We could not accept drug producing and trafficking by Ywet Sit
We were disappointed with terrorism of Ywet Sit

I am Mein Sin, Brigade Commander of the Brigade SSA-S No. 758. I returned to the legal fold after making contacts with the Eastern Command on 6 July 2006. There are altogether 848 members who also returned to the legal fold including me. With us, we brought all the weapons that we have used such as 24 assorted heavy weapons, 834 assorted small arms, 1990 magazines, 157,971 rounds of ammunition, 55 hand grenades, 63 land mines, 15 communication sets and 120 walkie-talkies.

We returned to the legal fold of our own volition. The reasons for returning to the legal fold are as follows:

1. We could not accept drug producing and trafficking by Ywet Sit.

2. We were disappointed with terrorism of Ywet Sit for his cruelty on the people, massacring national people, setting villages on fire, committing rape against indigenous women, antagonizing Pa-O nationals and driving them out of Shan State.

3. We saw Tatmadaw and the people working together for the development of the regions, and realized peace and development through the establishment of Panglong University, Panglong Computer College and Panglong Government Technological Institute.

4. We realized that the practice of armed struggle line for over 20 years have brought no benefit but grave troubles to the people.

Concerning narcotic drugs, there are two policies laid down by SSA-S.

1. Firstly, narcotic drugs must not be connected with politics. If so, death penalty will be given.

2. Secondly, observance of discipline must not be infringed due to drugs. If one violates discipline, death penalty will be given.

These are the policies signed by Ywet Sit himself and he himself had violated them as clarified below.

(1) We were instructed to give security cover to his brother Saw Peta when he carried 80 haversacks of Yama pills from Mongshu area to Loitainglian in 2001. We refused to do so since it was not in accordance with the policy.

(2) It is learnt that Ywet Sit refined heroin near Kar Phwee village, Mong Kaing in 1996, near Nampan creek in 1997, and then near the border areas. I asked him three times not to do so, but it was in vain.

(3) 15 youths led by Sai Pan were given money by Ywet Sit to carry narcotic drugs from Loi Lam into Thailand in 2003. 13 of them were shot to death by Thai Forces. Sai Pan and one follower escaped. But fearing that action would be taken against him by Ywet Sit, Sai Pan committed suicide.

(4) Sai Tun, a trusted and the most favoured person of Ywet Sit was arrested by Thai Police as he carried 174 packets of heroin by car to Thailand in March, 2005.

(5) A Sa Line Khone villager, after being jailed for narcotic drug case, went to Loitainglian and received the instructions from Ywet Sit for refining narcotic drugs. After returning from Ywet Sit, he brought the instructions of Ywet Sit to produce heroin in Nar Yaing region, Loi Che region, San Ha region, Brigade No. (1) area, Brigade No. (7) area and in the area of my Brigade. I did not give him permission to produce heroin in my area and told him to go anywhere he could get permission. For this, Ywet Sit was so furious and said that he would kill me and all my relatives. After that he sent a message that he expelled the whole Brigade No 758 from SSA-S.

Now, I'll continue to present the terrorist acts of Ywet Sit. In January 1997, according to the instruction of Ywet Sit, a group led by Aik Chit, set fire to the Meethwaygon (Bamar) village in Namsan township. They torched the village. Due to their random shootings, 13 persons were killed and 8 were wounded. In June 1997, they collected extortion money from over 30 passenger buses near the Nam Maw Kham village on Kunhein- Kengtung, motor road. Moreover, they raped women and also randomly killed Bamar people. Altogether 30 passengers were killed.

Besides, Ywet Sit circulated counterfeit currency of 500 kyat notes. But I did not know the exact place where he produced the fake money. In December 1997, he gave 10 million Kyats of counterfeit currency notes to Aik Aw who is a son of SSNA member U Pho Mar of Mong Kaing to buy gold in Mandalay. Aik Aw was arrested by authorities, we have learnt.

In 2005, Aik Chit group also set fire to Htitakhu, Nawngde, Mokkalut and Panmai villages in Po-O region, it is learnt. Besides, we heard over the communication set that Pa-O nationals were driven out of Shan State.

Ywet Sit collected Kyats 13 million to 15 million of extortion money from each ward in Mong Kaing town. In addition, he collected money for rice. He also borrowed money. He asked money for rice and borrowed money.

In February 2006, Ywet Sit seized 20 cattle smugglers of Shwenyaung and Hopong and killed 10 Danu nationals and two Chinese. He also confiscated 60 heads of cattle and 2.7 million Kyats. Relatives of those killed persons were still searching for the place where the dead bodies were buried as they wanted to collect their bones.

Although Ywet Sit has been committing drug trafficking and terrorist acts, he preached for democracy and assigned U Khun Kyar Nu with political duty. U Khun Kyar Nu has contacts with NLD in Yangon.

Thus, we have come to realize that if we continue to follow the armed struggle line, our prestige will be tarnished too. Moreover, the National Convention being held by the Government, the Tatmadaw and the people is being participated in view of ensuring Non-disintegration of the Union by national races as well as former armed groups which have returned to the legal fold. Now, we realize that the Government's policy is correct and our armed struggle line is just harming the nation and the people. Thus, we have the desire to serve the people who had been suffering from the troubles caused by us.

So, my followers and I discussed the plan to join hands with the Tatmadaw and carry out nation-building tasks and earn our livelihood peacefully. We considered about it for some three years and finally all my men in unison returned to the legal fold.

Thank you all.