From: 3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU (Elliott Parker)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Subject: TH: Burmese troops to help in drug busting
Date: 1 Oct 92 14:22:05 GMT
Organization: Central Michigan University
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 92 01:45:19+0700
From: yongyuth@ipied.tu.ac.th (Yongyuth Pahirah)

The Nation, Phetchaburi, Oct 1 edition

HUNDREDS of Burmese soldiers are set to help Thai forces launch a two-pronged
attack on the base of an armed narcotics producing group in border jungle
here, a Burmese army officer said yesterday.

  Col Tha Win, commander of a Burmese army battalion based at a border post
  opposite the Singkhon border checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan province,
  told <m:4>The Nation <m:0>he had been instructed by his superiors to lead
  his troops against the drug traders' camp from Burmese territory.

  More Burmese soldiers would be sent to reinforce about 300 troops of the
  battalion in the attack, he said.

  The officer said Burmese forces had tried to overrun the jungle base of the
  armed group several times but had lost many soldiers after facing strong
  resistance from their powerful forces.

  The Burmese government wants to make the fertile area occupied by the drug
  producers a residential community and will have to attack their base, he
  said.

  Tha Win said the private army protecting the narcotics camp was composed
  mainly of remnants of Communist Party of Burma guerrillas.

  Border patrol police and the military have been mobilizing combat forces for
  an offensive against the base in jungle in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krajan
  subdistrict after armed guards last month ambushed a nine-man Thai border
  patrol police team, killing five. Four patrolmen were rescued after an
  ordeal of more than three weeks in the jungle.

  Sources said on Tuesday a border patrol police squad was moving closer to a
  confrontation with a larger armed force protecting the base of the narcotics
  producers as the Thai forces prepared to launch an offensive.

  Sources said the Thai forces had asked for combat support from Burmese
  troops and Karen minority forces based around the target area.

  Karen sources in Phetchaburi yesterday said two other companies of Karen
  troops, whose bases are opposite Pran Buri district in Prachuap Khiri Khan
  province, were moving towards the base to join forces which advanced to the
  area a few days ago.

  A highly-placed border patrol police source yesterday said police have
  already asked the army to send attack helicopters to support the ground
  forces' offensive against the base.

  Supreme Commander ACM Voranat Apicharee yesterday said the military will let
  border patrol police decide when to attack the base because they initiated
  the offensive plan.

  The assault should be launched at an appropriate time, Voranat said, adding
  he was not worried about police starting the offensive and did not expect
  any problems in their operation.

  If the police forces faced strong resistance, the military would send combat
  forces to help them.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU