Clarifications by Deputy Commander Brig-Gen
Hla Myint at the Press Conference No 1/2006 as regards the capture and surrender of SSA (South) brigade 241 insurgents led by Thangyaung (alias) Sao Khun Kyaw

Yangon, 19 Jan—The following is a translation of the clarifications of Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Hla Myint at Press Conference No 1/2006 as regards matters relating to surrender and capture of insurgents of SSA (South) brigade No 241 led by Sao Khun Kyaw as they were being opposed by local people.

Excellencies, local and foreign journalists, Mingalabar, Auspiciousness to you all. First of all, I would like to wish You Excellencies and journalists to have good health and wealth. I will clarify matters relating to capture and surrender of insurgents led by Thangyaung (a) Sao Khun Kyaw of SSA (South) brigade No 241 of Ywet Sit.

SSA (South) brigade No 241 started to undergo training at Lwetainglian camp on 30 June 2005 with 40 members to infllfrate again into upper Sagaing Division and Namma/Mohnyin region of Kachin State. The preparations and training were provided by major Paung Khay. Ywet Sit and Sai Yi inspected and gave encouragement, it is learnt.

Thangyaung and some 40 insurgents left Lwetainglian camp on 31 August 2005. With obtaining guiding and help of SSA brigades, the insurgent group went on a march shunning Tatmadaw columns. Along the route, the insurgents mobilized new recruits forcibly and demanded extortion money. Together with 58 new recruits and 3 porters, the insurgents crossed Dokhtawady River by raft on 24 November and entered the Northeast Command area. At that time, Thangyaung's group had the strength of 58 members including new recruits and extortion money amounting to (5.5) million kyats.

On entering Kyaukme Township after crossing Dokhtawady river, the local people informed regional authorities about the arrival of the insurgents immediately. Hence, regional battalions of the Northeast Command were in hot pursuit of the insurgents and clashes broke out on 26 November.

SSA Thangyaung and group tried to avoid Tatmadaw columns very hard. However, local people on their own volition do not want to render assistance to the insurgents. Even the local people refused to guide the way for the insurgents.

When the local people were to guide the insurgents, they didn't show the correct route, fled and informed the Tatmadaw. The residential people avoided the insurgents and gave information on the enemies, movement to the Tatmadaw. In this way, Tatmadaw columns could track the insurgents and crushed them. The recruits of the insurgents also fled and gave information to Tatmadaw columns.

The insurgents led by Thangyaung entered the Central Command area on 4 December for infiltrating into Sagaing Division by crossing Ayeyawady River at Mabein / Momeik as planned. However, they were blocked by Tatmadaw columns and local people. Thus the insurgents returned to Namtu/Manton in Northeast Command area on 8 December via Kyaukme-Monglon road. Thangyaung and the insurgents were not accepted by the local people. When the insurgents asked the local people to sell them food, the people did not sell them food but gave information to the Tatmadaw. The insurgents are always on the run too and they are in distress. The recruits as well as the existing members of the insurgents flee whenever they get a chance. Without food, the insurgents were too weak to carry their own weapons. So, they forced villagers to carry weapons as porters. The porters fled when they got a chance and they informed the movement of insurgents to the Tatmadaw. A porter from Panhsay region fled bringing along RPJ rocket launcher and 6 rockets and informed the Tatmadaw column. As information was fed by the local people constantly to Tatmadaw, the Tatmadaw columns were always in hot pursuit of the insurgents. Every possible route of the enemies was blocked.

On 10 December clashes broke out between Tatmadaw columns and enemies. The insurgents were too weak to fight the Tatmadaw columns and they fled for Mone Wee passing by Yaybon, Tongyi and Loi Yar villages near Manton on 15 December.

The Tatmadaw columns were in hot pursuit of the enemies and there occurred clashes with enemies on 27 December.

At that time, the insurgents were very weak for having no food. They were in distress. Thus, Thangyaung had to control his insurgents by giving them narcotic drugs and stimulant pills to consume. We have come to learn that fact according to the confession of those insurgents who surrendered. On 29 December morning, a villager was coerced by Thangyaung and insurgent members to guide the way. That villager escaped and gave information to Tatmadaw column. The Tatmadaw members were in hot pursuit of the enemies and a clash took place at 10 am the same day at Kaungtut village on Namkham-Monwee road. As a result, the insurgents had to spilt into two groups and flee. One group was with some 30 insurgents led by Thangyaung and another group was with some eleven insurgents led by sergeant Tun Kyaw.

Acting on information given by the local people, Tatmadaw columns blocked the possible way of the enemies. The Tatmadaw columns blocked Namkham-Monwee road and Namkham-Nantphatka road at various places in the East and South. The enemies who were blocked in the area tried to escape and looked for food in groups wearing mufti. The enemies were blocked and they were in short supply of food. Finally, on 1 January 2006, sergeant Tun Kyaw and insurgent group contacted the Tatmadaw column near Hopong village and surrendered. Similarly, lance corporal Khine Win from Thangyaung's group surrendered to the Tatmadaw column the same day near Tawtaik monastery of Namkham.

According to information provided by the local people and information received from those who had surrendered, the Tatmadaw columns, in the same morning, raided the place where Thangyaung and group were hiding. At 7 am, the Thangyaung and the insurgent group were surrounded and captured by the Tatmadaw.

In fact, the insurgents were rounded up easily as they could not get the assistance and help from the local people. The local people abhorred the insurgents and always give information on the hidden places of the insurgents to the Tatmadaw. Being loathed by the local people, unable to obtain food and getting no help from local populace, the insurgents were in distress. They were very weak for having short of food. The local people gave information to the Tatmadaw and thus the insurgents were rounded up and captured.

It is due to the fact that the local people do not accept the insurgents absolutely. By enjoying the fruitful results of peace and development endeavours of the Government all over the Union including border areas, the local people do not want to help the insurgents and they give information to the Tatmadaw as much as they can. The insurgents are refused to guide the way and provide food by the local people. They are in distress and short of food.

Moreover, Sai Yi and group had hid weapons in May 2005 when they left to join Ywet Sit. Acting on tip-off, those hidden weapons were exposed by the Tatmadaw. The local people assumed that with these weapons the insurgent terrorists could be able to take refuge in the area. Thus, the local people gave information to Tatmadaw and the Tatmadaw exposed altogether 36 assorted arms and ammunition as of 15 January 2006.

You all have witnessed the regional development of northern Shan State recently. To achieve development, regional peace and tranquillity is the basic requirement. By realizing the genuine goodwill of the Tatmadaw Government, many former insurgent groups have exchanged arms for peace unconditionally. The local people cannot accept any act which is harmful to prevalence of law and order as well as to development endeavours. The events stated bear witness to this fact by this incident.