Government wishes to restore peace and it always opens door for peace negotiations,
still dealing with the KNU Press Conference No 4/2005 held

YANGON, 5 May — Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council held a press conference No 4/2005 this afternoon at the meeting hall of the office of the Minister for Information here.

Patron of the Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Hla Htwe, Chairman U Sao Kai Hpa and members, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Mr Toru Kawabe of Yomiuri Shimbun (Bangkok Branch) and journalists raised queries.

The following are the queries and answers at the press conference.

U Hla Htwe of Antara news agency said that he liked the Minister’s clarifications and they were clear. Those who attended the course in a neighbouring country conducted by a world famous organization of a powerful nation planted the bomb and it was a professional work. They were very well-trained saboteurs phrase well-trained saboteurs is a general term. The bombs were exploded at five-minute intervals. He asked who was involved in the blast, KNU or ABSDF, KNPP, what kind of nationalities or foreigners. He said how did they come into the three places and asked if there was lack of security of the security forces. In his clarifications SNLD was included in Technical Advisory Group. He said if there was plan to declare SNLD, an official organization as unlawful association. He also asked if there were Shan sawbwas in the country. He saw monks and other people at the ceremony to pay respects to spiritual beings on TV and he wanted to know the strength of SSA Ywet Sit.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that in his clarifications included the involvement of group that exploded the bomb. Although there were various groups, the same men were in these groups. In connection with question three. Myanmar’s boundary is very wide. We cannot practically join our hands together to prevent them from entering the country. Saboteurs did not come in group like an army. It is obvious that they came into the country individually. In connection with security matters, he said the respective security units and groups are discharging their duties. In our country taking security measures by the public and owners of public places have not taken security measures widely. But the security organizations carry out their tasks without fail.

He said he clarified the matters regarding the declaration of unlawful association in the previous press conference. Some organizations that were invited to attend the meeting did not know why they were invited. Only one or two persons know their intention. But they did not tell their intention to the organizations attended. Only one or two persons who manipulated the plan deceived the lower organizations. Action was taken against officials of SNLD responsible for the act. Regarding the question that Sao Hkam Hpa and his sawbwas could enter the country, he said Ywet Sit’s SSA could not settle down in our country and they are active at the border areas and in the other country. The group organized the ceremony in Laikha.

U Aung Shwe Oo of NTV said that he has two questions to be raised—one is related to financial policy and the other is regarding the participation of the people. The use and storage of foreign currency, leaving it in foreign nations and marking with it and frequent seizures of foreign currency smuggling out of the nation on departure from the airport. Regarding this, how many seizures were there? How many persons or companies being arrested and taken action are there? How much foreign currency related to those cases is? How much the extent of the impact of foreign currency on national economic investment? Let me know the answers to those questions.

The second point is the role of the people. The role of the people will never be outmoded. If there is the State there will be people. Mass method, mass technique, people method, people technique are being applied. Based on the incidents, there are any means and ways triggering off the active participation of more people in warding off any subversive acts including detonating bombs, that are detrimental to the State, being applied in addition to conventional means and ways being used today, and there are any arrangements to do so?

Replying to these questions, Minister for Finance and Revenue Maj-Gen Hla Tun said that the question on financial matters are subtle and wide. Monetary Law of the State is considerably wide. That is why only kyat is officially used in nation. Foreign currency can only officially be used in transactions with foreign nations. The law on the use of foreign currency when going abroad or when trading with foreigners and the remittance of foreign currency issued by the Central Bank of Myanmar is considerably wide. It has been briefly stated in the clarification of the deputy minister. To be able to present it in detail, we need to study it again. Regarding the second point, there is the illegal use of foreign currency. To give the answers on how many seizures have been made, we have been in a position to give the answers only with the duration. We find it difficult to give answers on the spot on when and how many seizures have been made. The last seizure was made at Yangon International Airport on 7 May in which foreign currency was seized from a passenger who was about to smuggle it out of the country. The amount of the seizure was 90,000 foreign currency. There is also the smuggling of foreign currency at the border. Although there is no right to hold and use foreign currency, it is illegally being used in the nation. That is why we have to present matters on why is it illegal and how the illegal use of foreign currency can impact on kyat.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said all the national people have the wish to actively cooperate with the government in counteracting any acts leading to harming the national interest. As regards the question about the role of the people for their participation in the protest against the terrorists, the minister said, as he had mentioned, the government, the people and the Tatmadaw will always cooperate in times of any emergency. He said in the incidents like these public cooperation is much needed. Only then can the State overcome any dangers.

Forces of ‘public strength’ have been formed in every township, and they are operating for the sake of security and other emergency cases, he added. In addition, there are a lot of NGOs formed with the strength of people in the nation, and they are taking part in the country’s affairs. The State on its part also has laid down the policy for their participation. The minister said security measures have been initiated in companies, departments and offices and public places such as super markets under the supervision of the government. These efforts are being made to mobilize the public cooperation, the minister noted.

U Tin Maung Aye of Asahi Shinbum said that according to the explanation of the minister, he noticed KNU plays a major role in conducting training courses on exploding mines and committing destructive acts. He has learnt the government is holding negotiation with the KNU, and he would like to know the attitude of the government regarding the talks in future.

He also said he has learnt that at the junctions to the police are distributing to the people pamphlets that say K 5 million will be awarded to those who give detailed information about destructive acts. He said he would like to know if it is true.

Director-General of the MPF Brig-Gen Khin Yi replied to the first question, saying that the MPF is enhancing the system of public participation. In this regard, the MPF has placed emphasis on the fact that it will get information about suspicious persons or activities earlier if it wins mind awareness and participation of the people. So far, it has distributed about 10,000 pamphlets to the people at the junctions. He said the offer of K 5 million is true.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan answered the second question, saying that the government wishes to restore peace and it always opens door for peace negotiations. And it has contacts with the KNU. However, the government has to point out what the mistakes the KNU makes in order that KNU will notice its wrong acts. If KNU amends its ways, peace can be restored.

U Khin Maung Myint of NHK said that after the bomb blasts on 7 May, there have been widespread rumours. Among them, one says that three bombs have been detonated, and some more bombs are left to be planted. Due to that rumour, the markets and supermarkets are rather deserted and so is Yangon City. He said he would like to know whether the persons in authority have words to the people regarding the rumours. He added that during the 8-day period, no one has been apprehended, and so he would like to know how many suspects and people the authorities have seized or investigated so far in connection with the bomb blasts. He asked if the authorities would expect any confessions and information from them.

Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo answered the question. He said frankly, many people experienced the 1988 unrest. At that time there rose so many rumours. With regard to public security and interior security, the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking all necessary measures, and of them, some are visible and some are not. He said it is a little early to let the people know all the steps.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said that there is no need to pay attention to the rumours. Now, the people can do daily routines and activities as usual. The government has tightened security. So, there is no need to worry about that.

U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV said that rumours affected the border trade and the price of goods rose. He questioned about border trade. Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said that regarding the security at borders, there were more security checks at borders. However, he replied that the flow of the goods of border trade was normal.

Daw Nwe Nwe Aye of the Myanmar Times said that she wanted to know the follow-up news of the two ladies who were detained by the authorities on 12 May at LaPyaiWon Plaza. She asked whether there would be DNA test to identify the bodies. Director-General of the Myanmar Police Force answered her questions that there were interrogations about the bombing. May be the two ladies were detained. However, he said that if they were interrogated by the police, there would be connection between the two ladies and investigation. Without links, there were no detainees. Next, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo clarified the second question that a total of 19 people died in the bombing. As all the bodies were identified, no DNA test was need, he said. Afterwards, U Aung Thu Myaing of Ji Ji News Agency asked a question whether or not Yangon University would close soon after the exams and whether the bombing would affect the internaional meetings in Myanmar. For instance, whether the bombing would affect the ASEAN Summit-2006 in Myanmar when Myanmar takes ASEAN Chairman-ship seat. Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that there were rumours and it was not true that the university would be closed. Regarding the international level summit, it is no problem as there was no such meetings at present.

Next, Mr Toru Kawabe of Yomiuri Shimbun questioned about the world famous organization and the reason why the bombing occurred even though authorities had such a lot of information.

Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied that we had received many tips-off and infor-mation and we had taken necessary measures to prevent such terrorists act. But, even in one of the big countries, they had received information but sometimes they couldn't prevent the commitment of terrorist act. For the second question, Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan answered that as he had made clarified in details, any one could get the answer in the clarification if they read thoroughly the clarifi-cation.