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Article: Twins and their followers energize Burma rebels; Two 12-year-olds made headlines last week for their group's jaunt into Thailand. But little is known of their background.(World)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- February 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Few have ever met twins Johnny and Luther Htoo. But the story of the 12-year-old brothers has brought new attention to the struggle of ethnic minorities who are fighting for independence on the border with Thailand. A group born out of desperation, the boys' "God's Army" rebels are a rag-tag force who make their home in the mountainous jungles of Burma.
God's Army's reputation far exceeds its military might. A mere 100 to 150 men are estimated to follow the two boys. While its exploits are attracting new followers, it's still just a radical fringe of the Karen National Union (KNU), the established group of rebels fighting for independence. "It looms large, but ...