All armed groups including group led by
U Mein Sin, 17 major groups and small groups returned to legal fold after reaching total understanding with government
SPDC Information Committee holds press conference on return
to legal fold of national race armed group led by U Mein Sin

NAY PYI TAW, 17 July — Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council held a press conference on the return to the legal fold of a national race armed group led by U Mein Sin, vice chief of staff of Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and commander of brigade 758 at Thirihantha Hall in Laikha, southern Shan State, at 11 am yesterday.

Present were Chairman of SPDC Information Committee Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and members, ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi, heads of department, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Philippines Madame Phoebe A Gomez and diplomats, resident representatives of UN agencies, the director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise, officials, the president

of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club and members, executives of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association, chief editors and journalists of local periodicals, U Mein Sin and members of the group that returned to the legal fold, and specially invited guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said that 848 members of the armed group led by U Mein Sin, commander of SSA-S brigade 758 had returned to the legal fold laying down their heavy weapons and small arms. Brigade commander

U Mein Sin, deputy commander U Sai Ta and column commander U Sai Shan have already explained their aim of returning to the legal fold. Now the question and answer session begins. Every one can ask questions.

U Aung Hla Tun of Reuters asked whether U Mein Sin and group would be permitted to hold arms again, the place they are going to settle down, the number of armed groups that is allowed to hold arms and the number of groups that made the unconditional surrender.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said that U Mein Sin and group handed over their arms to the respective local authorities. The local authorities rearmed them with their own weapons for self-defence. Because Ywet Sit sent letters of threat to U Mein Sin and members while they were trying to return to the legal fold. In the letters were written that if U Mein Sin and members returned to the legal fold he would kill or take action against all their parents, families and relatives. Ywet Sit sent couriers to Mein Sin to dissuade him and his men. Thus, they are allowed to hold arms.

In the past they held arms against the rules and the law, but under their own arrangements. Now they are holding arms in accord with the law of the State. Today they are holding arms to carry out constructive tasks for the entire nation including the local people. Since their initial discussion with local authorities, U Mein Sin and members proposed to work together with the government for regional development after returning to the legal fold. U Mein Sin and members will continuously strive for regional development while defending them-selves and their region. That is the reason they are being rearmed.

U Mein Sin also said that the government asked their wish when they returned to the legal fold. They presented their wish to the government. They are going to settle in Narpwe and Wanpan villages.

The Information Minister said the number of major groups returned to the legal fold are 17 in addition to many small armed groups. So, it can be said that most of the groups have unconditionally ex-changed arms for peace. The PSLO led by U Aik Mone and SSNA led by U Gon Khe came back to the fold in northern Shan State. Another is the national armed group led by U Kan Na.

U Aung Shwe Oo of NTV asked that as a large number of SSA-S members had returned to the legal fold, how many of the group were left underground. Is U Mein Sin the number two man or are there any others whose ranks are the same as U Mein Sin? According to what I have learnt, he is the second highest in rank and responsibility. In an article I have read that 13 or 14 groups have reached complete understanding. What does it mean? I wish to know the effects of their return on the legal fold on the National Convention and national re-consolidation and unity.

U Mein Sin said he and 848 members of the brigade returned to the legal fold on 6 July 2006. After the brigade broke away from the SSA-S, the Ywet Sit group in Lwetaishan has only about 1,000 members left. In the SSA-S, U Khe Ngin and he were in the same rank. Concerning the National Convention, the brigade will strive as much as it can for progress of the national races.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said, it is only the presentation or opinion of the columnist which in the article said that 13 or 14 groups have reached full understanding with the government. All the armed groups including the group led by U Mein Sin, the 17 major groups and other small groups returned to the legal fold after reaching complete understanding with the government. According to the re-quirement including self- defence and regional development, the groups are permitted to hold arms. It is included in one of the agreements. Another agreement reached between the government and all those groups is that when the Constitution emerges, they all must surrender their weapons. At that time, the order to lay down the arms is not made by the government, but by the democracy system the country will be practising at that time. It is the system that will make them lay down their arms. Only then will the nation be able to fully and correctly exercise the democracy. The agree-ment to do so has been reached between the government and the groups since the initial negotiations.

Concerning the effort of the brigade's return to the legal fold, the minister said that there were many insurgent groups in the nation in 1988.

Because of the disunity, there were more than 230 political parties when the nation permitted their formation and legal existence.

All knew that how the national unity was badly required then. The Tatmadaw government after taking over the State duties knew that the national unity was a must. Peace, stability, and the rule of law, all are essential requirements for the nation. After analyzing the requirement fully, the Head of State opened the door towards peace and started to restore national unity.

Thanks to the peace initiatives, many insurgent groups including the group led by U Mein Sin, the 17 major armed groups and many small armed groups came back to the legal fold. Hence the nation has achieved the unprecedented national unity. The return to the legal fold of U Mein Sin and his group has further strengthened the national unity. Peace and stability will further cement the national solidarity in Laikha region in southern Shan State.

I think U Aung Shwe Oo's second question is about the effects U Mein Sin's return to the legal fold would have on the National Convention. More than 1,000 delegates from eight strata of mass and class are taking part in the National Convention and considerable strides have been made. We are going to write a draft constitution based on the success achieved so far.

On the other hand, there are some elements — KNU, Ywet Sit's SSA group, KNPP and other expatriate groups — who are trying to hinder our efforts and make the National Convention end in failure. We hear that they are also drawing a constitution on their own. These insurgent groups are doing so to hinder the process of the National Convention.

Now that U Mein Sin and his 1000-strong battalion have returned to the legal fold, the number of groups that are against the National Convention has become less and less. In addition, peace is going to prevail all over the region where U Mein Sin and his members operated. Then they will be able to contribute towards the success of the National Convention. This is why the return to the legal fold by U Mein Sin and his members will surely benefit the National Convention. Thank you!

U Sao Kai Hpa : I would like to ask U Mein Sin a question about the amount of narcotic drugs produced by Ywet Sit's SSA-S group.

U Mein Sin : MTA exchanged arms for peace on 27-2-96. Then, we held a meeting on 28-3-96. At that meeting, we all decided that we were not to be involved in drugs and politics and that involvement in drugs and politics could carry death penalty. Ywet Sit himself put his signature to all these decisions but he did not hounour them.

In July, 1996, Ywet Sit himself fetched some rich Chinese and engaged in production of drugs at the foot of the mountain range west of Katphew village in Mongkai. Again in 1997, with the help of some rich Chinese, he produced drugs in Naungtaw village. Moreover, Ywet Sit ordered that tax be collected on production of drugs in the area under the control of the brigade. As tax, opium had to be sent to him. Not only that, all the opium produced in the area had to be sold to him. As far as I know, from 5,000 to 6,000 viss of opium was collected as tax in 2006. Stimulant tablets and heroin were also sent via Mongshu to the border. As far as I know, 80 haversacks loaded with stimulant tablets and heroine were sent from Mongshu to the border.

U Aung Thu Myaing: I am U Aung Thu Myaing of Ji Ji News Agency (Japan). I would like to ask U Mein Sin that do you have any plan to participate in the fight against narcotic drugs in future as you are in Shan State (South)?

U Mein Sin: We will actively participate in the drive for drug elimination, for we reached an agreement with the government when we returned to the legal fold, and the terms of the agreement included some points including—to take part in the fight against drugs, to stamp out and crush the destructive elements, to jointly prevent the external dangers and to fully engage in regional development tasks.

U Ko Ko of Yomiuri Shimbun: The news of the returning to the legal fold of altogether 848 members led by Brigade Commander U Mein Sin was stated in the newspapers a week ago. As regards this news, some foreign broadcasting stations conducted an interview with Ywet Sit group which replied that the strength of those who have returned to the legal fold is as many as 30. Now at this press conference we witnessed a large number of members led by Brigade Commander U Mein Sin who returned to the legal fold. I would like to hear an answer replied by U Mein Sin himself concerning the number of those who returned to the legal fold.

U Mein Sin: In an interview with Ywet Sit group conducted by foreign broadcasting stations, the group replied that the strength of those who returned to the legal fold is as many as 30. Actually, the strength of our group who returned to the legal fold is 848. You can witness with your own eyes the strength of our group who returned to the legal fold at the ceremony.

In an interview with Ywet Sit group, they replied so with every intention of boosting morale of armed group members who were left behind in the border. It was also likely that they wanted themselves to be seen as a strong force but our group as a weak one. As a matter of fact, the strength of our group is over 1,000. We are now in the process of contacting and pursuing our members left behind. The total number of our group who returned to the legal fold is 848 together with 24 heavy weapons, 834 small arms.

U Thitsa Hla Htwe (TBS News Agency): I would like to know that like U Mein Sin group, are other armed groups in a position of returning to the legal fold?

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan: The government is making all-out efforts for national development, prevalence of law and order in the nation and national consolidation. In the process, it always keeps the peace door open. At present, the government is opening the peace door with genuine goodwill and integrity. That is why some armed groups are making contact with the government in this regard. There seem to be two points concerning the returning to the legal fold of armed groups. The first one is concerned with the government. The government is patiently holding a discussion with the armed groups that are making contact with it for returning to the legal fold. Moreover, it has satisfied their demands to the most possible degree.

However, as the positions of the armed groups are different, their demands are different. This being so, the government has to discuss and coordinate with them case by case according to their demands. Therefore, the efforts of the government are making progress with regard to the returning to the legal fold of the armed groups.

The second one is concerned with the armed groups who are making contact with the government for returning to the legal fold. They will make progress if they discuss and coordinate with the government on the basis of goodwill and sincerity in the interest of the State, the people and local people.

Diplomats, local and foreign journalists viewed the assistance provided by the government to the group led by U Mein Sin.