YANGON, 7 Aug 2009—The following are the questions raised by the attendees and answers given by Chief of the Myanmar Police Force in the press conference on clarification of measures for State security and the rule of law.

U Aung Hla Tun (Reuters News Agency)

Q: I learn that Mr John William Yettaw is in bed in Yangon General Hospital. Do you think the trial will be put off if he does not get better?

A: Now, Mr John William Yettaw is under health care by specialists. His health condition is according to their remarks. The trial is the concern of the court, so I don’t need to answer the question.

U Ko Ko (Yangon Times)

Q: I have learnt that the four including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are on trial according to this press conference and previous one. I would like to know if action is taken against the security members, and if it is, I would like to know how they are punished.

A: We have taken action against the security members in accordance with the police law. It is on 30 November 2008 when Mr Yettaw entered the compound of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. Four days after his entry, Dr Tin Myo Win informed that. Two days after his informing us, on 6 December, a tribunal team led by a police colonel was formed and it questioned 24 security members. The assumption of the tribunal was that the event took place on the 3rd Waxing of Nattaw, so it was dim and it was impossible to see things clearly. Another point is that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house is a little distant from the edge of the compound, so there were no sound of his footsteps on the creepers, grass and water hyacinth. And the case was reported four days after his entry, so the line of footsteps disappeared. Another point is that if he had shouted, as they said, without doubt the security members would have heard of his voice. In 1990, security members misunderstood regarding a case associated with a serviceman, so it was assumed that the case might be a misunderstanding case. As I said at the press conference on 25 June, if we had known that Mr Yettaw gave Daw Aun San Suu Kyi the book “Mormon”, the tribunal would have exposed some points. So, the tribunal team came to the conclusion that the event was not certain much, and it might be merely a misunderstanding matter, so there was not any action taken against the security members.
But, police battalion No (6) that was on duty in the period was replaced with a new one immediately. In the second time, Mr John William Yettaw was arrested in Inya Lake on 6 May. Soon after his arrest, legal affairs was being carried out, and an investigation tribunal led by a police colonel was formed on 2 June. It interrogated 62 policemen, and we took brief written evidence on inefficient discharge of duties over eight security members held responsible. Then, we formed a police court and delivered a sentence to them. Regarding the November 30 case, an investigation tribunal was formed and it investigated the case. Another investigation tribunal was then formed with a police colonel as the leader, and it interrogated 31 policemen. We took brief written record of the complaints of 12 members from police battalion No (6) who were held responsible for the case, and action was taken against them. We investigated the cases thoroughly and punished 12 members including the battalion commanding officer in the first case, and eight members including the battalion commanding officer in accordance with the police law enforcement law. We interrogated 24 members in the first time, and 62 members in the second time. Then, the first case resurfaced and we interrogated 32 members. They each faced a three-month term with hard labour in the police custody. Then, they were posted to other places. Similarly, police corporals faced one-step demotion, and they were posted to other places. We came to the conclusion that the battalion commanding officers commanded their subordinates improperly, and demoted one step and posted them to other places. They are now police lieutenant-colonels.

U San Nyein Thaw (Modern Journal)

Q: Which organization was bomber Htay Aung from? I would like to know why he wanted to detonate bombs during Mr Ban Kimoon’s visit.

A: Locally, bomber Htay Aung is a Thakayta NLD member. According to his admission, he is from Hsehson Ward in Mawlamyine. He is single. His educational qualification is 4th standard. He joined Thakayta NLD in July 2006. In September 2008, he had contact with Mone Naing in Maesot who went underground from Bahan NLD. Mone Naing is a member of NLD-LA that has been declared an unlawful association.

Then, he proceeded to Maesot. Then, he had contact with terrorist groups there. Then, he reentered the nation illegally. After that, he left and reentered the nation time and again, and he organized some young NLD members in the nation and took them to explosives courses many times. He is a member of Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors. His plan was to launch bomb attacks in Yangon during the visit of UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon who would come here on 3 and 4 July.

However, he arrived in Yangon 2 July, and while he was making arrangements for bomb attacks, we arrested him the same day. So, we could avert casualties of the people. He admitted that then he would stay in a sparsely-populated ward in Yangon. He would make his house a gathering point of terrorists. He would collect arms and ammunition. If opportune, he would launch armed attacks especially on the vehicles of policemen on security duty. That is his admission. So, at home, Htay Aung is a Thakayta NLD member, but outside the nation, he is a bomber. VBSW ranked him bomber No 999961.

According to his admission, the reason why he chose Mr Ban Kimoon’s visit was to tarnish the image of the government. To view the case in connection with the nature of terrorists, he would cause many casualties of policemen of us, and innocent people, and then he would tarnish the image of the country.

Q: I am interested in Htay Aung? I would like to know VBSW masterminding Htay Aung?

A: The man who masterminded Htay Aung to explode during the trip of Mr Ban Ki-moon is Leader Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing from VBSW. VBSW stands for Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors. VBSW was formed in July 1999 and based in Tagoling village in Thai-Myanmar border. It had five members when formed and have reached to 30 members later. Leader Ye Thiha (a) Thura (a) San Naing himself is only a terrorist and his native place is Thooze, Thayawady. He went under ground starting from 1988. He hijacked a flight of Myanmar Airways in 1989. Similarly, he made a raid on Myanmar Embassy in Thailand in October 1999 and so did the hospital. VBSW was formed with the young man who fled to the other country and those from KNU and ABSDF. VBSW together with God’s Army made a raid on embassy in October 1999. Likewise, VBSW carried out raid on Rush bury Hospital in January 2000. VBSW was on the verge of collapse when Government of Thailand cracked down them.

So, VBSW cooperated with ABSDF then. VBSW committed bomb attacks for 14 times in Yangon from 2005 to 2008. And they committed bomb attacks in the compound of bus terminal and Panorama Hotel in 2005.

During the year 2009, bomb attacks in USDA offices were the acts of VBSW. I would like to inform you of all that these are organizations announced by Myanma Police Force and Interpol as terrorist ones.

U Kyaw Thu (Myanmar Times)

Q: I know that Mr John Willian Yettaw’s case is related with transnational crime. So, which evidences are there for the case? With which sections will he be taken action? And will he be taken action against transnational crime?

A: There are a lot of definitions about transnational crime. The first point is that if a plan to commit a crime in a certain country is made in any other country, it can be called a transnational crime.

Mr Yettaw made preparations in Thailand to illegally enter the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In his statements, he has already admitted to that. Preparing for the crime to be committed in our country in the other country can be defined as a transnational crime. So we can say that Mr Yettaw’s case is a transnational crime. As I had explained previously, if the crime was not committed by Mr Yettaw alone but committed by a group of more than three, it can be called a transnational organized crime. He is now under trial in accord with the existing law of Myanmar. The reason we did not charge him in accord with the transnational crime was because our nation is still drawing anti-terrorism law.

Ma Nyein Nyein Naing (Seven Days Journal)

Q: I would like to know about the health of Mr John William Yettaw.

A: He was arrested and detained on 6 May. Two days later, he started to eat nothing but water. Those caring for him and doctors and authorities concerned requested him not to do so as it could affect his health. But he insisted refusing. According to the report of the Correctional Department, he did not eat any food for 42 days. Later, he did not eat any food either for 62 days by showing various reasons. However, responsible departments took care of his health. It was learnt that the chief medical officer of the jail was always ready for his attention. A practitioner of the Ministry of Health was always ready to nurse him. He had been under care by making an hourly record of his health. In addition, D-protein worth over K 10000 was beside him to give him energy. According to a report of the Correctional Department, it was found that special medicine worth more than K 600,000 was used for Mr Yettaw. At about midnight of 3 August, he was sent to Yangon General Hospital as he went into convulsions.

According to the specialists of the hospital, he suffered epilepsy. A team comprising seven specialists is closely taking care of his health. Required medicines for him as well as his demands are being fulfilled. Mr Yettaw met Mr. Colin P Furst of American Embassy on 5 August. Details about his health are according to the remarks of specialists concerned.

U Khin Win (Trust Journal)

Q: I heard that the blast that occurred in the back lane of the Traders Hotel was recorded with a video camera. I would like to know whether the incident could be exposed or not.

A: According to the investigation, we know who is responsible for this. But we cannot disclose that as it was the case in which no suspect was arrested. Please understand us.

U Myat Khaing (Snap Shot Journal)

Q: I would like to know the name of the woman who became friendly with Mr Yettaw in Myawady and came to Yangon together with him.

A: We did not arrest her. We are only questioning her. We have still questions to ask her. This is why we will disclose it at an appropriate time to protect her security and dignity.