Regular press conference held with local and foreign journalists Reception of Myanmars working illegally in Thailand explained

Myanmar launching narcotics elimination and opium-substitute crops cultivation projects

Action taken against smuggling of cars into Myanmar from other country KNU terrorist insurgents fire at passenger buses, blow up gas pipelines

[ 9-5-2002 ]

  
Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win extends greeting
at the regular press conference with local and foreign journalists.

A regular press conference was held at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road here at 9 am today.

It was attended by Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, high-ranking military officers, departmental heads, information officials, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Patron U Hla Htwe, President U Sao Kai Hpa and member correspondents of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club and guests. Lt-Col Tin Oo of the Ministry of Defense acted as master of ceremonies. First, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win extended greetings.

  
Col Kyaw Thein clarifies at the press conference.

  
Col Than Tun and Col Myint Zaw clarifies at the press conference.

Then, Head of Department Col Myint Zaw of the Ministry of Defense gave an account of measures for receiving Myanmar workers who worked illegally in Thailand. He said: to receive illegal Myanmar workers, a reception camp has been opened in Myawady since February through the coordination between the two governments. The government has systematically received Myanmar workers who had worked illegally in Thailand like its children in difficulty with genuine goodwill and without taking any legal action. The returnees have been sent to their homes. These measures are being taken by opening a reception camp in Myawady. A total of 2,772 people 1,514 men, 1,117 women and 141 babies have been received. Necessary arrangements have been made to send them home; medical check-up have been conducted; food and care have been provided before they were sent to their homes with the assistance of local authorities. A total of 83 returnees who are not in good health 52 men and 31 women are being given medical treatment. In response to the questions of officials concerned, some returnees said they were not illegal workers; but they were there to sell and buy things; some were visitors. Thai police sent them back to Myanmar after tearing official border passes. Some were sent back to Myanmar after their Thai baht and property were seized. Such unfair treatment will be objected through Thai officials, he said.

  
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung replies to
queries raised by local and foreign journalists at the regular press conference.
 

Afterwards, Head of Department Col Kyaw Thein of the Ministry of Defense gave clarification on the fabricated concoction of some foreign media that Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise in the 2001-2002 opium cultivation season.

He said: very recently, we read fabricated concoction that Myanmar opium crop threatens to rise in the 2001-2002 opium cultivation season carried by some foreign newspapers.

These are mere concocted news issued by some foreign newspapers and media entertaining pessimism with the intention of tarnishing the image of Myanmar.

   
Local and Foreign journalists at the regular press conference.

Myanmar suffer pessimism. The government of Myanmar has been undertaking opium yield surveys in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States since 1993 and the last survey took place from 25 February to 2 March 2002. As a result, since 1997, the opium production has been declining steadily. The tonnage of opium production has declined from 2,365 in 1997 to 865 in 2001, representing a decrease of 64 percent. Acreage under poppy cultivation has also decreased. 151,201 acres under opium in 1997 has declined to 61,824 in 2001, representing a decrease of almost 60 per cent.

  
Photo shows the corner of Arzani Road and Pakokku Kyaung Road where KNU terrorists exploded bomb.

Map showing the location of bomb explosion
committed by KNU terrorists on 6-5-2002.

During the joint team trips with DEA of the United States, only other crops like buck wheat were found to be grown in Lonhtan, Shaukhaw and Tamoenye regions in Kyutkhine township where there were opium cultivation in past years. Moreover, local Tatmadaw members, members of Police Force, departmental organizations, social organizations and local people, as a national task, have been destroying opium fields illegally cultivated in far flung valleys and hillsides. About 26,000 acres of poppy have been destroyed all over Myanmar during this year opium cultivation season. Therefore, it is totally impossible that opium production in Myanmar will increase as some foreign newspapers and media wrote. Opium production will remain only 40 per cent and it is most likely that opium production would rather drop than rise. Drug control measures have been taken with various ways and means in all sectors for drug elimination. Some doubtful companies from some towns in border areas were liquidated in order to prevent from drug related crimes and cut off the paths related to drugs.

Opium growers have been given educative talks and organized not to grow opium during reclamation period and seeds of other crops have been distributed to them. I would like to present a good news that a seed bank has been set up with initial fund K 50 millions and seeds have been distributed free of charge to them at present. So it is a practical and true condition that opium production will decrease in Myanmar despite rise.

  
Documentary photos on the incident of Kanbauk-Myainggalay gas pipeline exploded by KNU terrorists on 30-4-2002.

Then, Head of Department Col Kyaw Thein of the Ministry of Defense gave clarification on action taken against illegal import of motor cars from other side.

The Government has permitted doing local and foreign trade freely in accord with the law to ensure the systematic practice of a market-oriented economic system. However, some people imported vehicles through the border entrances and exits and illegal routes, kept them at border towns and sold them to neighbouring nations. According to the information received, a combined team comprising members of the local intelligence unit and Myanmar Police Force raided and searched some warehouses and houses in Tachilek at 8 pm on 1 April 2002. Altogether 45 vehicles without licenses were seized 28 owned by U Lauk Kyan (a) Kyan Kya Chee, aged 73, of Makahokham Ward of Tachilek and his son U Than Tun of Maisai of Thailand, 5 by U Tun Yin, aged 41, son of U Lauk Kyan of the same block, and 12 by U Khin Aung (a) Kyin Sin, aged 31, of Hsan Hsaing Oauk Ward of Tachilek.

Owners of the vehicles U Lauk Kyan, U Tun Yin and U Khin Aung (a) Kyin Sin were arrested. So were Aik Non, aged 31, son of U Kyin Shwe, and U Aik Ton, aged 45, son of U Aik Shen, who helped carry and keep the vehicles. U Than Tun of Maisai of Thailand, aged 38, son of U Lauk Kyan, is running away.

  
The railroad and gas pipeline destroyed by KNU terrorists.

According to the information obtained from those under arrest, they contacted Thai companies which buy and sell used cars imported from Japan and kept in the customs compound of Maisai in the neighbouring nation, and carried these vehicles to Tachilek through various illegal ways and means. Then, they sold these cars to those from the country and China.

The seized 45 cars include 12 Land Cruisers, 4 Land Cruiser Prados, 5 Pajeros, 4 Surfs, 2 4x4 Stradas, 1 Corolla Van, 3 Vistas, 1 Chaser, 1 Cherokee (Jeep), 1 Celsior (Saloon), 1 Grandhiace, 3 harriers, 1 Vx-Limited, 1 Laurel, 1 Cresta (Saloon), 1 Mark-II (Saloon), 1 Corolla Saloon and 2 Toyota Coronas. Their total prevailing price is about K 418,440,800.

They have started the smuggling of vehicles since 1999, and have imported over 200 vehicles from Thailand through various illegal ways and means. Action is being taken against them.

Deputy Head of Department Lt-Col Min Lwin said although the government is making efforts to build a modern and developed nation, the KNU terrorist insurgents are trying to disturb community peace, committing destructive acts and butchering innocent people. In one incident, the KNU terrorist insurgents mined and fired at two Hilux light passenger buses near mile post 35 on Kawkareik-Myawady road at 12.45 pm on 30 April 2002. Tali Bai was at the wheels of the car with plate No Hta/6798 and Saw Thaik Pwe at the wheels of another car with plate No 9Ka/5734.

  
The incident of Kanbauk-Myainggalay gas pipeline exploded by KNU terrorists on 30-4-2002.

During the attack, Ma Myint Aye, 44, daughter of U Ohn Yin, of Kyondoe village, Kawkareik Township, sustained a bullet wound under her right ear, Ko Hnin Nu, 38, son of U Ohn Khin, of Pata village, Kawkareik Township, was hit by a bullet at his shoulder blade, and Maung Win, 42, was wounded by the shrapnel at his right shoulder and right neck. The three wounded persons are undergoing treatment at the People's Hospital in Myawady.

Similarly, three KNU terrorist insurgents blew up a gas pipeline at estimate X-399944 near Thabyechaung Creek bridge at railroad mile post 241/18,19 between Hnit Kayin and Ahnin villages in Ye Township at 9.30 pm on 30 April 2002.
The pipeline is transporting gas from Kanbauk to Myainggale. Watchman of the pipeline U Soe Naing, 33, son of U Myat Naing, and wife Daw Nyo of Kyeikkhe village, sustained burns at the back by the explosion.

The three KNU terrorist insurgents holding small arms arrived at civilian guard house near the bridge at bout 9 pm on 30 April. After inquiring the couple about the person who assigned them the duty and the monthly salary, the KNU terrorist insurgents tied up U Soe Naing and wife in the guard house. Thirty minutes later, the terrorists went to the pipeline and then blew it up. The sleepers of the railway were burnt by the explosion. Six units of rails and the some frames of the bridge were twisted by the heat of the fire. U Soe Naing and Daw Nyo sustained burns at the back by the explosion. As the staff of the departments concerned took immediate action to repair the destroyed sections of the railway and the bridge, trains are now running on them regularly.

  
Gas pipeline destroyed by KNU terrorists.

KNU insurgents are using various means to disturb community peace and tranquility, committing destructive acts and atrocities against the innocent people. At 00.30 am on 6 May 2002, a group of KNU insurgents arrived at a place between Bilin and Thaton and blew up the gas pipeline linking Yangon and Myainggalay near Kazine Bridge west of Yangon-Mottama motor road between mile posts 130/3 and 130/4 at estimate M-840824.

The explosion caused a four-foot deep hole in the ground which was about eight feet wide and about 10 feet long .
At 12.10 pm on the same day, an explosion occurred at the corner of Arzani and Pakokku Kyaung streets, Myaukywa Ward, Dawei. No one was wounded in the incident. When the authorities combed the area, they found that it was a local-made bomb and that the terrorist acts was committed under orders of the KNU Central.

Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, heads of departments of the Ministry of Defense, Col Myint Zaw, Col Kyaw Thein and Col Than Tun, and Deputy Head of Department Lt-Col Min Lwin replied to queries raised by the journalists.

The journalists viewed the documentaries and photos on the terrorists of the KNU terrorist insurgents.

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