The Nation -Mongkul denies aiding Burma in offensive

[TIN KYI <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Nation - Jan 22, 2000
Headlines
Mongkul denies aiding Burma in offensive
THAI Armed Forces Supreme Commander Gen Mongkhol Ampornphisit insisted
yesterday that the Thai Army was not helping Burmese troops in their
week-long offensive against ethnic Karen rebel army with the Thai
bombardment of the rebels.
He said the mortar salvo on the rebels was to prevent the fighting from
spilling over into Thai territory.
Mongkol also ruled out talks with the Burmese rebels aimed at containing the
fighting on Burmese soil.
He said it was up to the Foreign Ministry whether the military would hold
discussions with the Karen National Union's splinter group, the so-called
God's Army.
It was not clear if the supreme commander wanted the Foreign Ministry to
protest over the death of four Thai soldiers who, on Thursday, set off a
landmine while on patrol at the Khao Chong Khachome border pass area.
The Thai Army had denied laying the mine, even though the incident occurred
well within Thai territory. It is believed that one of the Burmese warring
factions had laid the mine, said Col Somkuan Saengprathanet, the army's
spokesman.
Fighting between the Burmese government troops and rebel soldiers from the
God's Army over the past week has resulted in about 1,000 refugees fleeing
across the border into Ratchaburi's Suan Phung district.
Lt-Gen Thaweeep Suwanasingha, commander of the First Army Region, during an
interview on Independent Television (iTV) yesterday, said the situation was
under control and that Thai troops were able to prevent the fighting from
spilling over into the Kingdom.
Thaweeep said local villagers living in Suan Phung were not in any danger.
But villagers there have told The Nation a different story. Most expressed
concern with the heavy bombardment by Thai troopers on the Burmese rebels.
Some exclaimed that the shelling had also caused a number of their cattle
and chicken to flee from their cowshed and chicken coups.
Army officials on the ground defended the shelling, saying the aim was to
prevent fighting from spilling across the border (into Thailand).
Many villagers had also complained of sleepless nights during the bombings,
except for 71-year-old Ount Malait who said she had grown accustomed to it.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who is also the Defence Minister, has ordered
the army to beef up security in the area.
The Nation