NAY PYI TAW, 6 May 2010—The following is the clarification by Chief of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi at the press conference on the arrest of one of the suspects who committed bomb attack and expose of those who masterminded the incident that occurred in front of X2O water throwing pandal.

Members of the press and Distinguished guests,

Today’s clarifications will be on the findings of a recent bombing incidence, presumably, the one that attracted the utmost interest of our distinguished guests present here as well as those of the general public. It occurred on 15 April 2010—the middle day of Thingyan Water Festival—in front of X2O water throwing pandal known as “Tagu Lay” at the corner of U Aung Myat and Kandawgyi Lake Circular roads, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township. The three grenades that were thrown towards the pandal exploded and killed 10 innocent citizens and injured a total of 168 people. This brutal act of violence is perpetrated by inhumane terrorists who mercilessly turned the innocent students, social volunteers and bread earners of simple families into fatal victims.

Members of the press and Distinguished guests,

In order to uncover the perpetrators of this hideous crime, members of our Myanmar Police Force investigated day and night with the help and assistance of our citizens and eventually managed to apprehend one of the offenders. Through his legal statements, we were able to reveal conspirators, their plans and the ways and means they applied to execute it. I am certain that all of you among the people are anxious to know what really happen. Further investigations provided us with information on who works behind the scene pulling strings and what their future strategies are. Our security forces needed time to investigate and at the same time, have to work undercover in order to keep tract of the perpetrators before we can come up with concrete evidence. Thus, we were not in a position to provide any explanation after a lapse of two weeks and here, I would sincerely request for the indulgence of our citizens.

Members of the press and Distinguished guests,

Based on the evidences collected at the scene of the crime and on facts and data reported by eye witnesses, members of Myanmar Police Force worked and cooperated closely with those people and thus, able to uncover the perpetrators.

In summary, we can say that this brutal act was committed by four terrorist murderers who are members of a group known as Vigorous Burmese Students Warriors (VBSW). The plan itself was hatched by the leader of VBSW Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing who himself is a terrorist. Under his guidance, VBSW committed 19 acts of explosions between 2004 and 2008. Based on their own proclamations and from the confessions of the apprehended offender, we came to learn that the explosions at Traders Hotel, Panorama Hotel, Zawgyi House and Shwemanthu Highway Transport Gate in South Okkalapa were committed by this group. Additionally, the invasion of Myanmar Embassy in Thailand on 1 October 1990 and the attacks on Raj Puri Hospital in Thailand were their doings as well. What we would like to emphasis here is that, both VBSW and Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing are synonymous with terrorists and murderers.

As their popularity became infamous, VBSW find itself difficult to survive on its own and moved its headquarters to ABSDF Don Kheuan Camp along Myanmar-Thailand border and took refuge for a while at their Branch Office situated within ABSDF Office in Mae Sariang Township, Mae Hong Son District, Thailand. At the same time, head of VBSW Ye Thiha raised another terrorist group named People Guerilla Front- PGF in 2006 and continued to commit terrorist acts. This group blew off 7 bombs at Industrial Zones in Shwepaukkan, Mingaladon and Hlinethaya on 16-9- 2009. According to the legal statement of Kyaw Zaw Linn @ Ko Saing who was a member of PGF and arrested at that time, those explosives were planted by VBSW also known as PGF. I hope distinguished guests may aware the clarification on that incident at press conference on 30 January 2010. ABSDF itself, who commands VBSW has already been proclaimed as a terrorist group by the Government on 25-8-2006 and is a follower of Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB). DAB in turn, is one of the four parties that form National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB). As the Chairman of NCUB is Tar Malar Baul who holds the rank of KNU General, it is quite easy to visualize who is in command behind the scene of all this.

In retrospect, we will see that the aforementioned four members of VBSW met with their leader Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing during the first week of December 2009 at Mae Sot in the other country. In accordance with strategic directions laid down by his superiors, Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing set out to; plant explosives within the country; instigate fear among local population and; destroy peace and tranquility of the country that would eventually disrupt the elections. To get the required result, he laid down a plan to explode one of the Thingyan water throwing pandals and provided coded names and fake national ID cards for VBSW members who would return to Myanmar to execute the plan. The coded names of those who will carry out the plans on the ground are:

�� Thein Htike for Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw @ Bo Thu @ Zaw Htet;

�� Ohn Kyaw Htay for Aung Gyi;

�� Soe Moe for Myo Aye;

�� Thet Khine for Phyo Wai Aung and;

�� Nay Myo Win for Thet Pyin.

For 15 April explosion, we were able to determine that Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing appointed Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw @ Bo Thu @ Zaw Htet @ Thein Htike as the team leader and ranked him as grade (1) team member as he is trusted right hand follower of Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing. Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay is being ranked as grade (2) team member for his guts and Myo Aye @ Soe Moe who is also an explosive expert of VBSW is assigned to first plant the bomb together with a hand phone and then to ignite the explosive by another phone from a distance. He is being ranked as grade (3) team member and Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine, who has been already planted within the country to find places to hide explosives is being ranked as grade (4) team member and is also responsible to keep a check on members of security forces.

We were able to establish connection between Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine who is already within the country making connections with Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw, who came in from outside as the leader to execute the plan. As a AGTI (EP) graduate, Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine works as a construction contractor and come to know Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw who is also a contractor during the construction of Cherry Garden Housing Estate in South Okkalapa Township with Sakura Construction Company in mid-2006. They first became friends as neighbours and later teamed up as co-workers and have been coordinating on line both locally and internationally for many times.

Members of the press and Distinguished guests,

Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine lived in Mae Sot for about a week and came back into Myanmar together with Myo Aye @ Soe Moe during the second week of December 2009. Ye Thiha @ San Naing then had already assigned him to rent a place to hide explosives and gave him kyats five lakhs, one lakh for travel and another four lakhs for house rental. On arrival in Yangon, Phyo Wai Aung used his code name Thet Khine and with the fake national ID card, rented an apartment on the 7th floor of building number 46, Hnget Pyaw Taw Street, Sangyoung Township for six months at a nate of kyat 65,000 per month. We learnt that he let Myo Aye @ Soe Moe stay at his house before they could find the apartment and on 30-12-2009, paid the rent in full, took over the apartment and each kept a house key which they received in pair. We also learnt that Phyo Wai Aung informed Thura Zaw through Gtalk that they have rented a place.

After Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine and Myo Aye @ Soe Moe arrived in Yangon, Phyo Wai Aung took Myo Aye to Yangon Railway Station, China Town, Mawtin Jetty, Thingangyun, Zawana Tiger Gate, Yadanar Street in South Okkalapa, Yarzarmin Motor Gate, Aung Mingalar Highway Transport Gate and Hlinethaya Tharyar Highway Transport Gate and showed him the possible targets. He also gave directions and trained Myo Aye to enable him to go around the city independently. According to our records and reports from witnesses, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw @ Thein Htike and Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay left Mae Sot on 1-1-2010 and stayed at the rented apartment in Sangyoung from 2-1-2010 to 16-1-2010 and reported to the Ward authorities.

While staying at the rented apartment for two weeks, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw kept searching for a safer place for Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay to stay and through friends, managed to rent a house owned by U Mya Thaung, a signal flagger at Nyaung Thone Pin railway station, Cooperative College road Thanhlyin and let Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay stay there. While staying at U Mya Thaung’s place, Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay got married to Yi Yi Myint (aged 32) on 6-2-2010, the niece of U Mya Thaung who was there to look after her ailing uncle. They then moved to No. (19) Thazin Myaing road, Staff Quarters, Thanhlyin, the residence of Yi Yi Myint’s mother Daw Mya Than where they held an official wedding feast. Ohn Kyaw Htay deceived his wife Yi Yi Myint by telling her that he is a construction contractor with roots at Chae Say Eaing village, Taungdwingyi Township, a water tight cover story without the need for producing any documentary or photographic evidence. It was reported that Ohn Kyaw Htay left town for about 20 days during the end of January and after that, came back home regularly. According to his wife Yi Yi Myint, he does not mingle with people, keep to himself and tried to avoid the crowd while talking on the phone.

Members of the press and Distinguished guests,

During the first week of April 2010, we learnt that Thiha Zaw contacted Phyo Wai Aung on-line and informed him that he had sent Myo Aye @ Soe Moe into the country, an explosive expert who can detonate bombs by hand phones. He also told him that the unsuccessful attempt by Myo Aye @ Soe Moe to detonate the bomb by hand phone in front of Ye Thiha @ San Naing while Phyo Wai Aung was in Mai Sot for the second time in November 2009 is now being perfected. This was in reference to a demonstration held while Phyo Wai Aung was in Mai Sot. By showing a video on how to detonate a bomb by using a hand phone, Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing let Phyo Wai Aung, a graduate with an electrical engineering degree, team up with explosive expert Myo Aye @ Soe Moe to try out the method which was found to be unsuccessful then. Later, on 10 April, Thiha Zaw again contacted Phyo Wai Aung on-line again to inform that:

They are inYangon;

They will detonate explosives in two steps;

As a first step, a grenade will be thrown into the crowd and they would dispersed and as a second step, Myo Aye @ Soe Moe will detonate the bomb only when the security forces move into the chaotic area;

X2O water throwing pandal has been chosen as the target;

Phyo Wai Aung will be responsible to keep check on the movements of members of security forces;

Meeting point will be in front of the target pandal at 12 noon on 15 April an2d members will not be talking to one another but will use sign language and; Designated Yuzana Plaza frontage as the meeting point after carrying out the plan.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

At 13.20 hours on 15 April, the day to explode bombs, Phyo Wai Aung waited in front of the pandal at the road junction near the entrance to Karaweik, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw dressed in blue jeans, pink and red striped long sleeved T-shirt, dark green jeans cap, dark sun glasses with a green shoulder bag hanging on his side arrived at the meeting point around 13.15 hours. Wearing a long sleeves blue jeans shirt with light colour jean pants and carrying a faded jeans side shoulder bag, Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay arrived at the scene and Myo Aye @ Soe Moe dressed in red short sleeved T-shirt, blue jeans, red and white striped cap with a water proof blue bag that contains a hand phone hanging on his neck arrived in time as well.

Although the X2O pandal was rather quiet and deserted due to lunch break around 12.30, it became alive when the DJ music starts and Thingyan dancing began at 13.30. The crowd started to grow bigger with distribution of Lincoln cigarettes from the pandal.

As assigned, Phyo Wai Aung kept a close check on the movements of security forces' members. At 15.00 hours, Phyo Wai Aung took his place on the road at the entrance of Karaweik with Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay standing about five foot away in front of him and Thiha @ Thura Zaw about five foot away on his right side.

Myo Aye @ Soe Moe stood further away, about 100 yards to the left, near the road junction of Karaweik entrance.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

By the time the terrorist team that was going to explode bombs secured their places, the innocent crowd was playing water in front of the pandal without knowing incoming danger and also grew with heightened merry making tempo. At that point of time, Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay took out a black grenade from his shoulder bag, released the pin and threw it with his right hand towards the pandal passing over the crowd.

Simultaneously, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw also took out another grenade from his shoulder bag and threw it with right hand towards the pandal. The explosions of grenades were heard and felt one after another.

Ohn Kyaw Htay took out a grenade from his shoulder bag and threw it as third time. These explosions caught people by surprise and disbelief and this created utter chaos and confusion. The cries and wails for help and terrified flights towards unspecified directions. So, Phyo Wai Aung had to flee the scene of crime and ran towards 123rd Street. We also learnt that Myo Aye @ Soe Moe was not successful in detonating another bomb by hand phone as assigned.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

Terrorist attack to innocent people is brutal. They, first, threw 3 high explosive grenades into the crowd. The bomb that was to be detonated as soon as people became chaotic after the grenade explosion has a very strong explosive power with 0.75 pound of C4 gunpowder placed inside a Myanmar beer tin. Two stands of detonating wires were attach to a Nokia brand GSM hand set with a prepaid card inside. An additional flat lithium battery was also attached outside the tin to reinforce detonation once a call was made to the number which is a very high tech method of exploding bombs. This is the first time that such a detonating method is used here in Myanmar. The bomb did not get detonated due to reasons unknown. If the bomb was exploded, additional casualty and injury of the innocent people who were relieving the wounded would be occurred. Thus, we can fairly conclude that this atrocious act was committed not only to frighten innocent people but its ultimate aim is to create utmost pain and death.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

Two days after the sad explosions, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw e-mailed Phyo Wai Aung on 17 April and asked him to come to Aie Li's place without fail as he is concerned for phyo Wai Aung's well being. Through investigations, we came to learn that "Aie Li" is the name of one of the pet dogs of VBSW leader Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Niang and the use of such code words can be generally constructed that some of the perpetrators have already fled the country to take refuge in the country across the border.

If we are to summerize the afore reported incidence of 15 April, the explosion at X2O water throwing pandal was master minded by the leader of VBSW Ye Thiha @ Thura @ San Naing and closely supervised by Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw @ Zaw Htet @ Bo Thu @ Thein Htike in the implementation process. At the time of the crime, Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw and Aung Gyi @ Ohn Kyaw Htay actually threw the grenades but Myo Aye @ Soe Moe, who was responsible to detonate another bomb as a second step by using a hand phone from a distance, was not in a position to do so in time for some reasons. From investigative findings, we can safely conclude that Phyo Wai Aung @ Thet Khine who is responsible for finding a safe haven to store explosives and for keeping a close check on the movements of security forces so that the radical team can execute their assigned task smoothly, can be the one that will be left behind inside the country and continue to carry out all other forms of terrorist acts.

If we are to put the puzzle together by connecting different incidences, we can fairly conclude that these are the works of Thiha Zaw @ Thura Zaw and his group. On 14-1- 2010, a play doll stuffed with a time bomb was thrown into the compound of a house on Street No. 1 of Cherry Garden Housing Estate at Ward No. 14/3 of South Okkalapa Township that has to be removed and confiscated. Another incidence was the confiscation of a sandal on 8-4-2010 in an inhabited compound of Ward No. 3, Bago where its under part rubber was found to be sliced to stuff-in C4 gunpowder and a detonator.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

After disclosing the forefront perpetrators of the said incidence, we have looked further to identify the actors behind the scene. We find that VBSW operates under the guidance by ABSDF who is in turn, controlled by DAB. The Godfather of DAB happens to be NCUB and the fact that NCUB is chaired by KNU representative. This undoubtedly led us to comprehend who are the actual controlling and financing figures behind the reported incidence. In assessing the reasons and logic over why such things are being engineered, we came to a conclusion that they are the derivatives of the grand strategic plan developed and implemented collectively by groups of opposition organizations in order to disrupt peace and tranquillity of the country and to instigate fear among the general population that would eventually demolish the 2010 elections. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight two major events in this connection.

The first major event I wanted to highlight is the round table meeting held between 30 December 2009 and 5 January 2010 where leaders from more than 20 opposition organizations including ABSDF, NDF, DAB, DPNS, KYO, NLD (LA) and NCBU and some foreigners, whose identities are still under investigation, attended. With KNU taking the lead, this meeting took place at some place along the border area within Chiang Mai District, Thailand with almost 70 representatives in attendance. Discussions during this meeting centered on launching surprise attacks on Government military camps, invading border towns before 2010 elections and finding ways and means to dissolve 2010 elections and decided to form specially trained groups to work towards their set goal and to group explosive experts separately to carry out destructive bombings. Another meeting was held on 19-1-2009 at DPNS Office in a village near Mae Sot, Thailand where Chairman Aung Moe Zaw and 23 other members including Moe Thee Zun attended where he said the following and we have concrete proof that he said it.

"We need to take military action against the Government and the key to that is to bomb and destroy them. We need to organize combined technical training between KNU, ABSDF and DAB and develop detailed electronic mines for exploding and explode and these needs to be implemented urgently".

The second event I would like to highlight is a similar meeting held on 26 and 27 April at Mae Oakahta village, Mae Sot Township. About 60 representatives including Tamalar Baul, Mutu Say Pho, David Tarkapaw from KNU, Commanders of No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 KNU Brigades, members of Kachin National Army in exile and representatives from opposition organizations such as CNF, ALP, PPLO, NDF, ABSDF, DAB, KNPP, MLOB, SSA-S, NCUB and NCGUB attended this meeting. We learnt that plans to dissolve the upcoming 2010 elections was again discussed and endorsed at the meeting and decided to apply both civil assaults and close range ambush tactics in destroying government offices, economic enterprises and dam projects to meet their set objective. KNU is found to be the leading organization in setting up meetings of this nature. I would therefore like to point out that such undertakings are nothing but a pilot plan of the strategy and tactics, military objectives and political objectives laid down and implemented by opposition organizations in order to oppose the Government and dissolve the 2010 elections.

Members of the Press and Distinguished guests,

From the clarifications on bombing incidences, I have started above, we can be certain that those harmful terrorist would not stop to consider the destruction of State owned properties, roads and bridges and the lost of innocent people's lives and properties in their attempts to disrupt peace and tranquility of our country, instill fear and unrest among the general public and eventually to dissolve the 2010 elections. They would definitely and blindly continue to implement their damaging and murderous policies. Accordingly, I would like to inform our lawful citizens that the only assured way to counter such devastating atrocities is to cooperate fully with our security forces and with that, I conclude.