Thu, Jan 18, 2001 page1

• God's Army leaders seek refuge in Thailand

  SURRENDER Myanmar rebel leaders Johnny and Luther Htoo gave themselves up to Thai authorities, and could be granted asylum by the government

  • AP
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  Thailand will consider giving humanitarian asylum to Johnny and Luther Htoo, the twin boy leaders of a mystical rebel movement from Myanmar who surrendered with some of their followers, an official said yesterday.

  Also yesterday, one more follower of the twins surrendered to the army, bringing to 15 the number of God's Army members in Thai custody, other officials said.

  

  The Karen twins Johnny, second from right, and Luther Htoo, right, leaders of the mystical Myanmar rebel movement God's Army, along with other God's Army children are guarded by Thai police yesterday at Ratchaburi, a police border station in Suang Phung district near the Myanmar border.

  PHOTO: AFP

  The twins and 12 of their followers turned themselves over to Thai authorities on Tuesday after a year on the run along the Thai-Myanmar border. The followers included five boys, two girls, one middle-aged woman and four adult men or older teenagers.

  "We learned that the reason for their surrender is a lack of supplies and food, and also because they are under pressure from both Myanmar and Thai forces," said Komes Daengthongdee, the governor of Ratchaburi province, where the group surrendered.

  Ratchaburi is 100km west of the Thai capital, Bangkok.

  For more than three years, the boys had fought to overthrow Myanmar's military government, and their followers believe Johnny and Luther have magical powers that make them invincible in battle. The boys once claimed to have several hundred followers.

  "If they ran away from fighting, they will be considered for temporary asylum in Thailand," Komes said.

  "But if they entered illegally, they will be charged with illegal entry and pushed back," Komes said at a news conference where the twins and 10 other members were presented.

  There was no immediate comment from Myanmar's military regime. Komes said Myanmar has not asked for the extradition of the God's Army leaders and members.

  Last year, the Htoo twins became icons for youthful rebellions around the world after the widespread circulation of a photograph showed the angelic-looking, long-haired Johnny posing next to his tougher-looking, cigarette-puffing brother, Luther. The boys claimed to be 12 when the picture was taken in December 1999.

  Most, if not all, of the God's Army followers are members of Myanmar's sizable ethnic Karen minority, which has long sought autonomy from the central government.

  About 100,000 Karen and other refugees from Myanmar, mostly members of ethnic minorities, live in refugee camps along the border with Thailand after fleeing fighting between rebel groups and the Myanmar army.

  Many Karens, like the twins, are fundamentalist Christians, and most of the rebel groups support the pro-democracy efforts of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. But God's Army's unsophisticated political beliefs are mostly driven by hatred for Myanmar's army.

  Thailand's military often has ignored rebel activities along the border, but the involvement of God's Army in terrorist attacks inside Thailand has drawn the ire of Bangkok, too.

  Yesterday, true to form, Luther Htoo was smoking a cigarette when the child soldiers were presented to the media at the Border Patrol Police headquarters near where they surrendered. He grinned when a reporter shouted his name.

  Johnny, with tattoos visible on his arm under a tatty yellow-and-white striped shirt, smiled when hearing his name, but he looked tense.

  Both boys looked unhealthy. Luther appeared to be very thin and Johnny seemed to have a bloated belly. Governor Komes said Thai doctors had examined the boys and found they were not sick, but that some of their companions were.

  Two of those who surrendered on Tuesday and the one who turned himself in yesterday are suspected of taking part in a Dec. 30 raid in which a Thai border village was looted and six villagers were killed.

  God's Army first gained notoriety after it gave refuge to another group of Myanmar dissidents who had taken hostages at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok in October 1999.

  The Thais had allowed them to go free in exchange for releasing the captives.

  Several months later, members of the same dissident group took control of a Ratchaburi hospital, demanding that the Thai government send medicine and doctors to treat ethnic Karen people injured in fighting with Myanmar troops. All hostage-takers were killed by Thai commandos.
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