Asia 895
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Burmese forces crossed the border into Thailand in pursuit of anti-
government rebels from the Karen National Union. Thai police reported that Thai
forces had fired warning shots but were ignored. The Burmese forces were then
caught in fire from both Thai and rebel forces, and at least 20 Burmese soldiers
were killed. On February 14, Thai authorities warned the Karen rebels against
using their territories.
Coding changes: End Date changed from February 21, 1990.
MID#3574
Dispute Number: 3574
Date(s): February 1, 1992 to December 25, 1992
Participants: 775 Myanmar/800 Thailand
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: Although the foremost issue for this dispute was Myanmar’s desire
for Thailand to end assistance to the Karen rebels, territory was an underlying
issue: Thailand and Myanmar disputed possession of territory along much of the
border, including at Hill 491. In January 1992 the Myanmar government was
engaged in an effort to wipe out the remaining Karen rebels, which brought them
to Manerplaw, on the border with Thailand, where the Karen rebel headquarters
were located. Many Karen bases were vulnerable to attack from Thailand.
The dispute began on February 1, 1992, when Burmese (Myanmar) troops
chased Karen rebels onto Hill 491 in southwestern Chumpon province, Thailand,
and occupied it. Myanmar troops then began to construct a bridge across the Moei
River near Mae Sot, Thailand, for a more advantageous strategic position, and the
Thai air force responded by attacking a group of 100 Myanmar soldiers who had
crossed into Thailand. The fighting continued over the next several months. The
government continued to attack Karen bases in March with the goal of captur-
ing those bases by March 27, their Armed Forces Day. On March 14, Myanmar
warned Thailand to withdraw its troops from the border or face attack. Thailand
responded by putting its air force on alert and reinforcing its border presence.
Myanmar troops crossed into Thailand, and on March 17 troops from the two
states clashed.
Thailand warned Myanmar to withdraw its troops from Thai territory the next
day, and hours later the Thai air force raided Myanmar bases in Thailand.
The Myanmar government never succeeded in capturing Karen headquarters
at Manerplaw. On April 28, 1992, Rangoon announced that it was suspending
operations against the Karen rebels for “the sake of national unity”; however, the
unilateral ceasefire was only selectively enforced. The real cause of the suspension
of fighting was most likely the approaching monsoon season which would have
made offensive actions virtually impossible.
In July 1992 US Secretary of State Baker requested ASEAN to protest the
human-rights abuses in Myanmar. The United Nations also denounced Myanmar
for human-rights violations, and Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize continued