Within KNU there is no human rights, no law and order
The KNU has done nothing good for Kayin State

Yangon, 11 June — U Tha Htoo Kyaw, national race leader of Myainggyingu region, on 9 June clarified the reason why he broke away from the KNU and how the government accommodated DKBA and provided assistance to the organization and cooperation with local people for regional development to the study group in South-East Command region. His clarification is as follows:

I am U Tha Htoo Kyaw. Some 5,000 members broke away from KNU on 21-12-94 and returned to the legal fold. The first reason was due to discrimination as regards religion and oppression that we cannot tolerate. The leaders of the KNU are mostly Christian and the lower ranks are Buddhists. Being Christians, KNU leaders practise discrimination against followers who are Buddhists.

As regards promotion as well as other rights, special privileges are granted only to Christians. Lower ranks were given to those members who were Buddhists and they were forced to sacrifice lives in forward areas.

KNU leaders’ discrimination on religion or freedom of faith got worse. In 1993, Myainggyingu Sayadaw built a pagoda at the confluence of Thanlwin and Thaungyin Rivers. The KNU (Central) asked the Sayadaw not to do so. They destroyed cement and ill-treated those who helped build the pagoda.

The Sayadaw has been residing near Kamamaung for over 20 years. The people there and KNU Buddhists revere the Sayadaw very much. KNU members submitted report on protest of building the pagoda to the central. The KNU (Central) did not allow him to carry out missionary matters. KNU leaders threatened the Sayadaw and asked him to leave the region in November 1994. That was why on 18 November 5,000 members split from KNU and DKBA was formed.

The KNU started to launch insurgency in 1949 with the aim of bringing about the prosperity of the Kayin nationals, liberation of Kayin State and enabling Kayin nations to shape their own destiny. I was the KNU member for 30 years but I did not do anything good for Kayin nationals. We have been living in the hut without school or dispensary since 1949. When the Tatmadaw made offensive against our strongholds in Yonsalin and Dawna mountain, we had to move to avoid the Tatmadaw columns. Therefore the villagers got into trouble. We planted mines to hinder the movement of the Tatmadaw columns. We dared not go anywhere due to the mines. If the Tatmadaw built the camps near the village, the KNU made the villagers go to the refugee camps. We did not go there as we got trouble. We found hardships when we got there and we could not work outside as we might be caught by the Thai police. The KNU leaders who made contact with wealthy people can settle in Thailand.

There might be a question how funds for KNU obtained. They collected extortion money and taxes from villages, sold teak. They got foreign exchange under the pretext of the refugees and they did not give us money. But they gave us bullets and guns to murder. The KNU leaders do their business in Thailand and they pretend not to see our hardships of the lower ranks. At that time, we made movement in delta. The KNU had done nothing good for the Kayin nationals. I learnt that the Kayin nationals can live in peace when there is no KNU in delta. I see that there is something wrong. So the DKBA was formed to serve the interest of the people under the counsel of the Sayadaw and we will participate in the tasks for regional development in cooperation with the government.

Within the KNU there is no human rights, no law and order. They collected extortion money for committing destructive acts. The KNU had done nothing good for Kayin State. They are under the foreign influence as they receive assistance and funds from big nations. It can be seen whether the KNU loves the nation or not. Most of the members at lower ranks split from the KNU due to the misdeeds of KNU leaders.

The DKBA made peace with the government on 21-12-1994. The government provided us 750 acres of land in Myainggyingu region. The government also provided education, health services and made arrangements for ensuring smooth transport.

Besides, the government also provided six vehicles, 34 tractors, pumps. power tillers for agricultural purposes, typewriters for office work and ten sewing machines. The Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs provided some vehicles.

Over K 10.8 million including 500,000 per month for the Sayadaw, K 1.5 million per month and 5,000 bags of rice for DKBA are provided. However, we do not rely on assistance of the government only. We are making efforts for development of education, health and production based on agriculture.

We are Buddhists, but we have no discrimination between Buddhists and Christians. At the start, there were only 7,000 people in Myainggyingu region. Now there are about 30,000 people. There are some 10,000 people who can no longer suffer suppression of KNU.

The minister, ambassadors and journalists can now see progress in the region. We will continue to take part in regional development tasks hand in hand with the Tatmadaw. The DKBA accepts the seven-point Road Map and we are attending the National Convention.

We have launched armed insurgency for years. During the period, both sides lost lives. Local people had to suffer hardships. Many expatriates urged us to continue to fight the government while they are enjoying various luxuries abroad. No advantage has been gained for Kayin nationals. We had suffered difficulties and dogs of war.

Thus we choose the proper way for our nationals. We will continue to join hands with the government in carrying out regional development till the National Convention gains success.

Next, ambassadors and newsmen asked questions and U Tha Htoo Kyaw replied to the queries.

U Khin Maung Nyo (Kabasipwayay Journal): I have heard of Myainggyingu. I think it is in the jungle. Tell me about the government’s assistance for DKBA and endeavours for regional development.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw: The organization was formed based on religion. So we build roads and bridges and carry out religious matters. We opened primary, high and middle schools and 78-mile tarred road was built with the government’s contribution of K 100 million. We built 219 pagodas, 225 ordination halls, 191 bridges and 15 primary schools, four middle schools and two high schools.

U Saw Lin Aung: (Yangon Times Journal): U Thar Htoo Kyaw said there was discrimination and oppression among the KNU. Please elaborate.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

In this regard, I would like to present what I experienced when I was a KNU member regarding KNU’s discrimination. Whenever a Buddhist member of KNU fell, the dead body was left in the battlefield. If he was a Christian, it was taken back up to Manerpalaw, its headquarters. Buddhist members were never allowed to make donations in Manerpalaw. Moreover, supposing, Buddhist members demanded for a outboard motor in a fullmoon day of Myanmar calendar month, our demand was never met. We often heard that the outboard motors were not for Buddhist members. But, on every weekend, there was one programme or another for Christian members. So, we were feeling bad. When our bitter feelings were on the verge of reaching their peak, KNU disturbed the missionary services of Myainggyingu Sayadaw. It was too much and intolerable. That did make our blood boil and we decided to join hands with the government.

Dr Tin Tun Oo (Pyi Myanmar Journal)

Surely, you learnt the accusations of KNU and external elements that the Tatmadaw was committing genocide against Kayin ethnic people. Then, I would like to know whether you witnessed commitments of genocide by the Tatmadaw.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

No, never. Today, I hear such stories in the radio. But, that is just a political trick. It is because, so to speak the Tatmadaw arrested a KNU member, he was put behind bar in accord with the law and then he was released after he served his prison term. We experienced many similar stories. I have never witnessed nor heard genocide and wholesale destruction of villages by the Tatmadaw.

U Aung Thu Myaing (Ji Ji News Agency)

It was a question if you witnessed genocide. When you were a KNU member, had you ever witnessed destruction of villages and killing of innocent villagers by the Tatmadaw? And I would like to know the strengths of DKBA and KNU.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

I had never witnessed that the Tatmadaw killed villagers and set fire to villages. But, some villages were on fire when KNU members and the Tatmadaw columns exchanged fire. That caused a small number of civilian casualties. DKBA is formed with three brigades. Its headquarters is divided into two parts — southern part and northern part. Respective brigades in the parts are taking security measures in cooperation with the Tatmadaw. Approximately, the strength of KNU is less than 10,000 troops.

Mr Lee Ju-Heum, Ambassador of Republic of Korea

You said you are participating in National Convention. In your opinion, how is it going on?

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

The National Convention can be said to be nearing completion because all the important principles have been adopted. I am feeling that the remaining tasks are small matters. So, I would say the National Convention will accomplish when it reconvenes this time.

Mr Dennis D Tidwell (Second Secretary of US Embassy)

Was it true that DKBA soldiers burnt down the refugee camps in Thailand when it broke away from KNU?

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

We do not practise such a policy. We have no plan to destroy the objects of people with different religious faiths in Myanmar. So, it is impossible that our troops will enter the other nation. When the incident just started, Buddhist members were filled with an overwhelming sense of outrage. And Myainggyingu was under the attacks with the use of heavy weapons two times. That was not all. Kyaukmeihsai Sayadaw U Obha was killed brutally. So, subordinate members became intolerable. And without our orders, they entered the other country and committed acts. We, superiors never allowed them to do so. (He replied in Kayin and in Myanmar)

It is not a religious fabrication. We have documentary tapes on the murder of U Obha and how the KNU harmed Buddhism. It also killed other monks such as U Pandicca. I will deliver copies of these documentary tapes to the minister and foreign ambassadors and correspondents for review.

U Khin Maung Nyo (World Economics Journal)

What is your attitude to the KNU and what is the KNU’s attitude to you?

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

As far as I know, KNU regards our group as No 1 target. So we have to react accordingly.

U Thaung Htaik (The Voice Journal)

I learnt that some of DKBA members returned to the underground. I would like to know the strength of those DKBA members, and how they entered the other country.

U Tha Htoo Kyaw

It is true that they reunited with KNU. But, those members violated the rules and regulations laid down by us as well as the government. The strength of those members is just about two digits.