THAILAND: BURMESE FORCES PREPARE FOR ASSAULT ON LAST KAREN REBEL BORDER STRONGHOLD

Record ID: 639754

  • Title: THAILAND: BURMESE FORCES PREPARE FOR ASSAULT ON LAST KAREN REBEL BORDER STRONGHOLD
  • Date: 10th February 1995
  • Summary: MAE SOT, THAILAND (FEBRUARY 10, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV PAN/ZOOM: VIEWS OF KAWMOORA FROM THAI SIDE OF BORDER (AUDIO EXPLOSIONS) (4 SHOTS) 0.32 2. SLV/CU: UNEXPLODED SHELL ON THAI SIDE OF BORDER 0.41 3. SLV: SOLDIER TALKS TO FAMILY IN THAI VILLAGE WHO REFUSE TO LEAVE DESPITE DANGER 0.52 4. MV: EVACUATED THAI FAMILIES IN NEARBY SCHOOL (3 SHOT) 1.08 5. CU INT: HELICOPTER 1.13 6. GV: AERIAL VIEW OF REBEL ENCAMPMENT 1.18 7. SLV: THAI GUNNERS STAND BY ARTILLERY GUN 1.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 25th February 1995 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MAE SOT, THAILAND
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVA7YSMJCNUE7MNG1HOK9MYIXGC7
  • Story Text: Burmese forces are bringing in reinforcements and more ammunition in preparation for another assault on the last major Karen rebel border stronghold, a Thai army commander said on Friday (February 10).

    The Burmese army suffered heavy losses when their troops attacked the well fortified Karen base of Kawmoora on Wednesday but they appear determined to capture the base at any cost, said Colonel Direk Yeamngarmrieb.

    With the capture of the Karen's Manerplaw headquarters on January 27 the village of Kawmoora, situated on a horseshoe-shaped loop in the Moei river which forms the border with Thailand, represents the guerrillas' last major frontier stronghold.

    Burmese forces are dug in on two hills several hundred metres (yards) to the west from where they fire down into the Karen base.

    Guerrillas say Burmese troops are preparing to cross into Thailand, double back, and attack Kawmoora from its more vulnerable rear.

    On Friday Burmese troops unleashed an artillery barrage including phosphorous shells aiming at protective undergrowth in Kawmoora and on the Thai bank of the Moei in what guerrillas said was obvious preparation for an attack through Thailand.

    A Reuters news crew, flying over the Thai side of the border in a Thai army helicopter, could clearly see Burmese shells landing well inside Thai territory.


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