NAY PYI TAW, 6 May—The following is questions raised by those present and answers given by MPF Chief Brig-Gen Khin Yi at the press conference on the arrest of one of terrorists who committed bomb attacks and those who were behind the incident that occurred in front of X2O water throwing pandal.
U Ko Ko of Yangon Media Group thanks MPF for exposing the case, saying he had three questions for the matter. The first question; “Who was arrested of the four terrorists?” the second, “How he was arrested? And third, “His biography.”
The MPF Chief said of the four, Phyo Wai Aung (a) Thet Naing was arrested. Evidences provided by witnesses on the scene and public cooperation have led to his arrest. Three grenade pins and three levers, pieces of the blast and a Nokia brand GSM left behind by Myo Aye (a) Soe Moe. A hand-made bomb which was a Myanmar beer can containing 0.75 pound of C4 gunpowder connected with two detonators was found beside them. Clues were traced based on evidences. Thanks to the clues, MPF was able to trace Phyo Wai Aung (a) Thet Khaing and Yi Yi Myint wife of Aung Gyi (a) Ohn Kyaw Htay who changed sides from Mon insurgent group. The whole link of the crime could be exposed after questioning the two. Concerning the detailed process, he said that it is a police procedure and an on going case.
Biography of Phyo Wai Aung can be seen on the board. VBSW leader Ye Thiha sent Phyo Wai Aung under the code name Thet Khaing. His other name is Mohammad Sharvan. His address is No. 27, third floor, 55th street, Ward 2, Pazundaung. He is married and has three children. He is a native of Mezaligon, Ingapu Township, Ayeyawady Division. He passed matriculation examination there. He was born of parents U Hsan Win Oo and Daw Mar Mar Swe on 8 July 1979 and eldest of the three. He got AGTI (EP) diploma from technical school in Ayethaya, Taunggyi. While working as an engineer with contractors, he got contact with terrorist group leader Thiha Zaw. Thiha Zaw is also working at a construction enterprise with a fake AGTI diploma certificate. He worked at the Cherry estate project of Sakura construction. He and Thiha Zaw (a) Thura Zaw (a) Zaw Htet (a) Thein Htaik became friends while working at the Cherry estate project in South Okkalapa in mid 2006. The two worked together in a number of construction projects from 2006 to 2009. Phyo Wai Aung went to Maesot with the contact of Thiha Zaw. He got contact with Ye Thiha. In November 2009 Ye Thiha showed Phyo Wai Aung and explosive instructor Myo Aye (a) Soe Moe the system of remote phone detonation system with the help of video slides. Ye Thiha asked Phyo Wai Aung whether he can do it as the latter is an electrical engineer.
But the two failed to implement the system then. Phyo Wai Aung became a VBSW terrorist after getting contact with its leader Ye Thiha. He as the local base paved the way for terrorists to enter the nation, arranged a hideout for them, crimes. Thet Khaing (a) Mohammad Sharvan was ranked fourth among by Ye Thiha the four terrorists. Actually he was the person connecting internal and external links. But the MPF assumed that he should be ranked as No 1.
As U Ko Ko thanked MPF on behalf of those who died or wounded in the blast and the entire people, MPF felt so much encouraged. It will continue to discharge duties with might and main with public support.
Dr Zaw Than (Sankei Shimbum):
Q: Let me put two questions. Why was X2O water throwing pandal targeted to be blown up although there were many pandals? Are those who detonated the bombs in front of X2O pandal and escaped are inside or outside the country? And I would like to know if there is any plan to arrest the perpetrators.
A: I am very interested in it. When we started investigation into the case, we investigated why this X2O water throwing pandal was targeted to be blown up de despite there having a lot of pandals. We have the solution to this.
As mentioned earlier, the aims of the strategic operation of anti-government groups are to harm peace and stability of the State, to cause panic among the people and to disrupt the 2010 election. For VBSW group leader Ye Thiha, he might have decided to blast a Yangon Thingyan pandal in order to cause public panic. For those who would commit subversive acts on the ground like Phyo Wai Aung and Thiha Zaw, they would consider that if Yangon was to be targeted, X2O pandal was most crowded. The pandal was located at the junction with five roads. Presumably, it was the best target to be blasted for public panic. This was the legal confession. The second point is that the armed terrorist group itself would choose the best place with good exit and entrance. Instead of choosing the one way, this place is the junction where five roads meet and it is easy to move forward and backward. I would like to say that according to the confession and the nature of armed groups, X2O pandal must have been chosen depending on the those two points.
As for the second question, according to sources available till today, the three escaped persons are at the border of the other country. With the assistance of our partner organizations and the people, we are taking measures to arrest the perpetrators.
Our security force members are taking preventive and exposition measures. But without the public help, it may take a long time to expose the case. In order to receive the public help, we have displayed facts and identities of the perpetrators. So, public cooperation, information and assistance are very important.
As our nation is a member of ASEAN, we have much cooperation with ASEAN police forces. In this context, we would like to inform that we are planning to arrest the perpetrators through cooperation of police forces of the neighbouring nations, diplomatic and government channels.
As regards the international arena, our nation is a member of Interpol. We will file a lawsuit against those perpetrators in accord with the law. Those who are at large will be announced as fugitives. Then, we will issue the red notice through Interpol channel. The red notice means that identities of the fugitives will be sent to 188 Interpol member countries for their arrests. The speedy expose of the case depends on cooperation of the country concerned that accepts the fugitives. If there is little cooperation, the case can take time to a certain extent. Anyhow, we will be taking measures for the arrest of the fugitives in various ways through internal, regional and international cooperation.
Q: I would like to ask you two questions.
As the first question, tell me the process on efforts of police members exposing the attempt to detonate bomb using the phone card.
Another one is that I would like to know whether the authorities received information about bomb explosion in advance or not, and whether the authorities released warnings for taking care of bomb blast danger.
A: We did not receive the exact information that the pandal will be exploded on 15 April. But, we have gathered information that the bomber groups were infiltrating into the various regions with various means and ways; and that they will take surprise to explode. So, we made preparations on taking care of dangers. But, no tight security measures were taken.
Furthermore, I have already replied to the question how to expose the case. The remaining points are Police Procedures. They are ongoing cases. The Myanmar Police Force exposed the case joining hands with other associate organizations and some neighbouring countries in cooperation with the people.
Q: Please explain to us about incident related to emergence of news among the people as soon as bomb blast and the news on arrest of perpetrators.
On that day, a rumour was rife that some persons witnessed the throwing of bomb. The news suddenly appeared that the witnesses crouched down but some persons were injured in the blast; that another bombs exploded; and that the security group arrested the person who made telephone connection “It's over”. I would like to know the arrest of the offenders or process of arresting the suspect upon further investigation. Furthermore, I would like to know how to arrest the perpetrator under clue.
The clarification mentioned that the authorities have known the organizational set up for the headquarters and those who are behind the bombers. They may commit such act. In the near future, the elections will be held. So, have you planned the preparations for guarding against the dangers? Is such process ongoing? I would to know who perpetrators will use vehicle or train or track of jungle.
A: Rumour rife was untrue. Another point was that technology was applied in exposing the incident while using eye witness and ear witness through evidences on the ground. We started to trace the suspect 7/8 days after the incident. But we were unable to arrest him. In that regard, we were in pursuit of another firm evidences using documents in addition to eye witness. For example, it was found that when the suspect was arrested the information based on the fact that Thiha Zaw who masterminded the incident would enter the country together with Aung Gyi (a) Ohn Kyaw Htay, and would stay at Hnetpyawtaw Street, Sagyoung. MPF was able to trace the suspect within a week. Only after we were ascertained, we detained him for questioning. But he did not tell us anything. However we had concrete documents. We knew the remaining link from Daw Yi Yi Myint. Actually, she is a sincere person. She was used without her knowledge. We applied smart methods and coordination to expose the whole link.
We were also able to expose the whole plot as we have reinforced our security measures. We will also make coordinated efforts with neighbouring countries. We will issue red notice and work till the group is disintegrated for our future to be free from disturbances.
Q: I would like to know whether perpetrators who were responsible for bomb blast in front of X2O water throwing pandal and their related organizations are related to other bomb explosion incidents that occurred in other parts of the country in April.
A: As far as I remember there were ten major and minor explosions in April. All anti-government groups laid down same strategic military programme that is to commit bomb attacks. But, ways and means and groups who committed bomb attacks are different. The group who detonated bomb in front of the X2O water throwing pandal is VBSW. Before this case, seven bomb blasts that occurred in Shwepaukkan and Mingaladon industrial zones in Yangon in September 2009 were the acts of PGF (People's Guerilla Front) sent by VBSW. In April, Those who fired at the site of Thaukyaykhat Hydro Power Project in Toungoo are from 6th Battalion of KNU Brigade- 6. They interviewed themselves. We got clues to the identities of perpetrators who committed attacks in Kyaukdaga and Lwehaw. It would not be possible to make arrests without any concrete documents. That's why, their aim of the strategy is same, but ways and means are different. Regarding the question about whether they are related, VBSW was responsible for X2O bomb blast in April. The Thaukyaykhat incident committed by 6th Battalion of KNU Brigade (2) is not related to the above-mentioned incident. The Thaukyaykhat incident is a separate one. This incident is under investigation. We will explain about it later.
Q: I would like to know whether educative programme on bomb attacks for the public to be conducted. Is there an educative programme to educate the public to know whether it is bomb or not when someone finds a strange object on his way? Is there information center for those who want to inform? Is there any arrangement for hot line numbers?
A: We will to consider it. 199 programme is set up for those who want to inform. Phone numbers for regions concerned were published on papers of regions concerned, journals and crime journals. Besides, we will carry out to extend the suggested informing system. We will inform about this soon.
U San Nyein Thaw (Modern Journal)
Q: It is known that in the incidents of bomb blast, some organizations are organized but some are not. In such incidents as aforesaid bomb blast, striking Thaukyaykhat with heavy weapons and the incident of bomb blast in Kyauktaga, which group related with other organized groups have committed such an act and why?
A: The incident at X2O pandal is clear. VBSW committed the act of violence. Company (A), 6th Battalion of KNU Brigade 2 fired heavy weapons at Thaukyaykhat. To say something about Kyauktaga incident, it is under investigation. We have answers. As regards the incident, it is known to all that bomb blast occurred at four locations. There were many bombs we have exposed. Before the incident on 13 March, members of Myanmar Police Force discharging security duties in Bhamo searched suspicious persons and found them together with 30 bombs. According to the investigation regarding these 30 bombs, we have evidences for who and which organizations were involved in it. The bombs exploded have similar identity to that of the 30 bombs. At the appropriate time I will explain again the source of the bombs. This is an on going case and thus I beg your indulgence.
Q: I truly understand the nature of terrorist bomb attacks and murders occurred in connection with elections. I have experienced multiparty parliamentary democracy elections and there were bloody terrorist acts at that time. We the people are worried about happening of such brutal acts during and post election period. So, I would like to know how security measures will be taken to protect the people and to ensure security and peace of the people.
A: We will take every possible measure to thwart the plan of terrorists and anti-government groups. In so doing, I have mentioned measures to be taken at home, measures to be taken in collaboration with the neighbouring country and with international organizations. These are the measures taken only by law enforcement agency. Moreover, through the government and diplomatic channels, we will take measures not to cause security breach, undermining law enforcement and public panic.
U Myat Khaing (Snapshot Journal)
Q: I have learnt that Ko Zeya, son of late Saya Linyon, and Ko Sithu, son of Ko Zeya, were arrested and are under investigation in connection with the bomb blast. My question is whether they are involved in the bomb blast.
A: This is the sequence of the rum ours. A man arrived at the scene after the bomb blast. He recorded the scene through video and phoned his father. As for the security members, they have to investigate all the suspicious things involved in the incident after the incident has happened. He is under investigation. If we find there is no relation with him we will take legal procedure. This is an on going case.