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Myanmar admits border clash
but blames rebels
12:20 a.m. Dec 31, 1999 Eastern BANGKOK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government has admitted there was an armed clash along its border with Bangladesh this week but has said it involved a rebel group, not its own troops as claimed by Dhaka. A Myanmar government spokesman said a group of 20 armed men from the dissident Arakan Army crossed over the border on December 27 and opened fire on a security outpost. A 15-minute exchange of small arms fire and grenade launchers ensued before the Arakans retreated back across the border, the spokesman said in a statement faxed to Reuters late on Thursday. The Myanmar statement came after Bangladesh said there had been a ``three-hour exchange'' on Tuesday, which Dhaka said involved Myanmar government's official frontier force, or Nasaka. Bangladesh authorities said the Myanmar side fired across the border on a frontier camp maintained by its Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Tumbru, 65 km (40 miles) southeast of Cox's Bazar resort town ``without any provocation.'' ``The Nasaka used heavy machine guns while BDR silenced them with mortars,'' a Bangladesh army officer told Reuters on Wednesday. Myanmar had previously denied the reports of exchanges of fire on its border with Bangladesh and claimed they were ``amusing but annoying'' rumours circulated by people ``out to create misunderstanding between two friendly neighbours.'' ``OUTLAWED ARAKAN ARMY'' But Yangon's latest message blamed the trouble on ``the men from the outlawed Arakan Army.'' ``This incident was reported to the Bangladesh authorities at a flag meeting on December 29,'' it said. ``The Myanmar and Bangladesh authorities are working together in cooperation to maintain peace, stability and friendship between the two countries. ``It is regretful to learn that the whole incident has been blown out of proportion and fabricated by those with vested interest(s),'' it said. The Myanmar statement said there had been no reports of casualties on either side. Bangladeshi security officials said on Thursday the two sides had made progress towards reconciliation at their meeting. Cross border shooting incidents are not uncommon between the two sides, often accompanied by Bangladeshi allegations of intrusions by Myanmar forces into its territory. |