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| Southeast Asia |
| Burma opposition offered guns by Islamists |
| 2008-09-20 |
| ISLAMIC fundamentalists have offered weapons to Burma's opposition groups with which to fight the ruling military junta. And the resistance groups - which feel they have been left high and dry by the international community - are seriously considering the offer. Former students, who were forced to flee Rangoon after pro-democracy protests in 1988 were violently put down, are said to be discussing the offer in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. They know accepting arms from a group linked to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq could polarise the West against them and damage their revolution. But there are no other offers of weapons to fight the military regime, which is officially known as the State Peace Development Council. Members of the resistance inside Burma want guns and don't care where they come from. They have decided fighting is the only way to freedom and are compiling an arms shopping list. The prospect of a holy war developing in Burma is likely to be greeted with trepidation by neighbouring states including China, which is one of the military junta's prime supporters. Thailand already has a grinding Muslim insurgency in its deep south, fed by militant Islamists operating out of northern Malaysia. Meanwhile, the Karen National Liberation Army, which has waged a war of independence in Burma since 1949, has expressed dismay at the offer of guns from religious zealots. "We are fighting an honourable war to free our people from oppression and want absolutely nothing to do with terrorists," says the KNLA's Colonel Nerdah Mya. "We don't do deals with the devil." |
| Posted by:Classer |
| #6 If you click on the title of the article, thinyen, the link will take you to the original, which is apparently in The Townsville Bulletin, which says about itself The Townsville Bulletin has been a part of the lives of North Queenslanders since 1881. According to the article, Former students, who were forced to flee Rangoon after pro-democracy protests in 1988 were violently put down, are said to be discussing the offer in the Thai border town of Mae Sot. Beyond that, any information you can share that would refine our understanding will be greatly appreciated. No doubt some of our correspondents in Thailand will be able to add to your comments. Thank you! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-09-20 18:54 |
| #5 and what exactly is your source? which "islamist fundamentalists" are you describing? and which section of the "opposition"? we're not one large homogenous mass, you know. also, mae sot is an unlikely venue for this sort of "deal". since the pro-democracy protests of last year, the thai army and intelligence services have been carefully monitoring both mae sot and mae son hong |
| Posted by: thinyen 2008-09-20 08:09 |
| #4 You asked for it newc |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-09-20 04:18 |
| #3 TOPIX > CHINA TO USE "PREEMPTIVE STRIKES" [hit hard, hit often, hit first] AGZ SEPARATIST, ANARCHIST FACTIONS [public disorder], espec agz UIGHURS AS PER RECENT OLYMPICS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-20 02:04 |
| #2 Alert this immediately. |
| Posted by: newc 2008-09-20 00:57 |
| #1 Theres a SHOCKER!? Both INDIA + BANGLIS have complained about the BURMESE GOVT's seeming tolerance for their country being used by Militant Groups as a covert third-party route for attacks + arms transfer. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-20 00:39 |