Military

DATE=04/07/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=MALAYSIA / BURMA EMBASSY (SHORT)

NUMBER=2-314835

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

INTRO: The Burmese embassy in Malaysia has been destroyed after several men hurled firebombs at the two-story building. Police have arrested three men for the arson attack. More from Nancy-Amelia Collins in Bangkok.

TEXT: Police officials in Kuala Lumpur say three men went to the Burmese embassy Wednesday morning to collect some papers but were turned away by security guards.

They later returned to the embassy and were allowed to enter. Shortly after, they hurled firebombs, setting a blaze that gutted the small building.

Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's richest countries, is home to tens of thousands of Burmese immigrants.

Sunai Phasuk from Human Rights Watch in Bangkok says it is too early to know the reason for the attack, but he says many Burmese in Malaysia feel frustrated.

/// SUNAI ACT ///

The embassy fails in fact to convince the Malaysian government to treat those asylum seekers and migrant workers with dignity, with respect to human rights.

/// END ACT ///

Police and fire crews have sealed off access to the embassy. (SIGNED)

HK/NEB/NAC/KPD