The teenage twins who led a band of guerrillas, dubbed the God's Army, in Myanmar's jungles are likely to end up in a refugee camp after surrendering to Thai police, officials said today.
Looking nervous and confused, Johnny and Luther Htoo were paraded in front of journalists along with 12 other members of the group who surrendered yesterday.
Luther chain-smoked cigarettes. His brother Johnny, who has shoulder-length hair, smiled uncertainly at photographers. The two are believed to be in their early teens. Villagers along Thailand's border with Myanmar believe they have magical powers.
Police said a large number of weapons, including 11 M-16s and three AK-47s, had been taken from the group after they gave themselves up.
Officials said the group would be investigated before a decision was made on their fate.
The police said the group, including nine teenagers, were hungry and exhausted and had turned themselves in following heightened security patrols along both sides of the border by Thai and Myanmar forces.
They gave themselves up without a fight to a Thai police unit along the border on yesterday.
There are some 140,000 refugees from Myanmar in Thai camps. Most of them are ethnic Karen people who have fled fighting between Myanmar government forces and autonomy-seeking Karen guerrillas.
Reuters