Crackdown outcome of Johnny statement

Crackdown outcome of Johnny statement

Thai-Burma relations 

The Thai army's order on 20 December for all dissident groups in Kanchanaburi's Sangklaburi district was he direct result of a statement by the victorious Burmese Student Warriors (VBSW) implicating the Kanchanaburi-based 9th Division for the disappearance of Johnny, an ex-student who became well-known when he took part in Bangkok's Burmese embassy seige in October 1999, said a Thai security official yesterday. 

The statement reported by Bangkok Post on 12 December charged the Karen National Union elements for turning over Johnny a.k.a. Kyaw Ni to the Thai army in July 2000. The 9th Division's Surasi Task Force chief, Maj Gen Mana Prachakjit denied the army had anything to do with his disappearance. 

"Bangkok, I believe, didn't have a hand in the clamp down", said the officer, which was supported by another officer from a different agency. "It was just the 9th Division that, unlike many other parts of the kingdom, also wields administrative power over local affairs." 

"Of course those who have business contracts with Rangoon are happy with the Division's tough position with regards to the dissidents", he added. 

The security officers, however, were not certain whether the Sangklaburi crackdown would spread to other cities in Thailand. "It will depend on many factors", said one who declined to elaborate. 

Bangkok-based Forum Asia, meanwhile, "believes the incident is part of systematic efforts on behalf of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration to impose restrictions on activities of pro-democracy and human rights groups working on Burma issues," according to its press release yesterday (24 December).