Funeral of General Bo Mya, a longtime leader of Myanmar's largest guerrilla group

(26 Dec 2006) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot of line of soldiers preparing for funeral ceremony
2. Various of Bo Mya's son Ner Dah carrying a cross at front of procession
3. Soldiers slowy marching in single file with Bo Mya's coffin being carried
4. Soldiers carrying Bo Mya's coffin through crowd
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ner Dah, Bo Mya's son:
"He is passing away (he has passed away), but for me he is always alive. He is alive. He is in our hearts. He will be remembered and victory will be ours. I guarantee. Thank you."
6. Procession carrying body to burial site
7. Various of guard of honour firing rifles in air as gun salute, standing by coffin which is draped in Karen flag
8. Various of soldiers and mourners observing minute's silence
9. Mid shot of soldier with his head bowed, bugle playing
10. Various of officials delivering speeches at funeral
11. Soldiers folding up flag
12. Coffin lid being opened
13. Body of Bo Mya in open coffin
STORYLINE
Three thousand people turned out to attend the funeral on Tuesday of General Bo Mya, a long-time leader of Myanmar's largest guerrilla group.
The ceremony was held at a military camp in Karen state near Myanmar's border with Thailand where relatives and other mourners could pay their final respects. Bo Mya was buried with full military honours.
Bo Mya, who for decades led the fight for greater autonomy for the Karen people and most recently held the post of defence minister, died at a private hospital in western Thailand, near the Myanmar border after suffering a long illness.
Bo Mya is survived by his wife Naw Lar Pow, seven children and two dozen grandchildren.
One of his sons, Ner Dah, told AP Television News that his father's memory would live on.
"For me he is always alive. He is alive. He is in our hearts. He will be remembered and victory will be ours. I guarantee," he said.
The Karen National Union (KNU) has fought for autonomy since Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948.
Over the years, Bo Mya essentially became the face of the movement, leading its fighters in the jungles of Myanmar, then known as Burma.
A barrel-chested, anti-communist and fervent Christian, Bo Mya inspired fear in both friends and enemies and refused over the years to compromise his dream of greater rights for the Karen in Myanmar.
Once in control of large swathes of the Thai-Myanmar border, the KNU has seen its territory shrink to virtually nothing following the capture of their stronghold of Manerplaw in 1995.
According to expert estimates hundreds of thousands of people have died in the conflict, which has been largely hidden from the international spotlight.
However, human rights groups have documented continuing killings, rapes, forced relocations and burning of villages, as the military seeks to control areas of Myanmar regarded as sympathetic to the KNU and other insurgent groups.
The ruling military junta has denied the claims.
Some experts said the death of Bo Mya will not have an impact on the "ongoing dialogue" between the KNU and the junta, while others said it could help bring an end to the long-running conflict.
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[@GeoCalifornian]

General Bo Mya, a giant of a man who fought for Karen freedom.
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