RANGOON, Nov 11, Reuter: Ethnic guerrillas have attacked Burma’s biggest power station, cutting electricity supplies to central Rangoon for more than 24 hours, Official sources said.
Rangoon Radio said Karenni guerrillas hit the Lawpita Hydroelectric power station northwest of the capital with two rockets early on Thursday.
The attack coincided with efforts by some minority groups to take advantage of the military government’s pre-occupation with crushing internal dissent to launch their own strikes from bases near the border.
The Radio said three booster transformers were destroyed; cutting electricity supplies to Rangoon, repair work forced the closure of the whole plant, interrupting supplies also to Mandalay and other places.
Officials in Rangoon said power in central Rangoon was restored only on Friday morning, although some other parts of the city were unaffected.
The radio said security forces ‘were pursuing the attackers, believed to number about 15 men.
The power station is in remote hills in Kayah state, which borders Thailand, an area in which guerrillas have been known to operate.
The Karenni are one of more than a dozen ethnic guerrilla groups fighting the Rangoon’ government for more autonomy some of which have promised a renewed campaign against government forces
Article extracted from this publication >> November 18, 1988
