Sabotage acts by Thet Win Aung were aimed at jeopardizing security of the State and the rule of law

Yangon, 2 Nov —The following is the clarification made by Director-General Brig-Gen Khin Yi of MPF at the press conference 7/2006, here, today.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

Now is the time when the entire people of Myanmar are building a peaceful, modern and developed nation according to the seven-step Road Map. But there are some destructive elements and terrorists within and without the nation who cannot bear to see the internal forces working in unity and concert for national development. These elements, in cahoots with foreign media, are plotting through various ways and means to destabilize the nation. They are always attempting to tarnish the image of the government and mislead the innocent people by hurling accusations at the government, by inventing stories and rumours and by distributing anti-government leaflets. I would like to explain one of such accusations and events that hit the headlines on the Internet recently. It was about the death of prisoner Thet Win Aung who was doing time in Mandalay Jail for breaking the existing laws. As there have been rumours about his death, I would like to explain it.

Thet Win Aung was sentenced to 57 years in prison under Section 5 (J), Publishing Act 17/20, Unlawful Associations Act 17 (1) and Immigration Act 13 (1). While he was serving time in Mandalay Jail, he received medical treatment. But he died due to congestive cadiomyopathy on 16-10-2006. Regarding his death, those responsible made all the necessary investigations.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

Thet Win Aung was born of U Win Maung and Daw Mya Mya Aye in Tamway Township, Yangon, in 1971. He went to No. 3 Basic Education Primary School and No. 5 Basic Education High School till he left school in 1992-1993.

During the 1988 disturbances, he joined the Student Union. At that time, he was reading in the ninth standard at No. 5 BEHS. In 1989, he took the leading role in the formation of the basic education student union (Yangon District). In 1997, together with Min Zin, a student union leader, left the country secretly for Mesalin, Thailand, and made contact with the office of ABSDF, a terrorist group. This group is committing terrorist and destructive acts in the name of students such as planting mines, detonating bombs, collecting extortion money and killing innocent people. Therefore, the State Peace and Development Council on 12-4-2006 made Notification No. 1/2006, declaring ABSDF as a terrorist organization. After becoming a mem-ber of ABSDF, Thet Win Aung went to Bangkok in December, 1997. On 9 August, 1998, ABSDF leader Min Zin ordered Thet Win Aung to re-enter Myanmar and create disturbances and carry out anti-government activities in the country.

Thet Win Aung, now a member of ABSDF terrorist organization, constantly created disturbances after re-entering the country illegally. The 24-member group, including Thet Win Aung, persuaded artless students to carry out sabotage acts and distributed anti-government leaflets. Moreover, on 24-8-98, near the Hledan junction, the group attempted to incite a demostration, chanting anti-government slogans and waving flags with the emblem of a fighting peacock. And again on 22-9-98, they incited a demonstration in front of Nilar Restaurant at the corner of Anawrahta Road and the 30th Street and distributed anti-government leaflets, thus causing unrest.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

It was found that such sabotage acts by Thet Win Aung were aimed at jeopardizing security of the State and prevailing law and order and harming the moral and behaviour of the people. He distributed anti-government leaflets and incited demostrations to cause public disturbances.

He left the country illegally, made contact with anti-government organizations and joined the terrorist group. Then, he re-entered the country illegally via Thailand. He made many attempts to harm law and order and cause unrest. Thus, he was sentenced to 57 years in prison on 15-1-99 for committing nine major offences.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

On 11-4-99, eighty-six prisoners, including Thet Win Aung, were transfered from Insein Jail to Kalay Prison because there were too many prisoners in Insein Jail.

Thet Win Aung was making one trouble after another in prison and failed to follow prison rules and regulations. During his stay in Kalay Prison, he suffered various health hazards such as scabies, colds and fevers and hypertension. Therefore, he was given medical treatment 18 times. For your study and reference, his medical records are on display. As I have already stated, Thet Win Aung broke the prison rules and regulations many times. Therefore, he was transferred from Kalay Prison to Khamti Prison on 21-5-2002 according to the prison rules and regulations.

Thet Win Aung had been carefully looked after since his transfer to Khamti Prison. However, as he did not eat or sleep well, he was given medical treatment 22 times. On 5-12-2003, he was flown to Mandalay Jail in order that he could receive treatment from a psychiatrist.

Since 5-1-2004, Thet Win Aung was sent to the hospital in Mandalay Jail for medical treatment. Then, on the advice of general practitioner, he was sent to the Mandalay General Hospital to be given intensive care. On 23-5-2005, he was discharged from Mandalay General Hospital. But the doctors and nurses of the prison hospital continued to give medical treatment to him. His medical check-ups at Mandalay General Hospital showed that he had cerebellum.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

During 2004, the doctor in charge of the hospital at Mandalay Jail conducted daily medical check-ups on Thet Win Aung and gave treatment to him. Moreover, he received treatment twelve times from a psychiatrist and general practitioners. Treatment records are on display.

The records also show that Thet Win Aung received medical treatment nine times from a psychiatrist and two times from general practitioners in 2005. In 2006, Dr U Saw Lwin, the doctor in charge of the prison hospital, took his blood pressure, pulses and temperature daily until his death. I am saying all this just to let you know that the responsible personnel of the prison treat and look after all the prisoners according to the prison rules and regulations.

On 14-10-2006, Thet Win Aung's legs began to be numb and swollen. Therefore, the doctor-in-charge himself gave thorough treatment to him. At 07:25 hours on 16-10-2006, U Aye Kyu, a deputy warden of Mandalay Jail, reported that Thet Win Aung was lying unconscious. At this, the doctor-in-charge gave all the necessary treatment immediately. In spite of all these, Thet Win Aung died at 07:40 hours. At 14:20 hours on 16-10-2006, Dr U Saw Lwin, the doctor in charge of Mandalay Jail, sent the body of the prisoner to the office of the forensic doctor of Mandalay General Hospital for autopsy.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

Forensic doctors — Professor Dr Myo Min, Assistant Lecturer Dr Thaung Lin, Lecturers Dr Kyaw Kyaw Oo and Dr Htay Tin Chit — performed an autopsy on the body of Thet Win Aung from 1400 hours to 1600 hours on 16-10-2006. According to their post-mortem examination, no suspicious wounds were found outside and inside of the body. It was found that Thet Win Aung died of a natural death and the cause of his death was congestive cardiac failure resulting from congestive cardiomyopathy. Detailed examinations by forensic doctors are on display for distinguished guests and journalists to study.

On 17-10-2006, Deputy Director U Tha Oo in charge of Mandalay Jail and Dr Saw Lwin, the doctor in charge of the prison hospital, received Thet Win Aung's father and elder brother for about an hour. At their meeting, U Tha Oo said that the doctor-in-charge of the prison hospital and specialists gave as best treatment as they could to Thet Win Aung. U Win Maung, Thet Win Aung's father, thanked the doctors and all those responsible at the prison for all they had done for his son.

The remains of Thet Win Aung were cremated and his ashes were entombed at the Kyarnikan cemetery in Patheingyi Township.

It was obvious that Thet Win Aung died of a natural death at the prison hospital. The responsible personnel of the prison regarded him as their own flesh and blood treated him well. The records showed that the doctors and specialists also gave their best treatment to him for a long time. However, in a news report broadcast by VOA on 20-10-2006, Ian Mc Cartney, British Foreign Secretary, said that Thet Win Aung was excessively tortured in the prison without knowing the true facts and situations. On 17-10-2006, ABSDF terrorist organization and foreign media accused that Thet Win Aung was physically and mentally tortured during investigations and in the prison. Therefore, we are having to explain true stories to the journalists.

In reality, the accusations made by foreign media and anti-government organizations that Thet Win Aung died from torture were unfounded. They made such accusations with the intention of gaining a political profit out of an ordinary event and inciting the public and causing anti-government demonstrations and disturbances as evidenced by ABSDF's 17-10-2006 announcement.

Distinguished guests and journalists,

Now, I would like to give further explanations regarding the accusations made about the prisons in our country. Foreign media and anti-government organizations have all along been making up stories about our country. In reality, all the prisons here have to follow orders and directives issued according to the demand of time and circumstances in addition to instructions in the Jail Manual. Therefore, the prison administration is conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations and all the prisoners fully enjoy the rights they deserve.

According to directives, instructions, rules and regulations and jail manual, tortures and unlawful acts are not allowed. Ours is an independent nation and we are an independent people. Therefore, ours is not a nation where the masters rule the slaves. We are governed by our own people. Therefore, we want you to know that there can be no room for tortures and oppressions in our country.

Ours is an independent nation and we are an independent people. Therefore, ours is not a nation where the masters rule the slaves. We are governed by our own people. Therefore, we want you to know that there can be no room for tortures and oppressions in our country. Prisoners receive punishment for the offences they committed. The main object of prisons is to correct prisoners. According to the instructions of the jail manual, prisoners enjoy remission and are allowed to receive visitors, take physical exercises, read newspapers and watch TV. Moreover, they have nutritious and hygienic food and receive medical treatment by prison doctors and specialists.

The Head of State has given guidance that prisons should be centres for building up a good character. Measures should be taken not to make prisoners feel depressed but to make them become good citizens again.

Moreover, volunteer prisoners have the special rights to meet with their families, to be on holiday and enjoy travel allowance.

The cost of feeding the prisoners are borne by the government. Moreover, social organizations such as the Women's Affairs Ferderation, the Maternal and Child Welfare Association, the Red Cross Society, the Fire Brigade and the Union Solidarity and Development Association also contribute to the cost of feeding the prisoners. After getting the permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the social organizations occasionally visit prisons and volunteer labour camps and fulfil their requirements. Documents of such activities are on display for the journalists to study.

Because of the donations of social organizations, prisons have sufficient water supply for drinking and taking bath. Moreover, prisoners can have special meal at least once a week. They can enjoy health care, take physical exercises, read books and receive their families. These are the benefits prisoners can enjoy nowadays.

Being Myanmar citizens, social organizations and wellwishers are very pleased to provide assistance to the prisoners. A wellwisher donated water purifier each to Insein jail and Thayawady jail. Similarly, another wellwisher donated a water purifier worth K 1.5 million to woman ward in Lashio jail.

There are 42 jails and 91 work camps under Prisons Department. Various social organizations in Myanmar visited 42 jails and seven work camps from October 2005 to October 2006. They met the prisoners and fulfilled their requirements. According to the records, food, medicines, books and magazines and others worth over 70 million were provided to them.

I have explained the fabricated news in connection with the death of Thet Win Aung reported by the foreign media. I will continue to present arrangements to cause uprising in the country in collaboration with external and internal anti-government organizations and aboveground and underground terrorist organizations. The ABSDF, an armed terrorist group contacted some anti-government organizations including ‘88' generation youth group, their internal UG, is destablizing the country. They are also planning to launch sabotage in the country. The ABSDF is formed with old students of Student Union who live abroad after 1988 and it engages in terrorist acts. The ‘88' generation students group is made up of remnants of students union. The group received assistance including money from external anti-government organizations. According to the reports, a woman of a West nation put Min Ko Naing on the political stage to confront the present government. She had put Dalai Lama and Aung Din of US Campaign for Burma (USCB) on the political stage for anti-government activities. Later these events will be made public.

Therefore, the ‘88' generation student group in the country is an organization that stands on external assistance. According to the information received, six men led by Kyaw Naing at the rank of lieutenant of battalion 9 of ABSDF attended the seven-day course for advanced detonation Technology at the border of other country under the arrangements of Chairman of ABSDF Than Khe in May 2006. The instructor of West nation met military group of ABSDF at Daunggwin camp. They plotted a scheme to commit terrorist acts in cooperation with the ‘88' generation student groups.

On 28 August 2006, a 15-member group carrying high explosives led by Than Aye left Daunggwin of ABSDF Headquarters to make explosion in Yangon and Pyinmana region in collaboration with internal strength and anti-government organizations and their hard cores.

On 23 September 2006, three persons including Yebaw Aung Naing Soe of Battalion 3 of ABSDF met three foreigners in Mallamat refugee camp and discussed training of technology on explosives for destruction of Hatgyi hydel power project in Kamamaung Township and dams along the Thanlwin River in Thai border.

On 11 October 2006, Secretary of ABSDF Kyaw Ko Ko Win arrived at ABSDF branch office in border area and made a plan to send a woman on 17 October for sabotage acts in the country in retaliation for the arrest of Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe.

On 17 October 2006, Vice-Chairman of ALP Khaing Soe Naing Aung met Min Lwin, San Ngwe, Kywe Gyi and Than Than Win at ABSDF branch office. They discussed the bomb blast in Kyaukdaga on 16 October. There were no casualties in the explosion but it was against the National Convention in progress and such acts are to be carried out.

On 15 October 2006, Vice-Chairman of NCUB Khaing Soe Naing Aung met Ziwazoe of Mogyo news editor, ABSDF member Aung Kyaw Oo and intelligence-in-charge Min Lwin. Under the directive of Chairman of NCUB and ABSDF Than Khe, three saboteurs were to be sent on 19 October. Among them, Maung Maung Myint took part in the Manalpalaw Khway Eik Taung battle as the rank of sergeant and he planted bombs in three venues in Yangon on 7 May 2005. He is a destruction in-charge of sabotage in Yangon.

According to Demo 2006 plan, the BCP are attempting to cause public uprising before the end of 2006 in collaboration with UG in the country. The UG took part in the prayer campaign led by ‘88' generation students at the Shwedagon Pagoda. They aimed at fixing the pains in the heart of the pious Myanmar people if the authorities arrest those present at the prayer campaign. The UG in the country sent a report to BCP (central) that they were organizing members of the Sangha, entrepreneurs, students and departmental personnel. The letters have been received in hand.

It is obvious that the UGs involved in signature campaign, white expression campaign and prayer campaign led by ‘88' generation students group. Their acts undermine the stability of the country and showed disregard for the social organizations and sacred places. Service personnel are blaming them.

Organizations under the name of student groups in collaboration with anti-government organizations and foreign media spread rumours, make accusations and launch propaganda. At the same time they are plotting to commit terrorist acts and create public uprising. I urge the people to be aware of these acts.