YANGON, 7 Aug 2009— Press Conference on measures taken for security and prevalence of law and order of the State was held at Drugs Elimination Museum at the corner of Hanthawady Street and Kyuntaw Street in Kamayut Township here this afternoon. Brig-Gen Khin Yi, Chief of Myanmar Police Force, gave account on present undertakings for security and prevalence of law and order of the State.
The Press Conference was participated by Deputy Attorney General U Myint Naing, departmental heads of ministries, Ambassadors, charges d’ affaires”, diplomats of embassies, resident representatives and personnel of UN agencies, personnel from social organizations, members of Foreign Correspondent Club, editorial members of local journals and magazines, guests.
Brig-Gen Khin Yi , Chief of MPF gave account on current undertakings for security and prevalence of law and order of the State. (The clarification of Brig-Gen Khin Yi is reported separately.)
Next, Chief of MPF Brig-Gen Khin Yi replied to the queries raised by those present and the Press Conference came to an end at 3:15 pm. Afterwards, diplomats, journalists, and guests observed documentary photos on destructive acts of terrorists, photos on explosion in No 18 Ward of Shwepyitha Township occurred at 17:30 hrs on 19-10-2008, documentary photos of American citizen John William Yettaw who entered Myanmar and committed illegal acts, announcements on terrorist acts of VBSW, critical remarks of foreign media on security operations, documentary photos on plots that were exposed in advance, photos and records on exposing terrorist and destructive acts at home.
The following is a translation of the clarification of measures for State security and the rule of law made at the press conference by Chief of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi. The Myanmar Police Force is responsible for State security, community peace and the rule of law.
So, we are taking security measures day and night in the regions where we are assigned duties to accomplish our mission. At about 5.40 am on 6 May 2009, we arrested Mr John William Yettaw, who had stayed illegally and left the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in restricted area, in Inya Lake, about 50 yards from old Kanthaya hospital and 30 yards from the house of the charge´ d’ affaires of the US embassy. In the case, a lawsuit was filed against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her companions Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, and Mr John William Yettaw on 14 May 2009.
Taking advantage of that case, internal and external anti-government groups and subversive groups were plotting in collusion through groundless accusations to incite riots and terrorist acts. Since 14 May 2009, there have been 20 court hearings, and throughout the period, security forces have been taking security measures day and night to ensure stability and peace. We also took all necessary measures in order to avert a gross distortion of the objective conditions due to the attacks of antigovernment media. Some media, persons and organizations are reporting that security is being tightened in Yangon with the intention of deceiving the people into misunderstanding the conditions. We managed to expose some information that terrorist groups based in foreign countries would commit terrorist acts in the nation. I would like to present some of them.
Naing Aung, Kyaw Htet and Zaw Zaw Tun of FDB in Maesot, Thailand, Wai Lin of DPNS, and Kyaw Ko and Aung Thu of ABSDF held a clandestine meeting in the early 2009. They held talks on plans for cooperation to revive their movements, which they have carried out since September 2007, such as political, terrorist and mass protest campaigns in 2009, and to blast strategic sites in Yangon. And they made a decision to accomplish the operations without fail.
At about 3.55 am on 24 May 2009, an electrical staff member exposed a time bomb planted in the ceiling of upper class coach No (5) of down-train No (32) that was due to leave Nay Pyi Taw for Yangon at 5 am. So, we could avert a tragic event that might harm the lives of innocent people.
Tenant U Win Hlaing of No 295 (A), Yaypya Street, Ward (18), Shwepyitha, Yangon, found 65 detonators kept in a white plastic container while he was digging the earth in the compound on 25 May 2009. The detonators belonged to student warrior No 54 Gadon (a) Thet Oo Win of VBSW, who died in the accident that happened while he was planting a time bomb in Yangon on 19 October 2008.
Gadon (a) Thet Oo Win hid the explosives to be used in terrorist attacks in the earth while he was staying in the house. If Gadon (a) Thet Oo Win had not died of the accidental bomb explosion and the explosives had not been found, many innocent people would have fallen victim to terrorist attacks. That event shows that we must take security measures thoroughly and constantly in order to protect the people.
We were informed that on 9 June 2009, KNU designated a famous pagoda near Mawlamyine- Yangon-Pyinmana Road as a gathering point to meet members of Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors (VBSW), who would enter the nation along Phaya Thonzu-Mawlamyine Road via Thailand to launch bomb attacks. They also had a plan to organize some hardcore people along the route, who would commit terrorist acts on their behalf.
In addition, anti-government groups outside the nation plotted to commit terrorist acts during United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Myanmar, and VBSW announced that it would step up terrorist attacks if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted.
We also exposed that Mr John of Maesot gave instructions on phone to the hardcore members in the nation to launch bomb attacks in Yangon by 20 July 2009 and in Nay Pyi Taw by 20 June. We exposed that Ko Nyan (a) Bo Nyan and Ko Kein (a) major Kein of ABSDF were active in Bangkok, Maesot, Chiamgmai, Mae Hong Son and Maesulin in Thailand, and they held discussions with KNPP leaders in Maesulin in May 2009 and agreed to work together for bomb attacks in the run-up and during the 2010 election. ABSDF is planning to enter the nation through various routes for terrorist attacks in Yangon and Mandalay. Therefore, it is apparent that terrorists always conspire to commit destructive acts with the intention of undermining stability and peace. Surely, there will be casualties and tragedies once the nation lacks security. Therefore, we must carry out community based security in order to protect the public, and that is a plan we must implement effectively.
Destructive elements turn completely to terrorist and subversive acts because they are allergic to the rule of law, community peace and stability in Myanmar. Security forces of the Myanmar Police Force managed to save the nation from a grave danger due to the cooperation of the people who favour stability and peace. In the case, the terrorist group plotted to launch bomb blasts and incite a demonstration during the visits of United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon and distinguished guests to Myanmar and on the days Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s case is heard.
In that case, duty-conscious citizens informed us that Htay Aung (a) Aung Myat (a) Aung Paing, who is anxious to commit terrorist attacks and had completed subversive and explosives courses, would re-enter the nation for bomb attacks. So, our forces systematically took security measures in cooperation with the people. As a result, we arrested Htay Aung (a) Aung Myat (a) Aung Paing, 30, son of U Tin Shwe, No 978, 4th Yanpyay Street, 2/South Ward, Thakayta Township, near Konzaydan Market on Konzaydan Street in Pabedan Township at 10.30 am on 2 July 2009. And the security members seized a detonator kept in the roll of the trim of his jean trousers and two detonators kept in his slippers, two packets of C-4 gunpowder and wire from him. The seizures are on display on the board for the knowledge of you journalists and guests.
According to the admission of Htay Aung, under the instruction of leader Thura (a) Ye Thiha (a) San Naing of VBSW (Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors) and CPPA (Committee for Promoting of People’s Activity) on bomb attacks in suitable sites as Yangon would see a State visit on 3 and 4 July 2009, he reentered the nation with the explosives on 1 July 2009. Then, he was under arrest by security members while he was in Yangon on 2 July 2009.
Terrorist Htay Aung made contacts with ABSDF, and collected information inside the country, sent trainees to the other country in order to take explosives courses, attended explosives course himself and made arrangements to carry out destructive acts with the financial assistance of ABSDF.
The lessons terrorist Htay Aung and others had learned at the explosives course were making of various kinds of bombs such as pull mine, poster mine, bobby traps, time bomb and cassette mine. Detailed lessons are shown on the board to study. They had learned assembling and dismantling of various kinds of small arms, shooting methods and training for military tactic and raid with the use of VCD. On 29 June, 2009 evening, Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing went to Htay Aung’s place and instructed him to make a plan for explosive operations during the trip of the UN Secretary-General in Yangon on 3 and 4 July, to explode hand-made mines at courts, in the environs of Insein Jail and USDA office as targets, to undermine law and order inside the country, to launch the explosives operations in the first week of July, not to detonate the all three targets by Htay Aung alone and to meet Zaw Zaw (a) Khine Mar who was inside the country and to assign explosives duty to Zaw Zaw to explode the court, to keep Zaw Zaw’s phone, to carry out the operation, weather permitting after the target is set, to contact him one or two days ahead at an opportune time before the operation started, to assign duty to Nyi Nyi to bomb the environs of Insein jail when he arrived in the country, to explode the environs of USDA office by Htay Aung, to inform him with evidence after the operation is successfully concluded and to contact Nyi Nyi when he arrived in the country.
He said he would meet Nyi Nyi later who was assigned to detonate the environs of Insein Jail. Terrorist Htay Aung was given Identity Number 999961 and terrorist Nyi Nyi, 999972. On 30-6-2009, Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing gave Htay Aung K 150000 and eight sets of old dresses and instructed him to re-enter the country.
According to the instructions of Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing, Htay Aung left Maesot on 1 July and arrived back in Yangon at about 3 a.m. on 2 July 2009. He went to Mingalar Market and made contact with Khine Mar (a) Zaw Zaw who was in Yangon in advance through public telephone and he told Khine Mar (a) Zaw Zaw to meet him near Konzaydan bus stop. They were arrested at about 10.30 a.m. by members of security force while they were in conversation. As terrorist Htay Aung was arrested together with explosive devices and his accomplices, a number of lives of innocent people were saved. This has shown that systematic security measures in connection with tip-offs were taken.
Terrorist Htay Aung took an explosives course from 3 May to 30 June 2009, about two months, in Maesot. While he was in Maesot, he met and held discussions on destructive acts with Thura (a) Ye Thiha (a) San Naing, leader of VBSW/CPPA, Ko Myo (a) Myo Aye, explosive course instructor, Aung Aung (a) Ko Aung, instructor of small arms training course, Khin Maung Cho, leader of Myanmar Public Movement Committee for destructive acts and confrontation programme, Mone Naing of NLD-LA, Ei Shwe Zin Nyunt, Myint Soe, Tun Aung Kyaw of ABSDF, Thange, Kyaw Ko Ko of Myanmar Unity Council, Nay Win of FDB, Ngwe Lin of Lu Baung Thit and Than Dote of BLSO.
Terrorist Htay Aung made arrangements to settle in a sparsely-populated ward running an ordinary business and to designate his house as a gathering point for terrorist groups and to collect arms and ammunition as much as he can. Besides, at an opportune time, they had planned attack vehicles of police force that are carrying out security measures inside the country.
Thura (a) Ye Thiha (a) San Naing of VBSW agreed to do the plans presented by Htay Aung and promised to find a house for Htay Aung inside the country and sent Htay Aung to go into to the country.
Thura (a) Ye Thiha (a) San Naing recruited active youths to carry out destructive acts in the county and sent them to the other country batch by batch via illegal route to take explosives courses. Trainees were sent back into the country secretly to carry out destructive acts with the use of improvised explosive devices. A total of 15 terrorists including Htay Aung were arrested during this year following the investigations of members of security force. Charts showing the links are on display to study.
The mastermind behind terrorist Htay Aung was Thura (a) Ye Thiha (a) San Naing of VBSW (Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors). He stuck to terrorist attacks in his life. He was born in Thonze, Thayawady District, Bago Division and he went underground in 1988. He hijacked XY-ADW F-28 plane owned by Myanma Airways on (Yangon- Myeik) flight and took it to Thailand on 6 October 1989. He was a member of a terrorist group named Lion and arrested together with explosives by Thai police force at Bangkok on 23 Jaunary1993.
Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing formed VBSW with the membership of foolhardy youths. He led together with Johnny (a) Kyaw Oo in the raid on Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok together with members of God’s Army on 1 October, 1999. He accompanied by members of God’s Army raided Ratchpuri Hospital in Thailand on 24 January, 2000. After the Ratchpuri Hospital incident, VBSW collapsed and members of VBSW went into hiding where possible places as Thai government cracked down on God’s Army and VBSW. Starting from 2002, Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing cooperated with ABSDF and accelerated the destructive acts in the country together with hardcore terrorists of ABSDF. He moved to Maesot on 2002 and he got contact with VOA reporter Aye Aye Mar, wife of Lwanni of ABSDF. He sent Aye Min Naing (a) Aung Htoo, central committee member of ABSDF, to Pyay in order to commit destructive acts as a hardcore and then he sent explosive devices through various means. Moreover, terrorists trained by Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing contacted Aye Min Naing several times from 2005 to 2008 and did terrorist acts in Yangon for 14 times. The declaration of VBSW in which they claimed responsibility for bombings was shown on the board to study. In fact, ABSDF did subversive acts under the name of VBSW using Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing as a tool. The masterminds behind such subversive acts were FDB, NCUB, DPNS, PDF, NDD in addition to ABSDF. Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing, leader of VBSW and CPPA and member of ABSDF, used terrorist Htay Aung and his accomplices as well as he was used by Secretary-General Dr Naing Aung of FDB.
Since there have been news about terrorist acts and destructive elements as mentioned above, our security forces are working round the clock with a sense of duty to protect the innocent people. Indeed, speeding up security operations is for the sake of the State and the people. The successful security operation cannot be carried out by the security force alone.
It also calls for public cooperation and there have been clear in this regard. This is why we would like to request the people to continue their cooperation in security operations of our security force members although there have been some people jealous of peace and stability of the State criticizing our country for tightening the security too much.
There have been accusations that the incident in which Mr John William Yettaw under court trial today illegally intruded into the restricted compound of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi happened in sync with the State and that such incident intentionally took place to detain her again at a time when her restrictions are nearly to be lifted. There has also been a piece of fabricated news broadcast and printed by some media, persons and organizations that a cruel story has been invented to assassinate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and whether the incident was a trick.
Simply thinking about such an accusation, the first point is that Mr John William Yettaw is a real American citizen who was born of Jerome William Yettaw and Elizabeth Bouchop Fogo Yettaw in Detroit, Michigan, the USA. Besides, he was a Vietnam War veteran retiring from the US Army. He is also an educated person studying to obtain a PhD degree in Psychology. You, journalists, will know that it was not possible at all for the State to use a person whose nation is many miles distant from our country and whose culture, custom and faith are different from ours.
Another point is that in this incident, when Mr Yettaw was questioned after being arrested from Inya Lake on 6-5-2009, 21 items including a camera and six memory cards were seized from him. Moreover, 61 items were seized from Diamond Room on the fifth floor of Beauty Land he stayed at. All the seized materials were displayed with photos at the press conference held on 25-6-2009. It has been disclosed at the press conference that Mr Yettaw swam across the lake to try to secretly enter the house by using a five-litre drinking water bottle, flippers, a forehead torch and swimming glasses. If we collaborated with Mr Yettaw as accused from outside, he could enter the house easily and did not have to use such aids. So the accusation is groundless.
Mr Yettaw stayed at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house for three days from 4-5-2009 till 6-5-2009 when he was arrested. In the event, Mr Yettaw, when he secretly came out of the house, was all of a sudden, found and arrested from the surface of the Inya Lake near the residence of the charge ’d affaires of the US Embassy. If there was a case of conspiracy, he would be arrested red-handed just by checking the house for security purposes while he was in the house.
Another point is that when the photos seized from Mr Yettaw were checked, it was found that he was posed together with a woman at AAPP in Maesot, Thailand. In order to check his statements and expose his background history, our security force members looked for the woman in the photo. She was found at a house of Myawady at 6.30 pm on 3-7-2009. According to the interrogation, she said that she met Mr John William Yettaw at Medaw Clinic in Maesot while she was residing in Myawady in 2008; that she had a photo taken together with him when she arrived at the clinic for the second time; that while she was in Myawady, she had phone contacts with him; that he told her he would be staying at Beauty Land 2 Hotel on 33rd Street, Kyauktada Township when he arrived in Yangon and to come and see him at the airport; that he arrived in Yangon on 10-11-2008 and put up at Diamond Room of Beauty Land 2 Hotel; that on that day he went to meet a foreigner, aged over 50, at Sakura Housing on Inya Road and gave him a parcel; that Mr Yettaw proceeded to Mormon Church near 8th Mile on Pyay Road; that he went to the Thai Embassy together with her on 11-11-2008; that then he went to the US Embassy by himself; that he said he would be meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi while they were walking from the Shwedagon Pagoda to the hotel; and that she told him not to go there and he would be arrested if he went there. The links between Mr Yettaw and the woman and their background events are under investigation.
In this incident, you, journalists, will clearly know that the facts that Mr Yettaw had repeated contacts with AAPP, anti-government organization, based in the border region, that he was familiar with the said woman keeping in touch with illegal organizations in the border region and that he informed a woman not concerned with him of his attempt to secretly meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who was under restriction are not associated at all with the State.
The press conference held on 25-6-2009 explained that Mr Yettaw committed a transnational crime as he had already made plans in the other country to do lawless acts by violating the existing laws of Myanmar; that he would not be able to commit such a crime by himself; that the attempt was not possible if there was not any assistance; that according to law, if a crime involved more than three persons, it could be called a transnational organized crime; that his act greatly affected the nation; that the attempts of the internal and external anti-government groups to get our nation into trouble and undermine peace and stability of the State were causing negative impacts on our nation; and that the rule of law and peace and tranquility of our nation were adversely affected due to Mr Yettaw’s acts. Therefore, the incident that affected the nation in all aspects was not organized in league with the State.
The seized video camera documents have shown that Mr Yettaw was videoing the situations in the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi putting himself in the background while he was there on 5-5-2009. In his video recordings, he said: “I am here in Daw Suu Kyi’s house. I asked her to have herself videoed to be put on You Tube but she looked frightened and refused to be videoed. I already ran her into difficulties while I was here on 30 November 2008. I hope I will be able to give her authority and force. I left my family. I believe the God is here with me and will protect me. I am here in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. I have offered to video her to be put on You Tube. She has refused it as she has been scared. I will have to admire her. She will not allow me to have her videoed or taken photos. I don’t blame her. I spent the night here last night. It is on the sixth of May. If I can make it today, I hope I will be able to flee to Thailand tomorrow as far as I can. Thanks for my being here.” In this context, it is likely that Mr Yettaw would show the organization behind the curtain and aid-giving organizations the evidence of his being in the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. If we invented this story as said from outside, it was not necessary to try to report on Mr Yettaw’s presence in her house with evidence.
In conclusion, I would like to say that now is the time when we are building infrastructures for the emergence of a modern, developed, discipline-flourishing democratic nation. For this drive, the most important and fundamental requirement is stability of the State, community peace and tranquility and the rule of law. Only through community peace and tranquility, can development of the State be achieved. Every person who wants the rule of law, peace and stability, democracy and national development is to cooperate with our security force members in fighting against and crush destructive elements manufacturing false news to incite unrest and violence and undermine community peace and tranquility.
Now, my clarifications have just shown that the accusations of some media, persons and organizations against our activities are not true and groundless. In the case under trial, Myanmar Police Force, the prosecution of the State has carried out its own duties in accord with law showing the respect for the law. If you put yourselves in our police force’s place, you will know our moves very well. I would like to conclude that in the current trial, the court only will decide who is guilty or who is not guilty.—
