Rohrabacher Goes Into Burma Illegally, Vows to Aid Students

Congressman-elect Dana Rohrabacher illegally entered Burma on Tuesday and promised more than 800 anti-government Burmese students receiving military training that he would seek U.S. support in their struggle for democracy.

“I admire you. I admire your courage, and I admire your goals for your country,” said Rohrabacher, who was selected last week to represent a congressional district covering portions of Orange County and Long Beach.

Standing in an open field near the Thai-Burmese border, the conservative Republican said, “We know the people of Burma need democracy just like the people of the United States.” He vowed to “carry (the students’) message out to the United States and the world.”

Jack Wheeler, a professional adventurer and champion of conservative causes who was escorting Rohrabacher on the trip, said he expects that President-elect George Bush will give aid to the students if Burma’s military government fails to hold multi-party elections as promised.

Rohrabacher’s audience of more than 800 dissident students joined minority hill tribe guerrillas for protection and military training after Army Gen. Saw Maung seized power Sept. 18 and suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations that had threatened Burma’s authoritarian government.

Western diplomats in Rangoon estimate that more than 1,000 people have been killed since Maung’s takeover.

Several governments, including the United States, Britain and Japan, have halted aid to the Rangoon government to protest the shooting of unarmed demonstrators by the Burmese army.

“President Reagan is very proud of the fact that America stands behind and helps people who are struggling for freedom,” Rohrabacher said.

He said Americans and the anti-government students, despite their diverse racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, were unified by a belief in democracy and freedom.

Thay Baw Boe is across the border from the Pobpra district of Thailand’s Tak province, 275 miles northwest of the Thai capital of Bangkok.

Rohrabacher crossed into Burma without official permission. The government has clamped down on visas to foreigners since student-led demonstrations erupted in August.

Rick Dymkema, Rohrabacher’s campaign manager, said from Los Angeles that the congressman-elect planned to return to California on Nov. 25.

Not Checked in

At the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, press spokesman Ross Petzing said Rohrabacher had not checked in with U.S. officials, but he said he heard through Western reporters that the congressman-elect would hold a press conference this afternoon.

“Congressmen usually will let us know when they are coming because they are interested in having appointments with Thai government officials and so on, but no

one is required to do that. Apparently Mr. Rohrabacher chose not to do so. We don’t know where he is.”

Petzing said it was possible that Rohrabacher could face legal problems with Thai authorities for illegally crossing into Burma.

“Did he legally exit Thailand?” Petzing said. “Did he legally enter Burma? We don’t know.”

Rohrabacher won a hotly contested Republican primary in June in the 42nd Congressional District, where GOP registration is overwhelming.

Iran-Contra figure Oliver L. North, a close friend of Wheeler, campaigned on Rohrabacher’s behalf during the primary season. His conservative district handed him an easy victory last week over Democratic candidate Guy C. Kimbrough.

Rohrabacher is a former broadcast reporter and Reagan White House speech writer. He replaces Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (R-Long Beach), who is retiring from Congress.

New Camp for Students

Karen tribe insurgents have built a new 5-acre camp at Thay Baw Boe for the students, who are between 15 and 25 years old.

Aung Lwin, chairman of the Thay Baw Boe camp and representative of the All Burma Student organization, told United Press International that more students are arriving at the border hide-out daily.

“We do not trust the military regime’s promised election,” Aung Lwin said. “We will fight with guns from now on, but we desperately need foreign aid.”

“I am very happy that the American congressman visited us today, and I hope he will tell the American people about our suffering--and that they will support us later.”

Delegates from 21 Burmese opposition groups also began a conference near the Thai-Burmese border to improve cooperation and set up an alternative government to the military regime in Rangoon.