896 Chapter 6
to bring negative international attention to Myanmar’s regime. On October 6,
Myanmar soldiers arrested 10 Thai officials who had gone to Myanmar to secure
the release of Thai citizens but released the officials over the course of the fol-
lowing week. In late November negotiations between Thai Army Commander
Lt. General Yingyot Chotepimai and SLORC Maj. General Maung Aye broke
down. Myanmar sent two additional battalions to the hill, and the SLORC foreign
minister, U Ohn Gyaw, flew to Bangkok to talk with his Thai counterpart, Prasong
Soonsiri. They scheduled additional talks beginning on December 8. Thai Lt. General
Yingyot Chotepimai traveled to Rangoon and agreed with Myanmar military officials
to demilitarize Hill 491. On December 15, both sides began to withdraw troops from
the border, and by December 25, they completed their withdrawals, as called for in
the agreement.
Coding changes: Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#4002
Dispute Number: 4002
Date(s): February 8, 1995 to March 1, 1995
Participants: 800 Thailand/775 Myanmar
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This is another cross-border fight between Thailand and Myanmar that
was instigated by a rebel group. In this case Karen rebels were fighting Myanmar’s
government in attempt to overthrow the regime. They fled to the dense forests of
the mountain country, and Burmese mortar and infantry attacks on the group would
often spillover onto Thai territory. Thai forces almost always responded. The fighting
focused on the Karen base at Kawmoora, near the Thai village of Mae Sot.
MID#4003
Dispute Number: 4003
Date(s): January 3, 1996 to January 8, 1996
Participants: 775 Myanmar/800 Thailand
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Drug warlord Khun Sa surrendered to Burmese officials in January 1996
so as to avoid extradition to the United States. The US Drug Enforcement Agency
listed a $2 million reward for his arrest. As part of the surrender, Burmese forces
replaced the warlord’s holdings with their own troops in Ban Doi Lang, a mountain
just on the other side of the border with Thailand. Thailand protested and put their
forces on alert.
MID#4138
Dispute Number: 4138
Date(s): January 13, 1999