The twin 12-year-old boys who lead a Burmese guerrilla group were reported fleeing separately through a jungle yesterday after government troops seized their home camp.
Thai military intelligence said 100 young members of God’s Army had split up into three separate groups – one following Johnny Htoo, a second following his twin Luther, and a third following adult rebel Su Bia.
God’s Army members took part in the seizure of a Thai hospital that ended when commandos retook the complex and shot 10 rebels dead.
The fleeing fundamentalist Christian guerrillas, many of them teenagers, were believed to be heading for Karjom Mountain, near their fallen camp at Ka Mar Pa Law on the Burma side of the Thai-Burmese border.
The dissident radio station Democratic Voice of Burma said yesterday that Ka Mar Pa Law fell earlier in the day.
The Thai government angered the rebels – and triggered the hospital seizure – when it shelled the base over the weekend to prevent them from taking refuge in Thailand.
After their bloodless capture of the provincial hospital at Ratchaburi, the rebels demanded an end to the shelling and the opening of the border to refugees.
Thai officials were initially praised for the quick end to the hospital crisis – then criticized when former hostages said the commandos executed the rebels after they surrendered.
One former hostage said she saw the commandos order the rebels to undress and kneel – then shoot them in the head.
Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Sanan Kajornklam did not confirm the report but said:
“A well-trained commando normally will shoot to kill, especially with a head shot.”