Press Conference on Bomb Blast, Unlicensed Vehicles and Damages Caused by Strong Earthquake

Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council held a press conference on clarifications on the incident of an innocent student killed and the people wounded due to the destructive act of the destructionists, movement of internal external and destructionist groups that controlled the acts, unlicensed vehicles, damages in some areas in the country because of strong earthquake in the Indian Ocean at the Ministry of Information on 28 December 2004.

Present were Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Win Sein, Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint of the Ministry of Defence, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi, heads of departments, Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise Col Soe Win, Director (News) of NPE U Win Tin, chief editors, patrons, president and members of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club, editorial staff of journals and magazines and guests.

Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan clarified the incident in which an innocent student was killed and some persons wounded due to the destructive acts and movement of external and internal destructionist groups that were behind such acts. Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan explained the terrorist acts of destructive elements that killed or wounded innocent students and people and the activities of destructionists at home and abroad, who are scheming and committing the terrorist acts.

It is a common knowledge that destructionists from inside and outside the nation are floating false information in the nation through some foreign radio stations, internet website and distributing of pamphlets to instigate the people.

At present, the destructionists are encouraging terrorist gangs to commit the evil acts according to the schedule. The security personnel were able to expose the plot of the remnants of the BCP to distribute anti-Government leaflets in the nation in December. The BCP remnants selected targets among the people and the members of the Sangha and tried to contact the destructive elements in the nation to distribute the leaflets.

In addition, the BCP was trying to increase its underground political activities. The seized leaflets are displayed at the news conference. Moe Thu, with the rank of a major, of a destructive organization at the border is conducting a course on explosives for 15 trainees of the ABSDF at Noeboe refugee camp in the other nation. It is learnt that the targets are roads, bridges, airports and dams, infrastructures for national development that have been built with the nation’s own strength. The Government received information that the scheme was masterminded by Dr Sein Win of NCGUB, and supervised by Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung, Aung Moe Zaw of Democratic Party for New Society, Tin Oo of NLD (LA), Lwan Ni and Ko Ko Naing of ABSDF. Thanks to the information, the Government was able to tighten the national security and expose and stop some terrorist acts in time. But some occurred in the nation.

The security personnel found four time bombs — one at a platform in Yangon Railway Station at 1430 hours on 26 June 2004; another on the platform near the stairway of the Pansodan pedestrian overpass at 0500 hours on 27 June 2004; the other on the platform at the left side of the railway station at 0530 hours; and the final one at the No 7 vase of the Pansodan pedestrian overpass.

Three bombs exploded one each on the pedestrian lane leading to the railway station on Pansodan Street in Mingala Taungnyunt Township at 0330 hours on 26 June 2004; in a park at the entrance to the platform for upper-class coaches at the railway station at 0345 hours; and at the left side of a platform at the railway station at 0357 hours. The explosions were caused by sound mines. There were no destruction or injuries.

A home-made bomb exploded at a park near a filling station in front of a platform of the railway station at 0530 hours on 27 June 2004. The explosion destroyed some plants. When the authorities investigated the case, they found out that two strangers met with Mar Mar Lwin, 30, daughter of U Maung Ko, a vagabond, near the ticket counter four or five days before the explosion. Of the two, a tall and dark man of Bamar race introduced himself as Win Naing (a) Zaw Win. He spoke quickly and had a dragon tattooed on his both forearms. After meeting with the woman four or five times, the two persuaded her offering money to plant bombs in the surrounding areas of the Yangon Railway Station. Mar Mar Lwin agreed to the offer, and accepted two green bags with mines in them and K 10,000 at 0330 hours on 26 June. The bombs were then planted at the places asked.

After the incidents, the authorities received more information about the destructive acts.

The Political Defiance Committee (PDC) based in the other country sent Ye Myint and Hla Khaing to Myanmar to blow up bombs in September 2004. A destructive organization in the so-called liberated area in the other country presented 10 advanced mines to the Democratic Party for New Society on 5 October 2004. Htein Lin and Myint Khaing were sent to Kayin State to plant bombs. Five persons including Aung Than Oo of NLD (LA) entered the nation at the end of October 2004 to plant bombs at the World Buddhist Summit and Armed Forces Day Parade. Tin Aung Phone of ABSDF battalion 202 visited BBC correspondent Win Myint’s house in Maesot on 7 December 2004, and kept three US-made time bombs in the house.

Arrangements were made to convey the explosives to Yangon.

Naing Aung Lin of ABSDF transported a paper box from Rahai in Thailand to four persons wearing robes in Maesot on 14 December 2004. Under the scheme, the four robe-wearing persons would enter Myanmar and try to cause unrest and bomb explosions in the nation.

Arrangements were being made to transport the cartoon into the nation with a carrier.

Beginning 1 December 2004, two Americans have been conducting a special investigation and explosive training near Kyaukkhet village south of Maesot in Thailand.

Maung Maung Latt of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), Pyithit Nyunt Wai (a) Maung Maung and Min Thu of All Burma Student’s Democratic Front (ABSDF) and five persons held a secret meeting on 1 December 2004 in the other country. The meeting decided to send two bomber teams into the nation.

Nyein Chan of NLD-LA, son of a representative-elect of the NLD in Kya-in Seikkyi, Kayin State, Aung Than Oo, his cousin, and Saw La Bwe were sent into the nation to blow up bombs before October 2004.

A meeting was held from 1000 hours to 1500 hours at NLD-LA office in Maesot on 5 November 2004. Two foreigners, and 70 destructionists including those from NLD-LA, Democratic Party for New Society and ABSDF attended the meeting. Based on the latest developments in Myanmar, the meeting discussed making of contacts with some political parties in the nation to blow up bombs. Five persons including two bombers were selected, and arrangements were made for them to start their activities in Mawlamyine, Hpa-an and Kyondo beginning 18 November 2004.

Meanwhile, Secretary of NCUB Pyithit Nyunt Way (a) Maung Maung is launching a series of political attacks with the use of money provided by foreign nations. It is also learnt that Pyithit Nyunt Way (a) Maung Maung has been perpetrating destructive acts and atrocities to beef up the political attacks.

According to the information, the authorities concerned are stepping up security measures day and night out for roads, bridges, dams and reservoirs and the people. As a result, some destructive acts could be deterred and some could not. The following are the incidents.

Members of Myainggalay Police Station, acting on information, on 15-11-2004 afternoon, searched the house of Sein Aung Lin (a) Alin of Meinlagon Ward, Hlakar Village, Hpa-an Township, Kayin State and seized 1,652 rounds of ammunition for AK 47, 15 magazines, seven 79 mm grenades, nine 91-hand grenades, six 88-hand grenades, one unidentified hand grenade, and 14 fuses.

A local-made time bomb went off near Khinneinmu combined checkpoint in Kawkareik, Kayin State on 22-11-2004 morning, injuring five officials of the checkpoint.

Likewise, two unscrupulous persons, on 21-11-2004 afternoon, arrived at Zawgyi restaurant, of No 367 on Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon Division and left a paper box. It went off and injured a worker of the restaurant. The news had already been stated in the papers. Now, we are going to explain the event in detail.

The injured worker was identified as waiter Sai San Win (a) Sai Sai, 31, son of U Chan Tha, of No 30, Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley Ward 2, Bahan Township. His left lateral malleolus and right big toe were in bruises and his ears had been deafened by noise. The following are the details of the event.

At 11 am on 21-11-2004, the two men—one, fat and short in his fifties wearing striped T shirt and longyi and sunglass and, another aged about 35—who bear resemblance to Bamars, arrived the restaurant and ordered two fried vermicelli, two bottles of Mandalay beer and two cans of soft drinks. When they left the restaurant at 1.45 pm, they left a paper box measuring about 1 1/2 ft x 11/2 ft x 6 in. The waiter tried to give the item to the two persons but he did find not them. Soon after the waiter put the paper box at the original place, it went off. Under investigation, one AIKO wall clock already in a paper box, five apples, one London cigarette, five pieces of single-use soap, five cans of Myanmar-made power soft drinks and debris of toy made up of wool, were found in the box.

There is also an incident that was deterred by the authorities concerned owing to the information passed by a security-conscious member of the public.

At 1.10 pm on 21-12-2004, a man aged about 45 hired a white SE taxi with the number plate Da/4197 and left one Polo-brand travelling bag with wheels, one blue plastic basket and one plastic bag with handle aboard the car and left there, saying that he was going to buy a bottle of purified drinking water. As he did not arrive up to 2.15 pm, driver U Aung Myint Swe, 40, son of U Maung Ko, of Patheinnyunt Ward, Mingalar Taungnyunt Township, informed Kyauktada Police Station. The authorities found one jeans jacket and one longyi in the travelling bag, one plastic rice box wrapped with blue tape in the plastic bag with handle and, wire and detonator in the rice box.

Upon investigation, the plastic rice box was local-made time bomb. It measured 7 in x 5 in x 2 in. Battery (dry cell), 5.2 cm long detonator, six-diameter explosive has been put into a compass box measuring 6 in x 2 in x 1/2 in, have been formed into the time bomb. There were also a switch and a clock used as time system. Plastic explosive has been used as gun-powder and commercial as detonator in the time bomb.

The kind of the plastic explosive had not been used yet and cannot be bought in the nation. It can be bought and is used at the areas bordering with other countries. It is learnt that there is no smell of gun-powder like other gun-powder when it exploded. When the authorities made an investigation into the incident at Zawgyi House Restaurant, there was no smell of gun-powder.

Therefore, it is assumed that the time bomb used at the incident was the kind of plastic explosive. It is also assessed that the time bomb has been made by those who attended explosive courses at the border and was brought in.

After the explosion in Yangon there was another explosion at Myaukmin Sports Equipment Shop in front of Aungthanlwin Stadium, Hpa-an, Kayin State at 11.55 am on 24-12-2004 and first year UDE student Sa Aung Myat (a) Myo Myo, 20, son of U Man Aung Lwin, of TadaU ward, Kawkareik was killed on the spot. Likewise, Chit Nyi Nyi, 19, son of Maung Maung Aye, of Ward 3, Kawkareik, Aung Soe Moe, 17, son of U Soe Hlaing, of Ahleywa Village, Kawkareik and Win Phone Kyaw of the sports equipment shop, 17, son of U Kyaw Nyunt, were wounded. They were admitted to Hpa-an Hospital as in-patients.

At 9.30 am on 24-12-2004, Kayin State selected footballers—Sa Aung Myo Myat, Chit Nyi Nyi and Aung Soe Moe— took a Hilux bus with the number plates 9 Ka/1365 to AungThanLwin Stadium where students’ sports meet was being held. All the passengers including the three, got off the bus in front of the stadium. Then, they went to their friend of the sports equipment shop. At that time, conductor San Htwe (a) Shan Pok followed them, saying if they had left a radio cassette player and handed it over to them. Out of curiosity, they switched on the cassette player and the explosion occurred. In connection with the incident, conductor San Htwe (a) Shan Pok, 28, son of U Kyaw Shein, of Ward 3, Kawkareik, was arrested and interrogated. Upon interrogation, it was found that San Htwe (a) Shan Pok, went to the other country to work there after he had failed in the exam twice. At a checkpoint on the way there, a man named Kyaw Lay persuaded him to join ABSDF. Kyaw Lay promised that he would on his return. In the other country, San Htwe (a) Shan Pok worked at an ice-factory in Mehtaw for one month, worked as a farmhand for two months and then worked at a wool factory in Mehtaw for three months. He left the sweater factory in Meihtaw village in the neighbouring country in 1998. Then, he left Myawady for Thingan Nyinaung by bus. On his way to Kawkareik through the forest, he met again with Kyaw Lay and group at Taungphyat camp.

Being persuaded for the second time by Kyaw Lay to join the ABSDF, Shan Pok told him that he would return three months later. And he stayed hidden in Kawkareik two months and in Toungoo one month. After spending eight days in his home in Kawkareik, he went to Taungphyat camp. He arrived at the camp (locally known as Sho camp) of the ABSDF in the neighbouring country at around 5 pm local time.

The Sho camp headed by Saw Kyaw Lay (a) Saw Thamu He conducts explosive courses for the ABSDF members. It is made up of some 60 members including 15 students who were involved in the 1988 political unrest. Saw Thamu He assigned San Htwe (a) Shan Pok responsibilities in the mess about two months. After being taught lessons on explosive theoretically and practically, he was sent to Myanmar to explode mines one time each in Kawkareik and Hap-an.

Kyaw Lay (a) Saw Kyaw Lay secretly met San Htwe (a) Shan Pok at Khin Nein Mu checkpoint at 3 am on 22 November, and asked him to detonate a handmade remote-control mine at Khin Nein Mu checkpoint near the exit of Kawkareik. Shan Pok planted the mine under a tree near the drain and detonated it by remote control from Kawkareik cemetery at 10 am sharp. Then, he resumed his job as bus conductor.

Designating the bushes, west of the Shwekyetyet Pagoda, over one mile east of Kawkareik, as the assembly point to secretly meet Shan Pok, Kyaw Lay (a) Saw Kyaw Lay gave instructions to Shan Pok through his followers Saw Ta Mu and Maung Kyaw.

On 21 December, Kyaw Lay (a) Saw Kyaw Lay gave a message of directives to Shan Pok via Maung Kyaw, which read Saw Ta Mu on 23 December would deliver explosives to detonate at the sport events to be held in Aung Thanlwin sports ground, Hpa-an. San Htwe (a) Shan Pok received the explosives from Saw Ta Mu at 6.30 pm on 23 December. He hid the explosives covering them with sand at a corner of the sports ground. At 5.40 am the next day, he got the items and hid them again at a corner of the compound around 100 yards from Amei Ein tea shop. When the drivers were away for tea break, he carried the items with a plastic bag onto the bus and threw away the bag, with which he took the items.

On arrival at Aung Thanlwin sports ground in Hpa-an, he noticed three selected Kayin State soccer players on the bus and he decided to target them.

When the three got off the bus, he followed them and presented the plastic bag of the explosives to them including Aung Myo Myat, asking if the package was theirs. At Myaukmin sports gear store, the three took the cassette out of the plastic bag to check it. The cassette exploded when a button of it was pressed.

Further investigation led to the facts that Kyaw Lay (a) Saw Thamu He is commander of company-2 of Battalion 9 of the ABSDF. Saw Kyi Lin, Commander of the battalion, mostly lived in the neighbouring nation.

Next, the minister said that he would like to present the event of explosion that occurred in Zawgyi Restaurant in Yangon in connection with the news issued by the AFP News Agency.

The news on the bomb blast at Zawgyi Restaurant in Yangon on 21 December was featured in the dailies the next day. The BBC on 24 December 2004 at 6 am quoted the AFP news agency as saying that VBSW claimed responsibility on 23 December; that the VBSW in its announcement demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners including Daw Suu Kyi and the handing over of the State power to NLD; and that if the demands were not met, it will launch further attacks. The VBSW raised its ugly head again with the announcement. It is a terrorist gang that launched the armed seizure of the Myanmar Embassy in 1999.

Terrorists disguised themselves as the persons who came for visa application to enter the embassy. The raid was led by Johnny (a) Kyaw Oo of ABSDF, and in collaboration with Beda (a) Myint Thein and Swe Min of ABSDF, Tha Nge of Kayin insurgent group, and two Kayin youths of God’s Army. The incident had been featured in the dailies in detail on 2, 4 and 6 October. The VBSW was founded with 18 members on 29 August 1999. Six more members joined it on 1 September 1999. It is located at Tagolai village where God’s Army has its base. Its leader is Kyaw Oo, and members: Hsan Naing (a) Ye Thiha, Min Lwin, Kyaw Oo (a) Johnny, Hla Aung, Aung Kyaw Hsan, Ko Latt, Kyaw Khaing, Tint Lwin Oo, Thant Zaw Oo, Naung Kham, Myint Thein (a) Beda, Min Min Oo, Ye Thu Naing (Australia), Tin Khet (Japan), Aung Soe, Cho Tu, Myo Myint, Than Htay (Canada), Kyaw Zin, Myat Aung, Kyaw Thiha, Min Naing (America), San Win and Maung Htwe.

The minister said that an overall views of the above-mentioned presentation, events, and seized evidences would show that NCGUB, NLD (LA), ABSDF, VBSW and other destructive elements had committed the destructive acts with the intention of creating political unrest and public panic in the nation and hampering the nation-building efforts. In conclusion, the minister said that the government had received information that some local political parities under the pretext of democracy and human rights had certain connections and relations with destructive elements such as NCUB, ABSDF and opium smuggler insurgent Ywet Sit group and other destructive elements in border areas.

Next, Director-General of MPF Police Brig-Gen Khin Yi gave clarifications on the unlicensed vehicles. He said MPF is a law enforcement organization and he explained about true conditions regarding action taken against illegally imported unlicensed vehicles, through the entrepreneurs and the bankers at the press conference on 9 November.

Under the existing law, all vehicles with license are allowed to be used or driven. The government confiscated unlicensed vehicles beginning 30 October 2004. But it will confiscate only the vehicle. The owner or the driver will not be subject to any legal action. They will not be asked about the person who has sold the car or the route of illegal import. The impounded vehicles will be confiscated according to law. It is the best way for owners of unlicensed vehicles to hand over their cars to the nearest police station as soon as possible.

The MPF has informed some owners of unlicensed cars because they are donating them to certain organizations or dismantling them, for fear of legal action or interrogation. After the clarifications, some owners have handed over 2,900 unlicensed vehicles to the police stations up to date. But there are still unlicensed vehicles left. Taking advantage of the fact that they will not be subject to any legal action, owners of unlicensed vehicles do not hand over their vehicles and are still selling them, dismantling the parts and donating them to associations and other religious organizations.

Unlicensed vehicles are illegal properties. If they are in hand, someone is guilty. Donating such kind of property is not a right deed with genuine goodwill but a crime. Therefore, he urged the owners of unlicensed cars to hand over them to the nearest police stations 31 March 2005 at the latest.

If found the unlicensed cars after 31 March 2005, the government will confiscate them and take action against the owner. Action will be taken against the donor and the owner if unlicensed cars are donated to associations and other religious organizations and if they are dismantled.

Next, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein told the newsmen about strong earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean and damages in some areas in Myanmar. An earthquake of severe intensity with its epicentre about 1,000 miles Northwest of Jakarta, Indonesia took place at 7:32:4 am on 26 December. After that, nine earthquakes of intensity about 6.0 on the Richter Scale were recorded in the Andaman Sea. The eighth earthquake of strong intensity with 6.1 on the Richter Scale with its epicentre about 60 miles Southwest of Kokogyun took place at 9:38:42 am. The ninth one of strong intensity with 7.3 on the Richter Scale centred about 400 miles south of Kokogyun was recorded.

Some buildings collapsed in Taninthayi, Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawady Divisions and some regions in Rakhine and Shan State (South) due to the earthquake and coastal regions were hit by tidal waves. According to the latest information received, 138 buildings were destroyed and 788 people were homeless. Thirty six people were killed, 45 injured and 14 missing. Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Soe Naing, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa and acting Director-General Dr U Tin Win Maung of the Ministry of Health visited the earthquake-hit regions in Ayeyawady Division yesterday morning and provided relief to the victims. Chairmen of State/Division Peace and Development Councils also visited the affected areas and carried out rescue operations.

These earthquakes are activated in the Andaman Sea. The event of severe earthquake, mild earthquakes usually follow at the weak subduction zone in the subsequent three days. Under the influences of the earthquakes tidal waves can occur off and along the coast of the Andaman Sea. People of inland regions can take notice of the movement of the earthquake. No country in the world can predict the earthquake.

Authorities concerned reminded the people to keep away from the buildings, to beware of falling debris, to extinguish fire and turn off electricity in the buildings and not to believe rumours and urged members of Red Cross Brigade and fire fighters to make arrangements to help the people in wards and villages in case of earthquake.

Next, Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan replied to queries raised by media persons. The press conference ended at 5.45 pm.

The minister and guests observed documentary photos of those who planned to distribute agitative pamphlets, photos of bomb explosion in Myaukmin sports equipment shop in front of AungThanLwin sports ground in Hpa-an, documentary photos of bomb explosion in Zawgyi restaurant on Bogyoke Aung San Road, near Yangon Railway Station and its environs and unexploded bombs, records of bomb blasts in 2004, raid on Myanmar Embassy in Thailand by terrorists, terrorist acts of Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors (VBSW) and movements in Myanmar by Aitasean-Burma based in Thailand.