Rebels Seize Thai Villages

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 17

Rebels Seize Thai Villages

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BANGKOK, December 18. Reinforced Government forces, including police paratroops, have been rushed to northern Thailand to free four Meo villages seized by Com-munist-trained Meo rebels.

The rebels, about 100 in number and clad in Viet Cong-style black uniforms, had so far avoided largescale fighting with a Government force of 1000 men, but have laid several ambushes in the last week, and in one clash they killed seven policemen.

The rebels are believed to be part of a force of about 500 members of the Meo tribe —found in the mountainous regions of Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Laos—who are said by the Government to have infiltrated into

northern Thailand from Laos last November after receiving training in North Vietnam. Government jet aircraft were used against them for the first time early this month, but there has been no information on rebel casualties. The fighting has so far been limited to three neigh-1 bouring provinces, Petcha-| boon. Phitsanuloke and Loey, ■ about 250 miles north of! Bangkok. Press reports say thei police have discovered a rebel plan to seize the three provinces, set up an autonomous region with a “people’s liberation army,” and cut off northern Thailand from the rest of the country. The reports say a Government force yesterday captured a Meo village which the rebels had been using as a staging point for about 300 armed men, led by a former Meo headman who had assumed the rank of lieutenantcolonel. The reports add that a Government radar station in the area has detected five unidentified helicopters flying into Thailand, apparently bringing in supplies for the rebels.