Foreigners not sacrificing any life or blood for us
Thanks to goodwill of Government, we are now
enjoying fruitful results of peace

Yangon, 11 June — The following is a translation of clarification by Phado Aung San on matters relating to the exchanging arms for peace, necessary assistance being provided by the government for the group and development tasks being carried out by the group joining hands with the local people in Nyeingyanyay Myothit Phayagon, Kayin State:

I am Phado Aung San. I broke away from KNU together with 213 members bringing together with 51 assorted arms on 6 April 1998. We spent the whole day walking on the mountains on our trip. The next day, we crossed over Thaungyin river and arrived at motherland. The Government held a ceremony to welcome us on a grand scale. On behalf of the group, I exchanged arms for peace at the ceremony.

In fact, Tatmadaw stopped offensives in view of national reconsolidation in April 1992. Since 1988, KNU had to give up strongly-built Methawaw, Mehtayi, Mawphoke, Mela, Yekyaw, old Wakha, Phalu and Wawlay camps. Tatmadaw had been attacking KNU Headquarters in Manerplaw, new Wakha and Kawmura camps. I was surprised because as such time Tatmadaw stopped offensives.

In November, 1993 on an occasion attended by residents of Mon and Kayin States, the Government officially extended a welcoming hand to all armed groups including KNU to negotiate for peace. The local people then hoped for attaining peace. Beginning 1995, peace negotiations were made between Tatmadaw and KNU for three times unofficially and for four times officially. There occurred many attempts to jeopardize the peace negotiations between the Government and KNU. Foreign governments and organizations giving support to KNU and expatriate groups such as DAB and NCUB said peace negotiation extended by the government showed that it was weak due to external pressure and all-round internal conditions. They thought that the government might fall from power and they instigated KNU not to attain peace with the government. Hence, KNU needs to put pressure on the government. If not so, KNU will becomes puppet of the government.

In this way, the peace negotiations failed. Then, DKBA was formed owing to religious discrimination.

At that time, I began to consider the condition of KNU. I joined KNU in 1967 and became a Central Committee member in 1980. And, I also took charge of forestry department of KNU in 1986.

I knew well conditions of KNU headquarters as well as the grassroots levels, how leaders of KNU from the headquarters to brigade/district level collected funds in various ways and means and they purchased houses and cars in Thailand; their children are pursuing education in the other country and they are enjoying all luxuries. While other ranks were suffering troubles. I am open-minded. So, I submitted my opinions. They tried to kill me saying that I was a traitor. While I was in Manerpalaw, many so-called politicians, organizations and those from abroad came to us. They live abroad and obtain funds by making anti-government speeches. The foreign sources asked not only me but also KNU leaders to follow collision course and to commit destructive acts.

As KNU leaders had been living at the border and they joined hands with external elements for economic and military affairs under the agreement.

After 1988, many politicians and so-called student leaders came to us. Politically, KNU had to rely on foreigners. Those expatriates get on well with international community, but KNU did not so. Relying on DAB and NCUB, KNU could not refuse their advice. Actually, foreigners are not sacrificing any life or blood for us. While shouting aloud for democracy, they live abroad and obtain funds. Though they are asking us to sacrifice life, they themselves never made any kind of sacrifices. They did not come near the border area let alone returning to the country. If battles continue, our Kayin nationals and people of Kayin State will face troubles. While our Kayin State was full of battles and the people were suffering troubles without schools, hospitals, etc. Their living standard was low.

Due to the battles, Kayin State legged behind in development. When I was at KNU headquarters, I heard that other States and delta area have developed. I was not satisfied why KNU did not make peace with the government. Therefore, I broke away from KNU and exchanged arms for peace to the embrace of the Government.

Our group was warmly welcomed like family members by responsible personnel of the Government. We were settled down at Phayagon region in Hpa-an Township which is facilitated well with residences, school, chapel, etc. Our Phayagon region is now like a town as you see. In 1998, 105 acres of land were reclaimed. The Government built houses, church, health care centre, agricultural station, etc. The Government also dug tube-wells, provided power supply, reclaimed 105 acres of fallow land and set up 50 acres of rubber plantation. Three fish breeding ponds were dug. So, I am happy in my life.

Having 50 acres of rubber plantation, I think I will become a rich man. I do not satisfy yet to farm 50 acres of rubber. I will extend it till 100 or 200 acres.

I am a son of a farmer and have keen interest in agriculture and livestock breeding. The Veterinary and Livestock Breeding Department also provided us 300 hens and 30 pigs. Hen and pig grew up well. I sent each pair of animals as samples to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. In my farm, 97 per cent of hen are now laying eggs, and eggs are so big that we won the poultry farming outstanding prize of FAO on 19 October 1999.

In addition, the Government provided one Mazda jeep, one TE truck, two tractors and two power-tillers. The Government offered peace to us with goodwill. According to the goodwill of the Government, we are now enjoying the fruitful results of peace. I am very glad to have the opportunity for participating as a delegate of national races in the National Convention resumed for the first time in line with the Seven-Step Road Map. I do not know the opinions of other delegates. In my mind, I believed that the National Convention must succeed. We will continue to take part without fail in building up the modern and developed nation. At this juncture, I actively participated in discussions transparently.

That is why I pledge I will perform tasks together with others for achieving success in realizing the seven-step Road Map.