrillas. There have been
unconfirmed reports of Thai army shelling of these rebels, after having
lost four soldiers in an explosion of landmine within Burmese terrtory.
The God's Army is certainly under pressure from two armies. The rebels
demand, so far, seems to be to treat their wounded colleagues at that
hospital. Whether Burmese army has any taste for military victory over
the God's Army is something to ponder. But any suggestion on this
hospital siege as terrorist activity may considered being far-fetched.

For outside observers, the overall political picture at the Thai/Burmese
border have suddenly become confusing since November-1999. The plight of
Burmese migrant workers, though, have eased somewhat. But, there are
unconfirmed reports of Thai military pushing the refugees(recent
arrivals) across Burmese border. The UNHCR has also been requested by
Thai NSC to step up efforts to stem the tide of inflow of Burmese
refugees into Thailand. Recent reports by Bangkok Post regarding
repatriation of refugees to Burma are also not helping to alleviate our
confusion. Some information blackout on the Internet has also been
detected.

One notable thing of our political movement is that its precarious
existence amongst powerful international political forces. The ethnic
rebel fighters, especially, have to rely on the understanding of
neighboring government/army. In politics, these supports are fragile and
slight mistake could have make a lot of damage.

Though political consequence for the God's Armys hospital siege may be
undesirable, it will be quite unfair to blame the God's Army for taking
such drastic action. Only those who are on the ground would know the
kind of pressure applied by Burmese and Thai army. I am quite concern
about the situation in Thailand as the usual communications from our
groups via internet are not receiving. Another unfortunate factor:
passing away last December of U Tin Maung Win, who was the Vice-chair of
DAB. When activist of this stature died, various contacts and
leadership  went away with him. There is certain vacuum exists as
regards ethnic federal movement.

In any case, I can certainly foresee a tougher time ahead for all our
pro-democracy groups in Thailand. Furthermore, a lot more refined
political judgment will have to be made by our refugees and
pro-democracy leaders by themselves, in order to keep our ethnic federal
movement alive.

With best regards, U Ne Oo.
******************************************
(4) LATEST NEWS ON THAI SIEGE
South China Morning Post, January 27, 2000.
Troops' border action spurred Karen attack

The Thai security forces that so proudly and decisively ended the siege
may also have triggered the crisis. Several sources said the Thai army
had recently appeared to let Burmese troops move across Thai territory
to attack the self-styled God's Army in their border enclave.
	
As a result, the hard-pressed breakaway group of perhaps 150 Karen
Christian fighters decided to lay mines on a key "backdoor" pathway into
their stronghold.
	
The seeds of an unfolding crisis continued to be sewn a week ago when
four Thai soldiers - allegedly chasing God's Army people inside Burmese
territory, according to one source - trod on some of the landmines and
were blown up.
	
In retaliation, the army started shelling the nearest Karen community,
inflicting casualties on soldiers and civilians.  In desperation, 10 of
the Karen burst across the border and tried to put pressure on the Thais
by taking hostages. It may have been just a whim that led them to target
the hospital.
	
The God's Army - no more than a few score fighters and perhaps a few
hundred families - live in a tough world. They were trying to hold off
an army notorious among human rights observers for killing, raping and
pillaging in vulnerable Karen villages.
	
Unfortunately for the God's Army, the 9th Infantry Division opposite
them is notorious for its rough handling of refugees and dissidents and
its close relations with its Burmese army counterparts across the
border.
	
Several pro-democracy activists in Thailand said this engagement with
the regime's dark side was both morally and politically wrong.
	
"It would not be good for Thailand to dance to the song of Rangoon,"
said Somchai Homlaor, the Secretary-general of the Asia Forum on Human
Rights. 	

"If we don't stay neutral in this conflict then the violence is likely
to spread to Thailand."
	
This may already be happening. Unconfirmed reports from the border claim
that God's Army - under the mystical leadership of 12-year-old twin
brothers - have sworn revenge for the killings.


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