( 21-3-2002 )

A press conference with local and foreign journalists was held at the Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road here at 12 pm today.

Today’s Press Briefing is regarding the group of armed rebelled drug traffickers located in the Thai Myanmar border area.  On the date of April 21^st, 2001, this rebel drug traffickers, while using Thai Military artillery attacked Myanmar’s Military camp “Pachee.” 

After seizing the Pachee Camp, the rebel instigators, bringing from their camp located in Thailand, occupied the Pachee Camp with methamphetamine.  Afterward, they held a press briefing together with the related journalist and television media whom were accompanying the rebel drug traffickers.    Thai media working with the rebel insurgent drug traffickers coheres, portrayed and promoted Myanmar Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) to be that of producing and distributing methamphetamine.  After obtaining the correct information, and in order to set the record straight and right the wrong, we are now holding this press conference with the members of the media.

On the date of April 25^th 2001, a Press Conference was held at the Tamadaw Guest House located at No. 20 Inya Road.  To summarized the April 25^th Press Conference,  with a troop of 20 soldiers, Pachee Camp, Minetone Township, located on the Myanmar side, in the vicinity of the Thai-Myanmar border, in Eastern Shan State, was occupied by Myanmar Tatmadaw was set up for the purposes of border security and for defense of Myanmar national sovereignty.  At the same time, 50 yards across from Pachee Camp, a Camp was established by the Thai Military.

On the date of April 21, 2001, at around 12:00pm, a group of SURA insurgents arrived with 3 vehicle to the Thai camp.  At about 1:15am using light and heavy arms, they commenced an attack on Pachee Camp.  Around 200 soldiers moved out from the Thai Camp and attacked the Pachee Camp.  During this attack, it is learnt that Thai Camp supported with Lighting while the insurgents assaulted the Pachee Camp with light and heavy arms.  6 Tatmadaw lives were lost in the defense of Pachee Camp, a battle where Pachee Camp was out numbered and resulted in a retreat.  With regards to the battle of Pachee Camp, it is stated in the April 23^rd, 2001 edition of Bangkok Post, a newspaper of Thailand, that using a manpower of 200, the insurgents evaded Pachee Camp and seized 170,000 metaphademine and 7 dead bodies.  The Nation, another newspaper of Thailand also stated the seizer of 7 dead bodies and 150,000 methamphetamines.

Furthermore ITV, a television channel of Thailand, also reported a seizer of 7 dead bodies and nearly 200,000 methamphetamine and broadcasted the messages of the insurgents.  It is learnt that all this reporting by the Thai media is incorrect, rather it is the effort to portray Myanmar Tatmadaw of producing and distributing methamphetamine.  The details of this was explained during the Press Conference held on April 25^th, 2001.  After the lost of the Pachee Camp, the wrongful strategies of the insurgents were learned with fruitful information and a news briefing was held, bringing out the true information.

Last month, a group consisting of 1 Company commander, 1 Platoon commander and 1 Private from the SURA camp exchanged arms for peace at Maintone Township, Eastern Shan State.  Two of the Three men actively participated during this attack on Pachee Camp, using light and heavy arms as well as actively participated in the placing of methamphetamines at the Pachee Camp to wrongfully portray the Myanmar Tatmadaw.

All of these 3 men, who exchanged arms for peace, are now present at the Press Conference in company of the journalist.  Out of with these 3 men, the Platoon Commander Aik Maung who was born at Pin Lone, was forced to join during the age of 6 by U Kun Sa’s group MTA.  He studied at MTA’s Homain Headquarters.  After studying under the MTA he became a private under the Sura group regiment commander at the age of 15/16.

On January 1996, the  MTA insurgents exchanged arms for peace.  During this MTA’s exchange arm for peace, Ywet Sit’s regiment exchanged arms for peace at Mone Htaw/ Mone Htah.  Although this event took place, Ywet Sit took 120 of his insurgent soldiers escaped to Thai territory together with Aik Maung as an assistant to him.  It is learnt that, on 1998, Aik Maung worked as a Platoon Commander under Column and further participated in the Pachee Camp attack.

The second person named Kuan Khan worked at the 757 Brigade under Ywet Sit.  He is born in Thebaw Township, Saungsyawar village.  On 1990, was forced to join by U Kun Sa’s MTA and forced to became a soldier and accompanied Ywet Sit in the escape.  In 1999 he became a Company Commander after being trained at a Narcotic production and distribution located Lwadinehlan camp.  Also actively participated in the attack on Pachee Camp.

The 3^rd person is Private Sain Pi.  He was born Pine Lone and in 1995 worked illegally in Chaing Main, Thailand.  In April 2001, was captured by the Thai Police at a restaurant in Chaing Mai and was sent to the Lwadinejlan Camp.  He as then forced into a recruit of the training of Ywet Sit’s  insurgent camp.  However has never actively experienced any battle.

It is learnt that Shan men like Sain Pi has been captured by the Thai Police and sent to Ywa Sit’s narcotic production and distribution camps.  During 1998 to 1999 a total of 3000 men were similarly captured and sent to this cam .  So-called Retired Thai Military personnel and American citizen provided the training at Ywet Sit’s camp.

According to Aik Maung, prior to the attack on Pachee Camp, during April 19, 2001 at around 8:00am in the morning, 80 men lead and organized by the Ywet Sit, using 3 4X4 vehicles left Hlwadineyan camp located in Thai territory.  Vehicle ridden by Ywet Sit contained 8 bags of metaphadine.  They arrived at Me Haung Saung, Tiwnship, Pan Ma Pha village around 1:00pm in the afternoon and slept and rested for 2 nights.  On April 21^st around 6:00am, 15 vehicles from the Thai military arrived with 60 Thai Military dressed soldiers accompanied by members of the Thai media, together, with ration and artillery shell.  Around 7:00am in the morning, Ywet Sit’s group left the Pan Ma Pha Village with the Thai Military vehicles.  Also included in the Thai Military vehicles are the 8 bags of metaphamines.  At 12:00pm, arrived at the Thai Camp located across Pachee Camp and prepared the attack on the Pachee Camp.  Thai military soldiers, assisted in the placing of weapons being brought on the vehicles for the attack.

According to the participant of the Pachee Camp battle, an Ywet Sit’s insurgent troops numbering around 250 led by Kun Khaon, Sain Aung Kan, Kun Kyaw, and Cho Pa arrived in the Thai Camp across from the Pachee Camp.  To attack the Pachee Camp, these insurgents prepared at Pa Na Camp located at Naung Mo village, Thai territory.  Three days prior to the attack on the Pachee Camp, Sai Aung Khan gave 3 bags of methamphetamines to the camp occupied by Kun Kan.  On April 21^st at 600:pm the insurgents approached the Pachee Camp from the Thai Camp.  At 12;00pm the drug traffickers arrived at the Thai Camp and was guided by the insurgents.  On April 22^nd at 1:15am, started the attack from the Thai camp, by providing Lighting and using light and heavy arms.  At 1:45am, they  attacked and seized the camp.  At around 5:00am the insurgents arrived and the Pachee Camps with the 8 bags of metaphmine and placed them at the warehouse of the artillery shell at Pachee Camp.  Likewise, the 3 bags of metaphione brought by Kun Kan was placed for the viewing at 6:00am in the morning.  At 6:30am 15 members of the Thai media consisting of both journalist and announcers arrived at the Pachee Camp to take photographs and television.  The insurgent briefed the Thai media and journalist at pachee camp regarding the seizer of 11 bags of metagamine totaling 200,000 tablets and further propagated that the metaphamine were produced and distributed by the Myanma Tatmadaw and the UWSA.  After analyzing this, it is learned that this event was planned and collaborated by the insurgents and the Thai military.

Ywet Sit were seen and represented as the hero against drugs by the Thai media.  However, the truth is that he is the true drug producer, distributor and traffickers, reasons to belief this include the fact Ywet Sit have a metephmine producing factory and distribution center.  This factory is located 4 mile from Hladinehlaing Camp, near BP5 in the Thai Myanmar border area.  It is learnt that a so called Kay Phu , an insurgent Tactical Commander is working as a manager of this factory.  Kay Phu, prior to the MTA exchange of arms for peace led by Kun Sa, was well experienced in producing heroin and undertook the responsibility in producing heroin.  This camp included 80 armed soldiers for security purposes and they prevented other members from entering this vicinity.  With regards to the production of narcotics, it is learnt that there is a direct link and collaboration between Ywet Sit and Kay Phyu.  The required chemical precursor needed for the factory is kept at Ywet Sit’s residence located at the Hladinehlaing Camp.   All finished narcotics were collected twice a month during the evening and kept at Ywet Sit’s house.  It is learned that Aik Maung was one of the people included as a personnel working at the factory for security and delivering of needed chemical precursor.

Additional to the traffking of narcotics, it is learned that Ywet Sit is also involved in other terrorist acts.  On the night of January 3^rd, 2000 over 100 people died due to a fire at Minshu Gem area.  This fire disaster is learned to be the terror caused by Ywet Sit.  In 1999, members of Ywet Sit met with Thai and 2 American citizens in Bangkok, Thailand.  Upon the arrival of these insurgent from Bangkok, it is learnt that in a monthly meeting, discussions  that the land of the Minshu Gem is dominated by Chinese and Wa people and for the benefit of the Shan people, this domination must be destroyed.  Soon  after this meeting, a Brigadier Main Sin, and Chauk Wan Lee a leader of the Qan Sin Column were appointed as the people to lead this terrorist mission.  To perform the explosives, Aik Aung was sent to to carry out the mission.  This Column is often seen   working around the vicinity of Mineshu Gem area.  Aik Aung and 15 other infiltrated the Minshu Gem area as workers gathering intelligence.   They focused to destroy the 2 highest producing  gem areas.  Also, placed a time bomb in the storage depot of flameble gas.  Due to the success of this terrorist act, Aik Aung was promoted as an officer.

Eventhough the  terrorist and narcotic activities has been presented, Ywet Sit’s group is still granted permission to be stationed in Thailand.  It is also a well known fact that have gotten the required facility.  It is an actual fact that these Ywet Sit’s group is not only involved in the narcotic business with MTA and Kun Sa, but also an infamous terrorist group.

Do to the fact that some politician and military personnel in Thailand are involved with the narcotic business, and in order to cover up the truth, they are redirecting the narcotic activities towards Myanmar and accusing the Myanma Tatmadaw of narcotic production and distribution. 

Yesterday’s press conference addressed the dishonest allegation done by some of the Thai politicians.

In reality, rather than being friendly neighbors, offensive and untrue allegation by some Thai politicians can lead to deterioration in the relations between the two neighboring countries, a situation very much contrary to our sincere desire. 

In order to maintain the exceptional relationship between our two governments, the Myanmar government will due its best endeavors to ensure that this relationship is not affected.

In conclusion, in order to fully understand and accept my clarification to the fullest, and to determine whether it is right or wrong, you now have full access to interview these 3 people who has exchanged arm for peace.

The press conference concluded at 12.45 pm.

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