YANGON, 22 Feb—The Information Com-mittee of the State Peace and Development Council held press conference No 2/2006 at City Hall in Lashio yesterday morning.

Diplomats and charges d’ affaires of foreign embassies to the Union of Myanmar, resident representatives of UN agencies, officials of the News and Periodicals Enterprise, President of the Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sao Kai Hpa and members, and personnel of local journals and magazines attended the press conference.

At the press conference, local and foreign journalists and officials from local journals and magazines raised questions regarding the clarifications made by Chairman of the Information Committee Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, and other matters. The following are their questions and answers of officials.

U Ko Ko (Yomiuri Shimbun) said, “According to the Information Minister, someone can give information about Yangon bomb blasts. I would like to put that person some questions. Who was the mastermind beyond these bomb explosions? Which group committed the bomb blasts? What were his resoponsibilities? And did he get involved in the crime?”

Aung Cho Oo (a) Aung Than (a) Yu Nod replied to the question saying, “Secretary of NDD Ko Thein Win exploded these bombs. He assigned duties to me to commit underground movements in Yangon. In April 2005, he gave me a call and asked me for information on the centres in Yangon with no tight security. I mentioned Yankin Centre, Dagon Centre, Yangon Trade Centre and Mingalar Cinema Hall. Two or three days later, bomb explosions occurred. He phoned me again and asked if I heard the news about the bomb blasts. And he reminded me of awareness of security, and put the phone down. I was surprised that bomb blasts occurred in two of four places I informed. The one who knew these evidences was Ko Thein Win, and so did Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung who manipulated him. The two were behind the bomb blasts. A westerner gave training on explosives to Ko Thein Win’s members Kyan Gyaung, Aung Min and Tin Moe. The Free Ranger Army also gave training on use of explosives. So, I am sure they sent the three to explode bombs. I did not get involved in the case nor did I know. I never thought he would mastermind such an inhumane act. But I thought he would incite mass demonstrations and unrest. I was very sorry for his acts. I had no contact with his members. He asked me to hunt news on weak points of the government and to take photos of demonstrations. He gave me fifty thousand kyats or one hundred thousand kyats once in a month for six months beginning May.

As a matter of fact, the NGO provided half a million kyats or a million kyats each a month for the UGs and their families in the nation. But, he cut from the cash assistance to us. He did not let me meet with Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung.

He said if one of his members was put behind bar for political cases, he would provide cash assistance both for such a member and his family members. But, in practice, he did not do so. He misappropriated the cash provided by the ASPP association.

From time to time, Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung paid one hundred and fifty thousand bahts or two hundred thousand bahts to Ko Thein Win. One month, hundreds of thousands of bahts was funded to him for inciting special demonstrations. In truth, the money spent on the demonstration was fifty thousand kyats or one hundred thousand kyats inclusive of travelling allowance and at most two hundred thousand kyats. If the money funded totalled more than 1 million kyats, he took all the cash assistance. He distributed the photos to the international com-munity. Then, he got more cash assistance. But, I got no money from that. There are many members in prison including me and so many members in the nation. We were all exploited by him. He often threatened us and said that if we did not get what he wanted, we would be killed and so would our family members. That was why we were following his orders. In 2001, when I went to Maesot, I met with Ko Thein Win. Then, he took me to his home. I was to join the NDD. We were undergoing training for one year. There were about some ten course instructors who run political defiance course, course on human rights and UG course. After the course, we were all sent into the nation to collect UG news stories. So, I had to enter the nation to cover news items.

U Myat Khaing of Good News Journal said he wanted to ask two men who returned to the legal fold. At the previous press conference they said they brought counterfeit currency and narcotic drugs when they entered the country together with Thangyaung. He would like to know when Thangyaung got them from where and how he used them.

Corporal Khaing Win of Brigade 241 of SSA (South) said he had once given clarifications on that matter at the 1/2006 press conference. The headquarters gave these counterfeit currency and stimulant tablets to U Thangyaung. Captain Sai Phone kept raw opium. Only U Ywet Sit would know about it. On the way he made the staff take the tablets when they were tired.

U Aung Thu Myaing of Ji Ji news agency said he learnt that over 100 people were ill-treated or killed by ABSDF as Ko Taik Peik said. He wanted to know about the torture.
Ko Kyaw Myo said he witnessed the torture by Ko Thangyaung. Those arrested were ill-treated severely and some succumbed to death. He could not put on his trousers as his legs were inflamed. He was kicked in the chest and in the face. Moreover, his chest was cut with a knife. He showed his cuts on his chest after taking off his shirt. In his group there is a man who tortured the people. His name is Ko Zaw Zaw Min. These incidents did happen.

U Zan Zan (a) Khin Maung Than of Morning Post News Journal asked if there were non-members of ABSDF who were tortured. Ko Kyaw Myo replied that he did not know about it and he did see the atrocities of ABSDF.

U Kyaw Thein, a leather seller, said he was arrested when he went to Lwejel to sell leather. They forced me to join the ABSDF. He told them that he did not want to be a member of the organization. They accused me of being a government spy and treated me in many ways. Over a month later, before he was sent to the headquarters, they shot U Aung Ko dead.

Daw Hsint Hsint Aung of Nippon Television said that she would like to ask Ko Taik Peik or anyone of his group about a tale of bitter experiences.

What would you like to tell next generation youths to avoid such bitter experiences?

U Kan Myint Oo replied that he was arrested while visiting Hpakant for trading in 1989 and he was forced to join their force. When he was at headquarters, the military course was not true enough whether three weeks or one month lasted.

He had no experience in the battlefields. Then he was tortured.There were still a series of inhumane atrocities and murders which he had heard and known not only in the north part of ABSDF but also in the south. ABSDF split into groups. The separated groups murdered among them. There were over one hundred people who were tortured and killed because they wanted to remove chairman Ko Tun Aung Kyaw from the association. One with injuries out of 55 escapees died on the way. Such inhumane acts were not in interest of oneself or the country. They were living there without peace and tranquillity.

Leaders were making a killing abroad and subordinates were deep in poverty. He said that ABSDF was just an insurgent association. Though ten years flied away, no progress can made.

He would like to tell the future generation youths that the youths who were away from their parents lost their lives in the forest. He wanted the future generation youths to take lessons from their past bitter experiences not to become terrorists like ABSDF. Actually, ABSDF was the only terrorist group who detonated bombs everywhere in the country.

U Myat Soe (Hlaing) of Leyarsipwa News Journal said that he had known women, too, included in the people who were tortured through unfair allegation explained by the minister.

Moreover he had heard the women who were killed. He would like someone in the group who knew well to explain about the women who were arrested and killed by ABSDF. Ko Myint Thein said four women were also included in the ones who were put into confinement. They were Ma Khin Cho Oo of Yangon, Ma Nan Saw, Ma Tu Tu and Ma Nan Aung Htwe Kyi. Ma Khin Cho Oo was a University student, while some others were from Shan State. They told me about the tortures they had endured. They also showed me the wounds. The women faced various kinds of tortures including hitting the head with a stick.

U Hein Latt of Popular journal asked to explain more about the atrocities of ABSDF in northern Shan State, and the reason behind the atrocities.

U Htay Win (a) Naing Lin answered the question, saying he was included in the over 100 persons who were captured and tortured. Under the assignment of ABSDF chairman Moe Thee Zun and Dr Aung Naing I formed the No 501 battalion with 15 men. When the battalion was wiped out by the Tatmadaw columns, I fled to ABSDF north. There I was apprehended together with other 100 persons. Fifteen of them were murdered on 12 February 1992. Some of the imprisoned persons died during brutal interrogation. As the situation became worse, we tried to escape. In reality we were used by the ones who tried to gain higher positions. As we knew, that we would be killed, 55 of us were able to escape from confinement.

Dr Tin Maung Htwe of Point news journal asked whether the ABSDF central knew about the atrocities committed by Thangyaung and also asked about the connections between the central and the ABSDF (North) and Ywet Sit’s involvement in collecting extortion money and drug production and trafficking.

U Htay Win (a) Naing Lin said, as Dr Aung Naing met with me at the central and the ABSDF (North), so the answer is clear.

Sai Htoo with the rank of company commander of brigade 241 of SSA (South) said Ywet Sit collected extortion money from timber merchants doing business in his area. He collected K 100,000 for every truck, K 50,000 for every light truck, K 30,000 for every head of cattle. He ordered the villagers to grow poppy to produce opium in the areas under his control and where Tatmadaw columns rarely arrived. He also collected taxes from opium growers. Poppy cultivation business was totally under the control of the SSA (S) brigade commander in the area. He bought all the opium at a very low price. There were threats that farmers who sold opium to other merchants would be killed.

The question of U Wai Phyo of Weekly Eleven concerned the involvement of Thangyaung in the illegal business of refining heroin.

Soe Soe (a) Soe Lay said, I was together with Thangyaung from 1993 to 2000. I together with and some other persons were together with Thangyaung in collecting opium at the hill villages for refining heroin. When we arrived at southern camp, he made arrangements to refine heroin. Thangyoung refined heroin from about 300 viss of opium. Under his assignment, I took the security duty.

U Ohn Maung (Myinmu Maung Naing Moe) (Naing Ngan Gonye Publishing House): We have clear vision at this conference when we heard the clarification of the minister and true experiences of the youth. Particularly, Ko Taik Peik had to suffer a lot and we have learned lesson from thier experiences. While the State and the Tatmadaw are trying to get the youth to stay on the right side of the law and not to be misled, insurgents are attempting to ill-treat and kill the youth. Other young persons should know about this. So, how do you think of your idea if we publish a book on your bitter experiences so as to inform the public?

U Taik Peik (a) U Than Tun: It has been 15 days since I arrived back here. I live in downtown area. I am a businessman. I lead a comfortable life. I won’t come here because of being threatened or persuaded by a high-ranking official from the ruling regime. I’m interested only in my job. But I come here because now the conference is being held to reveal the true situation. For coming here, it here makes my business affect. But I come here as I have learned that Thangyaung was captured on charges of murdering some young persons and he is to be taken action. Regarding the question of the journalist, I agree with him and I am ready to render help to the publishing although I don’t know who will publish the book, the State or an organization. Because it will go down in the annals of history. And it should be kept on record. I don’t want other young people to get into trouble.

U Myat Khaing (Good News Journal & Maha News Journal): Just now a young man, who suffered mild stab wounds, said he was mistreated by his colleague, a member of ABSDF. Why it was so even though they were used to be doing the same job? Who ordered to mistreat him? How did he feel when he suffered and what was his position when he was a member of ABSDF? I would like to know whether what he explained to us is on his own volition. Or by force?

Ko Zaw Zaw Min: I am Ko Zaw Zaw Min from Moehnyin. When the 1988 disturbances occurred, Ko Myo Win was the leader of our group of protesters named Narmar. Learning that we would be arrested by the military, we went into the jungle. As soon as we arrived, I was in the KIA battalion. Maj Zaw Tu welcomed us and arranged for our accommodation. Then I was sent together with Htun Aung Naing’s group from Moehynin to the permitted area of KIA Headquarters. I had to serve as the incharge of Central Committee when I completed a training course (No 1). I knew about the arrests of some people then. First, they captured a man called Soe Aung Min, who was then killed while being questioned. In about April, 1990, there was a man called Hlwan Moe (a) Ko Myint from Moegaung. He was a responsible person of Central Leading Committee above the ABSDF Central Committee. But he was granted no authority by the Central Committee. Thangyaung and Ko Myo Win mainly held power. Ko Myo Win pretended to be educated. He said he earned a degree in philosophy. He slept with two prostitutes in Shweli. He was arrested on these two charges and questioned. Then he was taken with his hands tied in his back by Thangyaung to the training ground and was shot dead in his temple with M-20 rifle. Another case was Ko Tun Nwe Aung, who was charged with having sex with a female member of ABSDF. He was brought before tribunal on charge of rape. He felt ashamed of having had sex with a female and made himself jailed. But when he got out of detention, he was shot dead by Yanmutu, a security guard, being accused of attempting to escape. As far as I know some were also arrested and killed on charges of spying. There were lots of people who died on the spot in the course of investigation. As much as he remembered, it could be more than 13 people. Besides he learnt that 15 people including Tun Aung Kyaw, Ma Khin Cho Oo, Kyaw Kyaw Min, Kyaw Wai of Mandalay and Aung Phone of Yangon, were killed with the use of sword after wrongly accusing them of being government spies.

U Ko Ko of Yomiuri Shimbun: asked what the government thought of the thing concerning the relations of some officials of NLD party with the armed groups and he wished to know if there were arrangements to take action against the NLD party and the people in armed groups.

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that the Tatmadaw government is now striving for implementing the discipline-flourishing democracy system. In this process, it was very important for political parties to abide by rules and regulations laid down and so the government urged them to abide by the rules. But, some political parties were using the course of confrontation relying on internal and external elements. For the sake of national reconsolidation, the government, however, managed it thoughtfully with visionary to maintain the good relations with them. Nevertheless, if their violation of rules and regulations encroached on the national interests, stability and security of the State, action would have to be taken.