| A Press Conference Held |
The
affair concerning the hospitalization of Shan women who have allegedly been
sexually molested by members of the Myanmar Armed Forces
The rumour that the
Myanmar Armed Forces were planning on conducting military exercises
The allegation that Myanmar
had demanded 60 million bahts to Border Gates
Thirteen Yodaya citizens
detained on suspicion of being intelligence agents
[
9th August, 2002 ]
A press conference attended by local and foreign news correspondents was held at the Armed Forces Guest House on Inya Road at 10 am today.
Minister for labor U Tin Win, Vice Chief of the Defence Services Military Intelligence Headquarters Maj. Gen. Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Aung Thein, high-ranking military and government department officials, responsible officials of the News and Periodicals Department of the Ministry of Information, correspondent of Kyodo News Agency U Sein Win, Patron of the Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Hla Htwe and member correspondents were all present on the occasion.
Deputy Head of Department of the
Ministry of Defence Col San Pwint said the news conference will explain the
SURA, KNU and KNPP armed terrorists, Anti-Government groups ( especially
absconding Shans who are in western countries and Yodaya ), the news media from
western bloc and Yodaya in collusion are broadcasting false and fictitious
accusations against Myanmar concerning-
The affair concerning the hospitalization of Shan women who have allegedly been sexually molested by members of the Myanmar Armed Forces
Two non-governmental organizations, the Shan Human Rights Foundation and the Shan Women' s Action Network issued a report under the title "License to Rape." This report has made allegations that in the period from 1996 to 2002, Myanmar soldiers committed rape against 625 Shan Women on 173 occasions in the Shan State and that the youngest of them was just 5 years old. It said moreover these women were also physically assaulted and tortured. Of the alleged rape victims, the report said, 25% were killed and their corpses were exhibited to the public as a warning and a threat. It went on to allege falsely that 61% of the women were victims of gang rape.
The Yodaya media issued this unfounded accusation to coincide with the time the above report was issued. This false news was broadcast on 7 Yodaya TV channels on 12 July 2002 and it stated that the Shan women raped by Myanmar soldiers were now being treated as in-patients in Wein Hin Township Hospital in Chiangmai District. When careful inquiries were made with regard to this claim, it was found that Wein Hin Hospital staffed by 4 doctors and 3 nurses under Medical Superintendent Dr. Hsuphat Lin (a) Aik Lu had, up to 14 July 2002, given treatment to only 12 male patients and that they were SURA insurgent members wounded at the skirmish at Pan Mong Song. Not a single female patient had been hospitalized for treatment apart from these 12 male patients.
The rumour that the Myanmar Armed Forces were planning on conducting military exercises
The Phu Kyan Kan newspaper in its issue of 13 July 2002 carried a report that the Eastern Military Command and the Triangle Regional Military Command of the Myanmar Armed Forces were planning to conduct military exercises in the regions facing Mae Hong Song, Chiangmai and Chiangrai Districts in Yodaya and that these exercises were intended as a serious challenge to Yodaya because it coincides with 12 August which happens to be Yodaya queen's birthday. Moreover, it said shells could fall on Yodaya villages in the border areas. Hence the reason why the Yodaya Army Third Division Command had been given instructions to make contingency plans to deal with any untoward incidents that should happen to arise, according to these media reports.
The 14 July 2002 issue of the Bangkok Post also carried a similar report saying that the Myanmar Armed Forces were deploying a large number of troops and heavy artillery in order to conduct a military exercise in border regions opposite Chiangmai/Chiangrai and Mae Hong Song Districts of Yodaya. It said that these exercises were probably a prelude to a large-scale operation to be launched against the SURA insurgents at the end of July or beginning of August. The Bangkok Post also speculated that the planned exercise could also be a retaliatory response to the Surasi 143 military exercise of the Yodaya Army and that 13 battalions of Myanmar troops together with tanks, armoured cars and armoured patrol cars were now in the region across of Weik Hein District in Chiangmai Province and Mae Pha Long District in Chiangrai Province. It also said that ' Wa ' armed troops were expected to participate in the military exercise.
The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) Radio Station broadcast a report under the headline "The Air Force to participate in the planned military exercise." It said that the Myanmar Air Force was making preparations to take part in the military exercises and that fighter craft were assembling at Air Force Bases near the region where the exercises would take place and that they were being supplied with large amounts of arms, ammunition and fuel.
The 27 July 2002 issue of the Daily News newspaper also carried a statement made by a security official who said that the Myanmar Armed Forces were now conducting military maneuvers in the Shan State with fighter planes, heavy artillery , armoured vehicles and many troops stationed in the region. He said there were 50 fighter aircraft, heavy artillery units, battalions from the Special Forces as well as regular regiments totalling about 30 battalions, and two companies of paratroops were taking part in the huge military maneuvers.
The Daily News newspaper of 31 July 2002 again reported that "Myanmar Forces had entered the Shan State to launch military operations against the Shans and went on to say that Myanmar Government Forces were poised to launch a huge offensive in the Shan State by 24/25 July and that a large number of troops had been deployed in the region. The report continued to say that there were plans to hold military maneuvers in an area of the Shan State adjoining the northern regions of Yodaya but that the exact date as well as whether or not the military exercises will be held were still uncertain. However, the Myanmar military forces are said to have informed the public in Mongtong that military exercises will be held. Moreover, it said that both males and females aged at least 15/16 years of age living in the Golden Triangle Region of Eastern Shan State would have to attend compulsory military training and that the Myanmar armed forces in the region were now making arrangements for such training.
The Myanmar authorities concerned have already summoned the Thai Military attaché to inform rum that the reports concerning the military exercise and the launching of a large -scale military offensive were all untrue and that there were no such plans.
Then the foreign media, to cover up the fact that their reports were false again broadcast more misinformation. The BBC radio station in its broadcast of 6 August 2002 reported the visit to Myanmar of the Yodaya Minister for Foreign Affairs and followed this up with the statement that Yodaya military authorities confirmed that the Myanmar Armed Forces had cancelled the military maneuvers ( 1) scheduled to be held in the border regions the following week. In addition it added that because the Myanmar side had decided to cancel the military exercises to be held on the Thai-Myanmar border on 12 August which happens to be the birthday of the Thai queen, the tension in Thai-Myanmar bilateral relations had relaxed and that as the Thai Foreign Minister expected normalization of relations was now closer.
The allegation that Myanmar had demanded 60 million bahts to Border Gates
The Daily News newspaper ;of 27 July 2002 carried an editorial under the Headline "Myanmar demands 60 million bahts to open border gates." It said that Myanmar had demanded this amount for the opening of its border gates after a Myanmar representative group had met and negotiated with Yodaya merchants and that the Yodaya merchants had considered the 60 million bahts demanded too excessive. So, as a result the Myanmar representative group had reduced their demand to 45 million bahts and agreement had then been reached.
Likewise the Yodaya newspaper Mati Chun issued on 31 July 2002 contained an article under the heading "Myanmar demands cash for opening of border gates." The article said this was reliable information obtained from a high-ranking official of the Third Yodaya Army Command. It said that the Myanmar side had asked for 60 million baht to open its border gates together with the ultimatum that if there was no response the amount would be doubled up to 160 baht and that if the Yodaya side should delay this decision by further bargaining the amount would surely increase, according to this false newspaper article.
Thirteen Yodaya citizens detained on suspicion of being intelligence agents.
The 27 July 2002 issue of the Phu Kyan Kan newspaper claimed that according to the Governor of Maesai Province, although it was difficult to obtain information regarding the over 100 Yodaya citizens who had entered Myanmar illegally, they were conducting close investigations.
Then the 1 August 2002 issue of the Yodaya newspaper the Daily News reported that, "13 Yodaya citizens had been accused of being intelligence agents and arrested. This report says that according to the Commander of the Third Yodaya Division, as of 28 July, 13 Yodaya citizens, who had illegally crossed over to the Tachilek bank of the river had been detained by Myanmar forces, but that these 13 Yodaya citizens were those who worked regularly in Tachilek. However, they were unable to return when Myanmar sealed off the border bridge, but that information had now been received that they were arrested by Myanmar forces and were being held in Kyaingtong prison on charges of narcotic drug possession and espionage.
What
actually transpired was that since the closing of Friendship Bridge as a result
of the Myanmar- Yodaya border problem on 20 May 2002, there are now 18 Yodaya
citizens in custody.
Of these, 3 of them on 7 June were in Room 106 of the Golden Triangle Hotel in Won Kong Ward in Tachilek, when a search was made of their hotel room on information received. They were found together with 10,000 stimulant tablets, one weapon, one magazine and three bullets. So they were arrested in accordance with the Drug Law and the Law pertaining to possession of weapons. They have been charged accordingly and are now under trial at the Tachilek District Court.
The remaining 15 were returned home after the closing of the Friendship Bridge via the Kyauktaw Jetty. But they illegally reentered Myanmar and have thus been detained in accordance with the Immigration. Act, Article 13/1 at the Tachilek Police Station and are on trial at the Tachilek Township Court.
The Press Conference continued with a briefing given by Director General U Hla Thaung Myint of the Road Transportation Department of the Ministry of Rail Transportation, concerning the registration of small motor vehicles of more than 20 years old and the rumours that old and decrepit vehicles would be sent away to the districts. He said that his department had taken note of the fact that vehicles more than 20 years old which had been registered at the Road Transportation Department had deteriorated mechanically with age and over use, and their engines were spewing exhaust fumes leading thus to greater air pollution. Moreover, these old vehicles break down where traffic is heavy causing obstruction and congestion. Their engines are also old and not up to full power so they proceed very slowly and obstruct the smooth slow of traffic and are therefore liable to cause traffic accidents. Thus to prevent traffic accidents on city roads, this matter had frequently been submitted as and when necessary to the regular monthly meeting of the Committee for Supervision and Control of Traffic.
The situation regarding the number of registered motor vehicles countrywide as of 1982 is 111,863 vehicles but up to the July 2002, the number had risen to 473,930, showing an increase of 363,067 within 20 years. In terms of percentage there was an increase of 324.6 percent of registered vehicles. At time of submission of the current report there are 152,916 registered vehicles in Yangon Division with 145,545 vehicles within the limits of the Yangon City Development area and 7,371 outside its limits.
With regard to this matter, in order to reduce traffic and road accidents, to enhance the attributes of Yangon as a modem cosmopolitan city , to ensure smooth and safe transportation, to relieve traffic congestion, and to prevent the increase of old and decrepit vehicles in Yangon, the Traffic Supervision and Control Central Committee at its 96th Meeting held on 5 April 2002 approved a decision to submit to the Executive Committee of the Ministry of Rail Transportation a resolution to prohibit passenger vehicles older than 20 years to enter Yangon for registration purposes.
This matter was submitted to the Executive Committee of the Ministry of Rail Transportation on 24 April 2002 and has duly received official permission not to permit vehicles (saloons, vans, station wagons, light vans, pick up, microbuses) more than 20 years old from states/divisions/districts to enter the Yangon City Development Limits and be registered. This directive has been issued to all branch offices of the Department of Road Transportation for implementation.
This directive is not meant to send away to the districts small passenger vehicles (saloons, vans, station wagons, light vans, pick-ups and microbuses) but to stop the increase of old vehicles from the districts within Yangon City .An official notice for public information has been sent to state/division/district offices for posting on notice boards.
There are 45 townships in Yangon Division within 33 townships within Yangon City Limits and 12 outside it. There are currently 9,269 small passenger cars registered in Yangon Division, with 834 within Yangon City Limits and 927 outside its limits. There are altogether 17,370 passenger cars that are 20 years and above, registered in the remaining states and divisions.
Information regarding the rules and regulations for registration of vehicles, its procedures and the nature of the work involved, have been widely disseminated to inform the public and thus prevent rumors and misinformation that raise doubts and misunderstanding among the public. Queries either by phone or in person are answered and important points are clarified for the benefit of the public. Moreover, interviews have been held with journalists and articles written in journals and magazines to calm the doubts and fears of the public.
Vehicles that are classified and
registered as being 20 years and above include all vehicles up to Na Gyi/1735.
But to relax the severity of this condition for the benefit of the public the
Ministry of Rail Transportation has reclassified it to include those vehicles up
to Nya/9999. These vehicles are if they have not been registered within the
limits of Yangon City will not be prohibited from entering Yangon Division but
only from entering Yangon City Limits for registration purposes. These vehicles
can freely go about within Yangon Division, but are not permitted to register
their vehicles within Yangon City Limits. By allowing them to register their
vehicles outside Yangon City Limits, it is hoped that it will lessen the number
of old vehicles on Yangon City Roads.
The press conference ended at 10.40 am.
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