Myanmar dissidents free most hostages, leave Bangkok embassy

October 2, 1999
Web posted at: 1:38 p.m. HKT (0538 GMT)

From staff and wire reports

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- A group of student rebels who seized the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand freed most of their hostages early Saturday afternoon and left the embassy grounds to board a nearby helicopter.

Earlier Saturday, the student rebels -- who seized the embassy Friday morning -- released two hostages, a man and a pregnant woman. Most of the more than 30 remaining were released Saturday afternoon, but the 14 rebels continued to hold some as they moved toward the airfield.

Two vans were standing by near embassy compound, and a helicopter landed at a nearby school as a deadline of noon (0500 GMT) approached.

They told Thai authorities they wanted to be flown to the Thai-Myanmar border to join an unidentified "revolutionary group." Their hostages included 13 Myanmar diplomats, Thais and other Asian and Western nationals.

The government of Myanmar, formerly Burma, has refused to convene the parliament legally elected in 1990. The rebels want all political prisoners in their homeland released and for the government to allow that parliament to assume office.

The students, who called themselves the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, warned Myanmar's government would be "fully responsible for the consequences of this action" if ignored their demands. Other dissident groups have distanced themselves from the militants who seized the embassy.

Negotiations resumed Saturday after being suspended for several hours. Earlier, senior police officials had bargained with the anti-government activists, offering to trade food and water for the release of the hostages.

Myanmar authorities closed all border crossing points with Thailand and will not allow any land entry into Myanmar until further notice. Myanmar authorities would not explicitly say their action was directly related to the hostage situation in Bangkok.

Scattered gunfire could be heard in the embassy compound Saturday, but there were no reports of injuries outside.

Reuters contributed to this report.