At this Press Conference No 5/2005 of the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council, I would like to explain fats on how Sai Yi and followers of Shan State National Army (Shan State National Army) joined SSA (Shan State Army) of terrorist drug lord Ywet Sit who has been attempting to disintegrate the Union and steadfastly committing narcotic drug trafficking and terrorist acts.

As is known by you journalists, Sai Yi and followers of Shan State National Army joined terrorist opium dacoit Ywet Sit of SSA on 21st May 2005. In the evening of 22nd May 2005, BBC broadcast that Shan State National Army joined SSA (South) of Ywet Sit on 21st May 2005 as a result of pressure put on the Shan State National Army by the Government to give up arms and it had no other way to choose. The two combined forces will continue to fight the Government, it broadcast.

In the following days, foreign broadcasting stations and media such as VOA, BBC, RFA, DVB, Shan Herald, etc broadcast interviews on the joining of SSA and SSNA.

These broadcasts show that they are merely slanderous fabrications to the effect that Sai Yi of so-called SSNA had no other way but to join SSA of Ywet Sit as the Government put pressure on it to give up arms; SSNA brigade-11 led by U Kanna and SSNA brigade-19 led by U Gon Khay gave up arms due to the pressure put by the Government; similarly, PSLA (Palaung State Liberation Army) led by U Aik Mone gave up arms due to such pressure; if the remaining armed national race groups are given pressure they would not comply with and they would surely return to the jungle like Sai Yi of Shan State National Army. It can be seen that these broadcasts are false, fabricated, provoking the genuine goodwill of those former armed groups which had exchanged arms for peace absolutely and sowing suspicions amongst the other armed national race groups.

However, BBC and VOA purposely breach media code of conduct and broadcast fabricated instigations to create uprising and anarchistic situations during the 1988 unrest. With fabricated interviews to fuel the problems, they made attempt to push Myanmar into abyss. Everybody can still remember the skyful of lies made by BBC and VOA at that time.

I will make clarifications on points why SSNA Sai Yi joined the SSA of Ywet Sit.

Shan State National Army Sai Yi and followers joined SSA of opium dacoit terrorist Ywet Sit. It is not caused by any pressure put by the Government or Tatmadaw or authorities. Actually, what they concealed had been exposed and they could not dare to face the legal action. That’s the reason they fled.

Their histories show that Ywet Sit and Sai Yi had been in MTA (Mong Tai Army) of U Khunsa. Sai Yi seceded from U Khunsa’s group and involved in establishing Shan State National Army. In 1996, U Khunsa’s MTA group surrendered unconditionally and Ywet Sit also comprised in those who surrendered. However, Ywet Sit could not give up his habit of being opium dacoit and he returned to the jungle under the name of SURA. Later, Sai Yi comprised in the Shans Solidarity together with Ywet Sit of SSA. The Shans Solidarity was to establish a nominal union and then to secede Shan State from the Union at an appropriate time. The Shans Solidarity comprised SSJAC (Shan State Joint Action Committee), SSPC (Shan State Peace Council) and Shan State Intellectuals Advisory Council.

These evidences show that Sai Yi of SSNA and Ywet Sit of SSA were of the same flock.

Moreover, there is another story of Sai Yi behind the curtain. It was that Ywet Sit contacted Sai Yi and asked him to buy ammunition for him. On the demand of Ywet Sit, Sai Yi asked help from a friend on 16 March 2005 to make enquiries for buying ammunition.

Sai Yi did not participate in regional development works like other armed national race groups which returned to the legal fold. He misappropriated the funds for regional development contributed by the State and the incomes earned from businesses related with regional development. He secretly contacted with opium dacoit Ywet sit and smuggled ammunition. Thus some SSNA members did not satisfy with him and gave tip-offs to the Government.

When his unscrupulous deeds were informed to the State, he planned to flee. The Government noticed it and asked him not to be worried, not to make another mistake but to live in the framework of law as agreed with the Government when he returned to the legal fold. It was, in fact, the step taken by the Tatmadaw not to harm the national reconsolidation and in the interests of the nation and the people.

However, Sai Yi was of the same flock with opium dacoit Ywet Sit since the beginning and when his traitorous deeds were exposed, he could not bear to live in the legal fold. He returned to the jungle, of course.

Thus it can be seen that Sai Yi tried to conceal his unfaithful, self-seeking and unscrupulous acts and he deceitfully shouted that he had no other way but to join Ywet Sit as the Government put pressure on him to give up arms. Likewise, some foreign media also gleefully broadcast Sai Yi’s fabrications with the aim of misleading other armed national race groups to follow suit of Sai Yi.

However, neither the Government nor the Tatmadaw put pressure on Sai Yi of SSNA or any other armed national race groups to give up arms.

The SSNA included the headquarters under the command of U Sai Yi. And under the headquarters with about 100 members each were brigade-6 led by U Khe Ma, brigade-9 led by U Sai Tun, brigade-11 headed by U Kanna, brigade-16 headed by U Khe Min and brigade-19 headed by U Gon Khay.

On the other hand, the two brigades have made unconditional exchange of arms for peace and the others have remained unchanged and are still joining hands with the Government, because of the Government’s noble policy and practical deeds based on Union Spirit.

So, it is clear that the majority of the SSNA members are endowed with strong Union Spirit which is also the patriotism ensuring Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and Perpetuation of the Sovereignty.

Now, I will deal with drug bandit Ywet Sit of SSA terrorist group who is trying to break up the Union and U Sai Yi of SSNA.

Ywet Sit’s SSA has been making forced recruitment in remote villages, demanding one recruit per household and seven recruits per village-tract at the least.

The misdeeds of SSA have made many family members to live in separate places. The Ywet Sit group has been giving trouble to the locals to that extent.

In addition, the SSA has been demanding extortion money from locals and abducting them for ransom.

What I have presented here are just the recent terrorist acts of the SSA. There are many such terrorist incidents beyond the information we received.

These data are only according to information we have received. There might be many more such incidents. So, it can be deducted that the group led by Ywet Sit, whatever its name is SURA or SSA (South), is found to be the group totally dedicated to destructive and terrorist acts.

In addition to committing destructive and terrorist acts, forced recruitment, collection of extortion money and robberies, Ywet Sit has been producing and trafficking opium and narcotic drugs constantly.

For example, on 5 March 2005, Thai Police Force arrested Sai Tun (a) Naing Tun Wiwatyon Arun; a bodyguard of SSA Ywet Sit, together with 174 Packages of heroin weighing 82 kilos near Maehaungsaung in Thailand. He confessed that he was a SSA captain and was one of bodyguards of Ywet Sit. Similarly, an observer at border area assured that Sai Tun (a) Naing Tun Wiwatyon Arun always accompanied Ywet Sit, and he was the most trusted bodyguard of Ywet Sit. These facts have been clarified at the press conference No. 2/2005 held on 15 March 2005. Documents of these evidences are put on display on boards so that you journalists can study them.

According to the above-mentioned facts, the SSA made up of Ywet Sit and Sai Yi is just the group that has been unremittingly committing destructive and terrorist acts, making forced recruitments, demanding extortion money from local people and seeking their own interests through drug trafficking under the pretext of Shan State liberation.

If you review what I have clarified, you will notice that certain big nations and their news agencies which are shouting at their top of their voices that they are fighting terrorism and narcotic drug trafficking in the world, are, in fact, bias and seeking their own interests.

In this context, I would like to clarify about the human trafficking report of US State Department issued in June 2005. The report ignored Myanmar’s good-hearted endeavours and cooperation with neighbours and international organizations for annihilating human trafficking. The report lopsidedly put pressure and made accusations.

Hence, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar on 9th June 2005 issued an announcement mentioning that US State Department’s “Report on Trafficking in Persons” lacks objectivity and does not inspire greater action against human trafficking. The section in the report concerning Myanmar is contradictory.

You journalists attending this press conference are of the media world of Myanmar. So, you know very well whether Myanmar neglects the issue of human trafficking or not. Indeed, Myanmar has been making constant efforts for eradicating trafficking in persons.

The US State Department purposefully neglected Myanmar’s firm determination and dedication to combat human trafficking as well as her accomplishments. It is thus discouraging for the entire global people who cherish the truth and aspire well-being of the entire mankind.

Hence, the announcement stated that Myanmar rejected the US report which placed Myanmar in Tier 3 of the State Department’s clarifications of the countries that do not comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Acts (TVPA) of the US Congress.

As regards the security of the people, the Government has been making earnest efforts without sparing day and night. Likewise, departments as well as work establishments of private entrepreneurs are also taking necessary security measure. Teachers are also taking security measures for ensuring safety of students. Nevertheless, the terrorists are disguising as ordinary people and making movements among the public. Thus, public participation plays a very important role in preventing terrorist acts. This being so, the people are not to believe rumours but to give information to authorities if there is any rumour-monger. Parents should not ask to get chance for bringing their children home. Because such requests would lead to undesirable weaknesses in taking security measures.

Thus, as regards the armed national race groups which have returned to the legal fold and joined hands with the Government in the interests of the nation and the people, the Tatmadaw will treat them like water with sincerity, family spirit and Union Spirit. At the same time, the Tatmadaw will continue to serve for safeguarding lives and properties of the people for the State security and defence duty as well as for the national development with added momentum.

There is Community Policy in Myanmar Police Force and it is a system being practiced in police cases participating by the public.

The Myanmar Police Force used that system to expose the culprits of bomb explosion and to feedback rumours. The another way being used by the Myanmar Police Force is Home-Visit system.

Myanmar Police Force is carrying out their tasks using the following two systems harmoniously.

The Government is practically carrying out tasks for the benefit of the State without doing lip service. It is not necessary to believe rumours. The Government is making efforts for the state and the public is needed to participate in the endeavours.

In concerning the case that cannot seize the culprits of the bomb explosion, U Aung Shwe Oo urged officials with the desire to arrest the culprits. We have already clarified that which terrorists groups made this destructive acts there are firm evidence that the explosion was made by these groups according to further investigation although we cannot capture the culprits.

The State Media educates the public to realize that public participation is important in keeping full security awareness and urges the public to actively participate in keeping security.

The slow-flow of crop market does not concern the border gate, it is the usual nature of market.

The trading is regularly flowing. Although the security activities have been made domestically as well as in border areas, but it’s not related and effect the trading.

Today, we are trying to transform the normal-trade instead of border-trade system at the border areas for the interest of the nation and the people.

But these efforts do not hinder the usual trading.

Concerning the problem of Trafficking in Persons, it is threatening not only in Myanmar but also throughout the World. Under such circumstances, we have been drafting the law concerning the prevention of Trafficking in Persons.

We will release this law sooner or later. At that time, everyone will learn in the whole country widely.

The main factor of Trafficking in Persons is weak in knowledge than the economic difficulties.

It takes benefits from persons to persons on the weak of knowledge and thought.

Concerning the May 7th bomb explosions, we found out a certain organization we have already announced, committed this crime according to the public information and investigations. Even though the route, the stay in Yangon and plan of action of the organization has been found out, we can’t prove with strong evidence. These achieved progress in investigation and yet we can’t explain to the public exactly.

We are practicing community policy to gain public cooperation. We are trying all kinds of ways for the people’s cooperation.

Rewards are to be presented to those who can inform about the May 7th bomb explosions.

Concerning this reward, we don’t use the media of newspapers and TV but we let the people know in other ways. We carefully use the media because it has both good effect and negative effect. Whether we use the media or not, letting the people know about the reward is very important.

Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo said that on May 7th bombing, altogether 173 victims were dead and injured, including 11 dead. According to the latest statistics, 23 people were dead and 21 people including 16 women and 5 men are still in hospital.

Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that it is necessary for cooperation of print-media in attracting the whole people to participate in anti-terrorism. He requested all media men to cooperate unitedly with the government for national security matters.

Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said at present Sai Yi of SSNA joined SSA and the SSNA has no headquarters yet.

Concerning with postponing of date to declare Wa Special Region as Drug Free Zone, we have to say that there is no problems between the Government and Wa National Army of Northern Shan State Special Region (2). The case is nothing to do with them and also the security affairs. As all the journalists have already known that present time is the rainy reason and special region (2) of Northern Shan State has much rainfall and so it is difficult to access there. That’s why the postponing of the declaration date to the open season is according to the proposal of Wa nationals.

Concerning with the question on offering of low tax on trade by China and how to get this chance, I have to answer that Ministry of Commerce carries on its task for well-being of the State according to the already existed agreement.

To deal with Aung Din, we have to tell that he is a director of US Campaign for Burma. He evaded from Myanmar before 1988 unrest. After that, he took responsibilities in ABSDF in our neighbouring country. When he was in Canada, he joined US Campaign for Burma and did anti-Myanmar activities with the aid of world nations. I can’t claim on the connection with the bomb blasts right now as some cases are still under investigations.

Concerning with arrest of a suspicious car driver plying from KyaikHtee Yoe Pagoda’s Platform and Kin Pon Camp and finding of bombs buried in his farm, the investigation was carried out by the public information, and it was found not true.

With the guidance of the State Leaders, we inform the news to the media men and the public in time.

With transparency, we will inform the news that should be, that could be and that’s needed to be informed.

Concerning the rumours about ex-Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, who is in Insein Prison and undergoing trial.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that it is not true.