( 1-4-2002 )

A regular press conference was held at Tatmadaw guest house on Inya Road this evening.  Present were Minister for Labour U Tin Winn, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs .Brig-Gen Thura Myint  Maung, Deputy Minister for information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, senior military officers of the ministry of Defence, departmental heads, news and information officials of the Ministry of Information, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Patron of Myanma Foreign Correspondents Club U Hla Htwe, President of MFCC  U Sao Kai Hpa and  correspondents and guests.

Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Minister U Tin Winn, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win and officials  met  local and foreign journalists and replied to queries of newsmen.   Maj-Gen Kyaw Win said; As regards the the news released by Thailand that the Wa militia entered the territory of Thailand and attacked a Thai security force on 25 March, and that one member of the Thai armed force was killed and another sustained severe injuries, the officials were sent to the region to conduct investigation into the matter.

When leaders and members of the Wa  militia were asked, it is learnt that the Wa militia did not at all transgress the Thai territory, and on  25 March, an armed  clash broke. out between the Wa militia from Kyu Sam Kut Camp and Ywet Sit's group inside the Myanmar territory. Kyu Sam Kut Camp (estimated LY -5594) is situated inside Myanmar territory and about 50 Wa militia members are stationed there.

At 11 am on 25 March, a villager from Wan Ho Hi Village came to the Wa camp and gave information about the presence of a party of members of Ywet Sit's group between Kyu Sam Kut Camp and Hway Yawn Camp of the  Wa  militia inside Myanmar territory, and their arresting the villagers of Wan Ho Bi Village who, at  that time, happened to be near the border. Acting on information, three members of the Wa militia from Kyu Sam Kut Camp went to the place mentioned by the villager.
That place is about 700 yards (estimated  LY-5394) to the west of the Wa camp. Ywet Sit's group lay in wait at that place and attacked the three. The two fell on the spot,  and the  remaining one who had sustained injuries returned fire. As soon as the report of guns was heard from the camp, 30 members of the Wa militia went to the site and attacked them. The other force was made up of 20 members of the Thai security force in camouflage uniforms and about 40 members of Ywet Sit's group, The clash lasted from about 11.45 am to 1.00 pm. When Ywet Sit's group and Thai armed force members in camouflage uniforms withdrew from the site, one M-16 and one Icon walkie-talkie were seized. No one was arrested. Nor were other arms and equipment seized. Two members of the Wa militia fell and one member was injured. No arms and ammunition were lost. The site of the clash is about 700 yards from the camp where the Wa militia is stationed, and about 1,000 yards from the border between the two nations. At the very site of the clash, MTA of Khun Sa had been stationed before they laid down their arms. Evidently, it is  inside the territory of Myanmar.

The report on the Wa militia's transgressing the Thai territory and its attack on the Thai security force, was fabricated to give a misleading impression that the Wa militia entered the Thai territory.

Then, the regular Press conference ended.

_________________________________________________________________