Press Conference No. 2/2006 of the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council on matters relating to atrocities of ThanGyaung (a) Myint Soe (a) Sao Khun Kyaw of SSA (South) Cum ABSDF and terrorist acts committed by ABSDF upon the nation and the people was held at the city hall of Lashio in Shan State (North) on 21st February.
Also present at the Conference were Chairman of Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Senior Military Officers, Dean of Diplomatic Corps to the Union of Myanmar, Philippine Ambassador Mme Phoebe A Gomez and Ambassadors, Charges d' Affaires ad interim and resident representatives from UN agencies in Yangon, President of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sao Kai Hpa and members, Chief Editors from local journals and magazines and news in-charges, departmental officials, townselders, and specially invited guests and local people. First, Chairman of the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan clarified matters related to atrocities of ThanGyaung (a) Myint Soe (a) Sao Khun Kyaw of SSA (South) Cum ABSDF and terrorist acts committed by ABSDF upon the nation and the people.
In which, he said that at this Press Conference, I will clarify matters on atrocities of SSA (South) Brigade-241 Commander ThanGyaung (a) Myint Soe (a) Sao Khun Kyaw who was arrested in NamKham Township of Northern Shan State together with insurgents as they were totally opposed by local populace as well as cruel terrorist acts committed by ABSDF upon the nation and the people.
On 5th November 1988, at the Conference held at Wankha Camp of the insurgents at border area formed ABSDF (All Burma Students Democratic Front).
The main aim of ABSDF was to launch armed insurrection including terrorist acts against the Government while joining hands harmoniously with local political parties including NLD, anti-government groups abroad and other insurgent groups.
At the emergency meeting of ABSDF held on 1st January 1989, the ABSDF battalions were formed insurgent area-wise. There were 19 battalions of ABSDF launching armed insurrection against the State. Those who reached to Kachin State formed temporary management committee at Laisin Camp. Later, the ABSDF (Kachin) Central Leading Committee was formed. ABSDF battalion 701 was formed and the Chief Commander was ThanGyaung.
According to the strategies, some former students union members led by Moe Thee Zun formed DPNS (Democratic Party for New Society) to carry out party politics above ground. ABSDF is also comprising in the DAB (Democratic Alliance of Burma). The main aim of DAB is to mobilize strength to oppose the Government. DAB is headed by Tamalar Baw as Chairman, Khaing Soe Naing Aung of ALP as Vice-Chairman, and Myo Win of ABSDF and Kyaw Htet of PDF as Secretaries.
Moreover, ABSDF is also comprised in NCUB (National Council of the Union of Burma). The main aim of NCUB is to launch political defiance against the Government in ways of military as well as political, diplomatic and public defiance. To effectively implement this aim, NCUB formed PDC (Political Defiance Committee) in January 1993 with Phado Yoshu and Phado Mansha of KNU, Myint Zaw of DPNS and Aung Saw Oo of ABSDF. Phado Yoshu is the leader.
The aims of the PDC are:
1) to ensure non-cooperation between the public and the Government and to instigate public defiance;
2) to raise the momentum of military and diplomatic offences while defiance of authority among the public gain momentum.
The PDC practically translated into action the lectures given by Robert Helvey who was army attaché of a western big nation circa 1983 in Myanmar and senior official of Albert Einstein Institute, Gene Sharp. The report of PDC submitted to an NCUB meeting in August 1993 mentioned the points to ensure emergence of students union and to launch political movement by keeping the students union as hard-core. Accordingly, the former student members are now carrying out movement within the country. Member of the NLD (LA) are mostly expatriate NLDs. I will continue to clarify atrocities and inhuman cruelties within ABSDF (North). A Tatmadaw column was engaged with ABSDF group on 13th December 1990 in Kachin State. At the skirmish, ABSDF battalion 701 member Taikpate (a) Than Tun Soe was arrested. Due to his confession, beginning 1st June 1989, the No. 701 battalion of ABSDF (Kachin) and No. 401 battalion of ABSDF (Shan) were combined into ABSDF (North) there with Tun Aung Kyaw who went underground from ABFSU (Upper Myanmar) as Chairman and ThanGyaung (a) Myint Soe as military in-charge. The ABSDF (North) was manipulated by military in-charge ThanGyaung and intelligence UG in-charge Myo Win. They bullied, tortured and suppressed member youths. They also killed students as giving punishment cruelly.
During the 1988 disturbances, innocent people were accused falsely and beheaded before the public by anarchists. Those anarchists took position in the ABSDF and committed atrocities in a manner like BCP's dismiss-expel-kill practice. Thus, many a number of youths away from their parents were killed in the jungle. To convince the people of these incidents and to prevent youths from following the wrong path by mistaking mirage for water, a special press conference was held in January 1991. ThanGyaung acted as military in-charge in forming the ABSDF (North). He was notorious to be the criminal who committed a large number of murders in the history of internal insurgency of Myanmar.
In August 1991, ABSDF (North) military in-charge ThanGyaung accused member Soe Myint Aung and tortured him for making contacts with Tatmadaw Camp in Lweje. Soe Myint Aung could not bear the tourtures and he had to lie that he was a spy. He also wrongly confessed the fabricated list of spies in the ABSDF.
In addition to killing Soe Myint Aung, ThanGyaung arrested about 100 youths, accused them of spies and murdered them cruelly. The group led by ThanGyaug forced a large number of youths to confess as spies, tortured them in various ways. Hence, 55 ABSDF member youths fled Pajo camp on 21st may 1992 by breaking the detention camp and returned to the legal fold.
According to the confessions of those insurgents who surrendered, it is learnt that altogether 32 members of ABSDF died like Aung Kyaw Myint (DawBon) due to torture perpetrated by ABSDF (North) military in-charge ThanGyaung and group.
Likewise, among ABSDF members Lazun Gamli, Thet Naing, Kyaw Khaing Win and Aung San Oo, Aung San Oo revealed that ThanGyaung and group sticked Cho Gyi (Mandalay)'s hand with detonator and exploded and then beheaded him; Ma Khin Cho Oo was taken off clothes and killed.
Moreover, Soe Soe (a) Soe Lay of ABSDF (North) who returned to the legal fold in WaingMaw Township of Kachin State in May 2001 confessed that when KIO returned to legal fold, the ABSDF (North) was not accepted in the KIO area. Thus, ThanGyaung and remnant members hid weapons and lived at border in low profiles separately. Six months later ThanGyaung and some 80 members joined themselves via contacts of a SSNA brigade commander. They moved to Shan State (North). ThanGyaung and the SSNA brigade-16 Commander arranged to refine heroin at Lwekhay mountain range. The opium were collected by Soe Lay as ordered by ThanGyaung to refine into heroin.
About July 1997, a brigade of SSA (South) Ywet Sit group brought them to move to Shan State (South). In 1998 ThanGyaung and group formed the SSA (South) brigade-241 at Man-O village at the border. They lived at border for about one month and they joined SSA (South) brigade-198. Soe Lay confessed that they performed security duty of a heroin refinery to refine about 300 viss of opium into heroin and in so doing ThanGyaung earned about 2.5 million kyats.
Accordingly to the confessions of eye-witnesses, ABSDF brigade-241 Commander ThanGyaung while taking charge of military affairs of ABSDF (North) committed atrocities and murders unscrupulously, got involved in drug trafficking and collected extortion money. While ThanGyaung and ABSDF (North) group was committing inhuman atrocities and murders, the other ABSDF insurgents and their accomplices committed terrorist acts according to the instigations and encouragement of internal and external anti-government groups.
Another terrorist group joining hands with ABSDF, NLD (LA), etc and committing terrorist acts unscrupulously was VBSW (Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors). It is known by all that it hijacked aircraft, raided Myanmar embassy in Bankok and Ruchburi District hospital and blasting bombs within the country.
Similarly, General Secretary of NCUB (National Council of the Union of Burma) and FTUB (Federation of Trade Union – Burma) Maung Maung (a) Pyithit Nyunt Wai, together with expatriate Sein Win of NCGUB, controls NDD, ABSDF, NLD (LA) and VBSW terrorist groups and playing a leading role in launching terrorist acts throughout the country.
They are committing destructive acts both in border and rural areas as well as in urban areas to make Myanmar society a misery. They exploded bombs even in religious rituals. So, the acts of NCGUB, NCUB, FTUB, ABSDF, NLD (LA), NDD and VBSW, etc are against the law and human rights and are harming the essence of democracy. Their acts are indeed terroristic and destructive acts that the entire world is denouncing strongly. Their acts harmed Myanmar and its people as well as the people in regional countries. They also threaten the security system of the world.
I would like to reiterate that throughout the time of the Tatmadaw Government, all the press conferences have clarified the evidences as they really are.
Every time the Government has just held a press conference, internal and external destructive elements and certain broadcasting stations and media with evil means response to the clarification.
By the way, I would like to explain the acts of SSNA Sai Yee who joined SSA (South) Ywet Sit. KND led by U Mahtu Naw and KIO group realized the goodwill and constructive efforts of the Tatmadaw and returned to the legal fold. So did Battalion 401 of ABSDF (North). At the border in Kachin State, the KIO paved the way for ABSDF (North) to return to the legal fold, but ABSDF (North) led by ThanGyaung (a) Myit Soe failed to give up the terrorist armed insurgency.
According to the confessions of those who were arrested with ThanGyaung and those who surrendered, it is learnt that ThanGyaung persuaded the former insurgent groups which have returned to the legal fold to join him in the armed struggle line. But his attempt was in vain. But, SSNA Sai Yee and members who returned to the legal fold jut for show contacted ThanGyaung's group with SSA (South) of Ywet Sit. So, there emerged SSA (South) Brigade-241. It is to be disclosed that we have learnt such events from the confessions of those who surrendered and those who were arrested together with ThanGyaung (a) Myint Soe (a) Sao Khun Kyaw. By reviewing the above-mentioned points, it can vividly be seen that ABSDF, NLD (LA) and other insurgent groups are joining hands with other insurgent groups in committing atrocities and inhuman cruelties upon the national people. They are purely terrorists. Those groups joining hands with them such as NCUB, FTUB, DAB, NDF, NDD, VBSW, etc as well as related NLD members, DPNS members, former students union members and foreign NGOs, foreign masters and neo-colonialists providing encouragement and instigations to them are also terrorists fanning the flames of terrorist acts.
Next, diplomats and local and foreign journalists raised the queries.
1. (Q) First, U Ko Ko of Yomiuri Shimbun asked about the Minister's clarification on Yangon bomb blasts.
(A) Concerning the bomb blasts in Yangon in May 2005 Aung Cho Oo (a) Aung Than (a) Yu Nut replied that Thein Win of NDD asked him to create bomb blasts in Yangon. In April 2005, while he was in Yangon, Thein Win called and asked him to study the security conditions of centers, plazas and cinema halls in Yangon. He reported back to Thein Win that security of Yankin Center, Dagon Center, Yangon Trade Center and Mingla cinema hall were not tightened. After that, in May 2005, the three bomb blasts occurred in two places that he had informed to Thein Win through telephone. Within one (or) two days, Thein Win phoned and asked him whether he knew the news about bomb explosions and told him to be aware of his security himself. Thus, he assured that the bomb blasts occurred in Yangon in May were caused by NDD Thein Win and his group. He did not involve himself in this case and he is so sorry for this terrorist acts. He only collected the weak point news of the government and sent to Thein Win. He had to do like this because he and his family were threatened by Thein Win if he denied his requests. And he has learnt that Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung provided cash to Thein Win. Pyithit Nyunt Wai paid 150,000 baths monthly for creating unrest and instability in the country. He had responsibility to support the families of those who were arrested due to UG activities. But he was absent to provide those families including his.
2. (Q) Next, U Myat Khaing of Good News journal said that he learned that ThanGyaung killed the people during the interrogation. He asked whether you could officially say how ThanGyaung had brutally tortured and murdered.
(A) Concerning about the experience as the first person who speaks out the brutal murders and torture by ThanGyaung of ABSDF (North) and it was answered by Taikpaik (a) Ko Than Tun Soe. He came here to unveil the truth, the murders of 30 to 40 innocent people killed in the jungle and that was experienced in the past 15 years by himself. He said that on 27th March 1990, both Myo Win and ThanGyaung hit him and kicked him and tortured him. And still, there is a scar on his forehead. So you can witness this scar. He was sent to prison accused of spying for Government intelligence. Despite his denial, they tortured him, pressing his feet with rollers, squeezing the fingers with bullets in between and bound him outside in the cold night, freezing to death. Similarly, one of the members of central Committee, Hlwan Moe, who was bound by Myo Win on the same accusations. He denied, but he was shot with M-20 pistol. On 7th April, two of them were out in front of all the members assembled at the headquarters and the list of Hlwan Moe's crimes were read out. Hlwan Moe was charged with attempt for disunity among the rank and file, misappropriation, sending money to his parents, pretending as a graduate and for womanizing. He denied and requested for the appeal. Myo Win and ThanGyaung said that his appeal will not be accepted and it is not the court but revolution. Hlwan Moe asked for his last wish to tell his mother that he was dead. Then, he was shot to death with M-20 pistol and he was buried and the place was used as the volleyball ground. Another student Aung Kyaw from Yangon was also seized and brutally tortured. Because of severe injuries, he died in KIA hospital. He replied to the questions at this press conference to highlight inhumane atrocities of ThanGyaung while he was in the jungle. On behalf of those, who died in the jungle without meaning, useless, he expressed his sorrow and expressed his bitter experience in the past. He wants to share his experiences to future generation youths not to pursue the wrong path like him.
(A) Concerning the question on since when and how ThanGyaung involved and committed drug trafficking and counterfeit currencies, one of the SSA Brigade-241 members, Khaing Win replied the question. He has already explained about opium, stimulants and counterfeit currencies carried by his brigade-241 at previous press conference. And he has learnt that ThanGyaung got them form YwetSit of SSA (South). They used them to feed members to be able to withstand along the journey while they marched at night.
3. (Q) U Aung Thu Myaing of GG News Agency asked about tortures and brutal murders by the ABSDF.
(A) About the atrocities of ThanGyaung and Kyaw Myo one of the former ABSDF members who returned to the legal fold revealed his experience. He had experienced the torture of ThanGyaung that he was accused of spy and tortured at his torso with knife point by ThanGyaung. Kyaw Myo showed his scar that can be clearly seen even though over fourteen years has passed. He was also tortured with electric shock with battery.
4. (Q) U Zan Zan (a) Khin Maung Than of Morning Post asked about the torture to the public apart from the ABSDF members.
(A) Ko Kyaw Thein replied that he was not a member of ABSDF and tortured by ABSDF and he was arrested and recruited near Sein Lon while he was visiting in LwelGel for trading leather. One of the prisoners, U Aung Ko was shot on the spot. The victim was over forty years old. He was tortured by ABSDF as he denied to join their association ABSDF. They tortured me by using cruel methods and forced to recruit me to strengthen the headquarters.
5. (Q) Daw Sint Sint Aung of Nippon Television asked the opinion based on bitter experiences for the youths. Kan Myint Oo, former ABSDF member, replied that
(A) Concerning his bitter experience, he was arrested by ABSDF while he was on the route to PhaKant to make trading. He has seen that many inhumane atrocities and murders occurred not only at ABSDF (North) but also at ABSDF (South) and headquarters. ABSDF members killed each other for the sake of grabbing power and more than one hundred youths were accused as spies and tortured them. Some were killed in those incidents. So he noted that it was a waste of time for the youths and loss of their lives was meaningless. And he wanted the future generation youths to take lessons from their past bitter experiences and not to become a terrorist. And he is sure to tell that ABSDF is the pure terrorist group who blast bombs in the country.
(A) While he was in prison, there were four women Ma Khin Cho Oo of Yangon, Ma Nan Saw, Ma Tu Tu, Ma Nan Aung Htwe Kyi. Among the four, in prisoner Ma Khin Cho Oo was a University Student. As he was one of senior prisoners, he heard many stories about the torture and murder to their prisoners in the headquarters.
7. (Q) U Hein Latt of Popular Journal asked who were those from ABSDF Central arrived at ABSDF (North) and what is the cause of brutal killing and tortures. Ko Htay Win (a) Ko Naing Lin answered that
(A) After 88 disturbances, he ran away to Mae Lahta camp, ABSDF Central of KNU area. He attended the military training. At that time Moe Thee Zun was chairman and Dr. Naing Aung was secretary and he was sent to Palaung region to organize the regiment (501). Because of the Tatmadaw's attack, the regiment was defeated and moved to ABSDF (North) Central. The central knew about the arrest and brutal torture to 100 people accusing of being spies. Dr. Naing Aung and Ko Kyaw Kyaw met us. There were also ThanGyaung, Myo Win, Commanding officer Thaik Tun Oo of Regiment 501 and another two persons at the center. During the capture in the prison they heard about several tortures, killings and murders. On 12th February 1992, altogether 15 were killed for the wrong accusation. For fearing to get killed, including himself altogether 55 absconded from the prison. And he also concluded that the cause is because of power. They went to get power. They crush all who might be followers to get the power.
8. (Q) Dr. Tin Maung Htwe of Point Journal asked whether ABSDF (central) knew about the arrest and brutal torture to 100 people with the accusation of being spies. Is there any link between the ABSDF North and South?
(A) Ko Naing Lin said that the ABSDF (central) knew about the arrest through the telegram message. However, Dr. Naing Aung and Ko Kyaw Kyaw from the ABSDF (central) and ABSDF (North) secretary Myo Win, investigated the case. Very soon, the 15 were killed for suspicion. He was also sent to Palaung Region to organize the regiment 501. It is evident that there is a connection between ABSDF (North) and (South). Concerning the extortion committed by Ywatsitt Group, Sai Htoo answered that Ywatsitt Group of SURA demand extortion money from villages near by: fifty thousand kyats for a small car and 100,000 kyats for a big car. They levied tax on opium field, cultivated in near by villages. But , he doesn't know how much they ask for.
9. (Q) Wai Phyo of Weekly Eleven News asked about ThanGyaung's involvement in opium production.
(A) Ko Soe Soe @ Soe Lay answered that in 1997 all the subordinates had to collect the opium in Main Khae region for ThanGyaung. And he said that they had collected only 20 viss of opium and sold to U Moe Han for opium production, and round about 1998, 1999 ThanGyaung assigned the three including him for the security duty for the opium production refining 300 viss of opium into heroin.
10. (Q) U Ohn Maung (a) MyinMu Maung Naing Moe of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Associaiton asked Taik Peik and other's opinion on the publication of a book relating to their experiences the destructive acts of the insurgents to the public where the State is undertaking with positive outlook.
(A) TaikPaik (a) Than Tun Soe reply that they agree to implement this good idea and they will provide necessary assistance for publishing book on their experiences in the past. And they want new generation youths to know more about their experiences and not to persue the wrong path like those.
11. (Q) U Myat Khaing of Good News journal raised a question, concerning the brutal acts to members of ABSDF, why they treated them badly. One of former members showed the cuts on his chest. What's his feelings and the duty he was assigned at the time. And he would like to know whether the answers are taught or on your own will.
(A) Ko Zaw Zaw Min, one of the former ABSDF members who returned to the legal fold, replied that he is a former ABSDF member. He involved in 1988 disturbances and in 1988 November, one of his colleagues, Ko Myo Win who was also the leader of the strike in NamMar came and told him that he was in the list army to be arrested. So he went into the jungle together with others. He was assigned duties at a camp in northern part of the country and then sent him to the headquarters. He took duty at the office as an in charge and often had to take military duty. He was not good in relation with ThanGyaung because he often criticized the bad behaviors and acts of him. In April 1990, Hlwan Moe was arrested and charged with many accusations such as misappropriating of money attempting to disintegrate among the group, sowing discord among upper and lower levels, womanizing and pretending as a graduated person. They also accused as a spy of the Government military. He was tortured by various ways and before the conclusion of investigations, he was shot dead by ThanGyaung. Another incident was that Tun Nwe Aung was also shot dead while he was breaking the detention camp. He was accused that he was committing in rape case. While investigating by Myo Win and ThanGyaung, he thinks about 13 persons including Htin Kyaw, U Sein, Ko Kyaw Htay, Ah Seik and others were also killed. In 1992 February, I learnt about the death of 15, including Tun Aung Kyaw, Ma Khin Cho Oo, a lady, Kyaw Min, Kyaw Wai of Mandalay and Aung Phone of Yangon. They were wrongly accused as government spies and I returned to the legal fold in1994. I was disappointed to witness the student youths who lost their lives meaninglessly in the jungle and he replied to the questions raised by the journalists according to their own volition.
12. (Q) U Ko Ko of Yomiuri Shibum said that according to the Information Minister's clarification and the answers of Soe Myat Thu and Taik Peik of ABSDF, he noticed that some NLD members are making contacts with anti-government armed groups. He wants to know the State's opinion for this situation and if there are any plans to take action against NLD party and other related persons.
(A) Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that the Tatmadaw Government is now implementing the democratic system and it is important that the political parties in the country must abide by laws, rules and regulations laid down by the present Government. The Government urged political parties to abide by existing laws, rules and regulations, but some parties are absent to abide by laws. They used the ways of confrontation relying on internal and external elements but the Tatmadaw Government with far-sightedness for national reconsolidation, and the Government is maintaining smooth relations with political parties but if the acts of the political parties violate security, peace, stability and tranquility of the nation, the Government will take action against them according to the rules and regulations.
Then, the Press Conference (2/2006) came to a close at noon. After the Press Conference, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan cordially greeted those present and answered further questions. Afterwards, diplomats, local and foreign journalists and guests viewed the documentary photos displayed at the Press Conference.
