[ July  26 , 2003 ]

The Information Committee held a Press Conference at the Defence Services Guest House at No.16 Inya Road on 26 July 2003. Minister for Labour U Tin Win and Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Maj.Gen. Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig.Gen. Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, high-ranking military and government officials and foreign and local news correspondents were present on the occasion.

Government spokesman Col.San Pwint first gave a briefing on the uncovering and arrest of members of subversive groups who in conspiracy with insurgents and other dissident groups planned to explode bombs on Martys’ Day. Col. San Pwint recounted how terrorist insurgents and expatriate dissident groups had conspired to disrupt peace and stability in the country, assassinate members of the State Peace and Development Council, cause fear and anxiety among the people and instigate the masses to rise up in protest and cause unrest in the whole country. In accordance with this scheme, a group of saboteurs and those with connections to dissident groups totalling12 altogether, were dispatched into the country but were apprehended by members of Military Intelligence units on 16 July 2003.

These terrorist groups and expatriate dissident groups, had stepped up the momentum and timing of their military and political activities to coincide with political movements within the country. In November 2002, Pha’doh Ba Thin of the KNU terrorist group initiated a meeting in a neighbouring country, and it was attended by representatives of the SURA drug trafficking terrorists, the KNPP, ALP and CNF terrorist insurgents. At the meeting a five-member military alliance was formed and a decision made to orchestrate and speed up combined military and terrorist activities.

This was followed by an emergency meeting held at the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) Office in Ban Mai Ward of Maesot in the first week of December 2002. Pha’doh Ba Thin, Bo Mya and Pha’doh Man Shah of the KNU, Khine Soe Naing Aung of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Tin Aung, Bo Thaung, Than Htun and Maung Maung Aye of the expatriate NLD (LA) headquarters, Khun Mar Koban, Kyaw Nyunt, and Kyaw Htet of the NCUB, Aung Moe Zaw and Zaw Naing Oo of the Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS), Myo Win, Than Khe and Kyaw Kyaw of the so-called student insurgent group, ABSDF, explosive expert Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai of the Federation of Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB) and Aye Hsaung of the People’s Liberation Front (PLF) attended the meeting. The discussions centred on providing support for NLD political campaigns within the country; how democratic forces and national race groups should initiate military activities in cooperation and to draw up a constitution. They also discussed the current situation within the country.

Another meeting was held at Maesot, Thailand, in February 2003 attended by representatives of the remnants of the Burma Communist Party, the so-called student ABSDF terrorist group, the Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS) and of the expatriate NLD (LA). At this meeting they discussed and prepared a draft on a paper, “The Plan for a Mass Uprising” with the motive of inciting the people to unrest. This draft was to be finalized and approved at the special meeting to be called in May. The draft of this plan was then circulated to all dissident organizations abroad and in the country.

On 22 May a meeting to discuss this draft Plan for the Peoples Struggle was held in Chiangmai Thailand. Vice-chairman of the KNU terrorist group Bo Mya, Pha’doh Mahn Shah and Mahn Nyein Maung of the KNU insurgent group, Aung  Moe Zaw of the DPNS, Khine Soe Naing Aung of the ALP insurgent group, Than Khe of the so-called student insurgent group the ABSDF, and Tin Aung of the expatriate NLD(LA) group and a few others, totaling about 50 attended the meeting. The meeting discussed the draft of  “The Plan for the People’s Uprising”. It passed resolutions to accelerate mass struggles and confrontations, accelerate military action, infiltrate international bodies including the United Nations and enhance their international campaign and also agreed that each group would take its own initiative in implementing future programmes.

After receiving information of these developments, it was observed that these terrorist organizations and dissident groups, were seen to be stepping up their subversive activations according to plan. In an interview with the BBC on the programme broadcast on 21 April Pha’doh Man Shah of the KNU affirmed in no uncertain terms that they intended to step up their subversive and terrorist activities. Detailed news briefings have already been given regarding the acts of terror committed by these terrorist groups on 25 April, 10 May and 26 May respectively.

An emergency meeting presided over by Bo Mya of the KNU and attended by NCUB representatives was then held from 3 June to 9 June in Thailand. This meeting appointed Tamla Baw, one of the KNU leaders as president of the Political Defiance Committee. Then the meeting also laid down short term and long term plans to incite mass unrest within the country; to dispatch underground (UG) agents, train underground cadres, convey explosive materials and instruments into the country, give training courses in explosives and designated Yangon, Mandalay, Pyay, Bago and Mawlamyine as focal points to open up connecting routes in the country.

On the basis of intelligence reports on the meetings held by the terrorist groups and dissident organizations, together with the resolutions passed, as well as their motives and objectives, constant and vigilant surveillance was kept on their ongoing activities in accordance with the needs for security. As a result on 16 July 2003, Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay, son of U Thein Win of Lanmadaw Road of the town of Thonze and Zaw Myo Htet (a) Zaw Zaw son of U Tin Maung Oo of No.4 Pyidawthar Road of the town of Minhla were both apprehended together with explosives consisting of 4 slabs of C4 plastic, one fuse and a bomb in the shape of a ball pen.

Interrogation of these two persons led to further information that San Naing (a) Ye Thiha who was one of the hijackers of the Myanmar Airways International passenger plane in October 1989, had in April 2003, secretly entered the country disguising himself as a gay person, together with another woman, and had proceeded to the home of his parents in Thonze. There he had met and persuaded his nephew Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay to participate in his plan for exploding bombs. Then the two had visited Mandalay and Hsandaw Shin Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda with two time bombs in the possession of San Naing (a) Ye Thiha which they planned to detonate, one at the Mandalay International Airport and another on the platform of Kyaihtiyo Pagoda respectively, but because there was no opportunity, the two returned to Thonze without exploding the bombs. San Naing(a) Ye Thiha then gave Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay some basic instructions on how to handle and explode bombs and gave him the two time bombs and the ball-pen explosive, which have since been confiscated. He also gave Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay Kyat 60,000 for expenses. San Naing (a) Ye Thiha then instructed Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay to plant the bombs at Bagan-Nyaung-U Airport, as the main objective he said was to discourage tourists from visiting Myanmar. Afterwards San Naing (a) Ye Thiha returned to Maesot in Thailand.

Later Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay recruited a friend Zaw Myo Htet (a) Zaw Zaw to take part in the plot for exploding bombs with cash incentives. These two, on receiving further instructions by phone from San Naing (a) Ye Thiha, proceeded to Bagan-Nyaung-U on 18 May 2003. They tried to plant the bombs at Bagan-Nyaung-U Airport but failed from lack of opportunity. So, on 21 May they planted the time bomb on the upper-most storey of the Bagan Museum. Government security forces found the bomb in time and were able to defuse it.  

On 26 June 2003, these two persons retrieved the remaining time bomb, which they had cached at Gyobingauk and returned to Yangon with plans to plant the bomb at a spot they had chosen at Mingalar Market. Then they contacted San Naing and one Naw Aye Mar5 in Thailand by phone to ask for more money. San Naing was unable to send them the cash they needed, so they postponed their plan to bomb Mingalar Market and decided to wait. Meanwhile, they toured and scouted the layout of Yangon City Hall, the Memorial to Heroes and the Mingalar Market to detonate bombs on Martyrs’ Day and then returned to Thonze. Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay, on further instructions from San Naing (a) Ye Thiha and Naw Aye Mar returned to Yangon and made arrangements to explode bombs on Martyrs’ Day, 19 July. But on 16 July he was apprehended by Defence Services Intelligence agents and this led to the arrest of his accomplice Zaw Myo Htet (a) Zaw Zaw together with the incriminating explosive devices.

San Naing (a) Ye Thiha, who made arrangements and gave instructions on the   handling and explosion of bombs had been involved in the seizing of the Cooperative shop and the Party Unit office in Thonze during the 1988 disturbances and was an absconder from justice for there was a Police warrant out for his arrest. But he had gone underground in the same year, 1988 and had joined the National Democratic Front, an umbrella organization of dissident groups, and while there, had attended explosive training courses. He and another person, Thit Lwin (a) Ye Yint, in October 1989, had hijacked the Myanmar Airways passenger plane F-28 on its passage from Myeik to Yangon and taken it to Thailand. Then these two, in September 1993, had again conspired to explode bombs and commit terrorist acts to stimulate inactive political circles and step up political movements and thus gain the attention of the world.

The explosive materials and devices they needed were supplied by the KNU terrorists. While they were making these plans, San Naing (a) Ye Thiha together with Mya Zaw (a) Ye Yan Aung who had been involved in the hijacking of Thai airliner TG-305 to India on 10 November 1990, Than Htay and Maung Maung, all four together were arrested on 23 November 1993 in Bangkok by Thai Police together with explosives in their possession. They were accordingly charged and sentenced. But San Naing (a) Ye Thiha was released from a Thai prison on 27 February 1998 and since then he had stayed in Thailand with Maesot as his base and has been active in collusion with the KNU terrorist group and other dissidents.

He had entered the country secretly together with a woman accomplice by the name of Ma Ni (a) Tin Tin Hlaing and he had personally planted the time bomb in Maha Bandoola Park, which was fortunately found before it exploded by security forces and defused. The other bomb he planted was near the telecommunications office on Bo Sum Pet Road, which regrettably exploded killing one innocent city development labourer and three others. These two after committing these terrorist acts returned to his parents place in Thonze where, as recounted above he proceeded to recruit Zar Naing Tun (a) Phyu Lay as another accomplice.

At about the beginning of May 2003, intelligence reports were received, that in accordance with discussions and coordination that took place between General Secretary of the KNU terrorist group Pha’doh Manh Shah and Naw Aye Mar on the one hand, and DPNS Chairman Aung Moe Zaw and ABSDF vice-chairman Kyaw Ko on the other, arrangements were made to send explosive teams together with explosive devices into the country in accordance with the Plan for the People’s Uprising. But intelligence reports were received that bombs would be exploded in 8 different places in Yangon on Martyrs’ Day. Inquiries and investigations were thus made in accordance with these reports.

As a result Ne Win  (a) Naing Yekha son of U Ba Kyaing of Kanni village, Kawkareik Township; Myo Htwe (a) Chin Ga Kaung, son of U Aung Sein of Pa Nga village, Thanbyuzayat Township; Aung Lun, son of U Bo Gyi of Lagun Ein Road, Myine Tharyar New Town of Mawlamyine; Shwe Mann (a) Zeya Oo, son of U Htaung Pay of No.5 Mon Sanpya Road, Hinthakon Ward, Bago; Than Tun son of U Tun Shin of No.9 Mon Sanpya Road, Hintharkon, Ward 19, Bago; and Myo Chit, son of U Mya Tun of No.1. Sike Pyo Yay Road, Ward No.45, New South Dagon Township, Yangon, were apprehended at Building No.4, first floor, Mahlwakon Road, Kyaukmyaung, Tamwe Township, Yangon. All six were found together with 2 time bombs of C4 plastic and TNT explosives stuffed into lunch-boxes, 3 trip-wire bombs made of photo albums to detonate when the front cover was lifted; other timed devices made from compass boxes, 2 Thai-made pistols and three hand grenades in their possession.

Interrogation of these people have revealed that as part of the Plan to ignite a people’s uprising all the explosive materials and devices seized were supplied by KNU general secretary Pha’doh Manh Shah and Naw Aye Mar. The members of the terrorist gang also confessed that they had all arrived in Yangon on 15 July and had planned to explode bombs in, at least, 5 different sites in Yangon. They had also scouted around and studied the layout of the residences of some members of the State Peace and Development Council. The above members of the explosive team of terrorists were apprehended and taken into custody while they were discussing their plans.

Further interrogation led to the arrest of three more accomplices, Min Kyi (a) Naing Min Kyi son of U Thein Maung of Marga Road Ward No.18, Hintharkon, Bago; Aye Myint son of U Ohn Maung, of 6^th Road, Alinyaung Ward No.1, Nandawyar Quarter, Bago and Thet Zaw (a) Zaw Thet Htwe, son of U Ko Lay of West Race Course Road, Bo Sein Hman Ward, Tamwe Township.

Additional information received on questioning revealed that these three accomplices had been in contact with Lwan Ni (a) Kyaw Kyaw of the rank of leading committee member of the ABSDF, Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai of the FTUB and Aung Moe Zaw of the DPNS and that through them they had conveyed false information and rumours with regard to the internal situation of the country. It was discovered through further interrogation of these 3 UG members, that Min Kyi (a) Naing Min Kyi, had through Shwe Mann (a) Zeya Oo, become acquainted with explosive experts Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyut Wai and Zar Ni Thwe in January 2003.

He, Min Kyi had accepted payment of cash to write false news under the name of Min Dhamma and had sent 30 copies to the FTUB through Shwe Mann (a) Zeyar Oo For this job Min Kyi (a) Naing Min Kyi had received a payment of kyat 150,000. Min Kyi and Shwe Mann had also been given a satellite phone in order to transmit false information about the country. They had then travelled to Maesot, Thailand in March 2003 to meet with Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai of the FTUB. Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyut Wai had then instructed them to form small groups to gather news and information. Furthermore, through arrangements made by Maung Maung (a) Pyi Thit Nyunt Wai, they had contacted “Radio Free Asia (RFA) by phone to give false information regarding the paddy purchase situation in Myanmar to deliberately hurt the prestige of the government. Through interrogation of these UG members and from a study of the documentary evidence seized, it can clearly be seen, that efforts have been underway to make the people’s uprising a reality and to start both underground and above ground movements and recruit and build up a hard core of associates.

In addition, on 23 July a member of the KNU terrorist group, an explosive expert of the rank of sergeant of KNU No.2 Brigade, one Saw Khabell (a) Saw Mya Sein who had come to survey conditions in Taungoo for exploding bombs, was apprehended and arrested by Military Intelligence forces at the house of Saw C. Doo of Ward No.20 in Taungoo where he was temporarily staying.

Upon questioning he said that he had come to Taungoo on the orders of Ah See (a) Mai Ein Sein of commander rank of KNU No.2.Brigade, to study the possibilities of exploding bombs in Taungoo in the first week of August; that he had arrived in Taungoo on 22 July and while staying at his accommodations he had been observing the situation and making plans to detonate bombs at a building on High School Road and at the Communications cable tower, when he was taken into custody.

He further said that it was Ah See of brigade commander rank of No.2 KNU Brigade who had drawn up the plans and made arrangements for the bomb explosions that occurred on 15 May 2003 at the Pyu Cinema Hall and for the explosion of two time bombs near the Sasanahita Dhamma Religious Hall in Taungoo on 27 June 2003.

In the investigations carried out concerning the planned violence by insurgent terrorist groups and other dissident groups, 9 members of explosive teams and 3 underground members, totalling altogether 12 persons have been arrested for subversion and 4 slabs of C4 plastic explosives, 1 fuse, one ball pen bomb, 2 lunch box bombs filled with C4 and TNT, 3 trip wire bombs in the form of photo albums, 2 time bombs shaped like compass boxes, 2 Thai-made pistols, 3 hand grenades and one satellite phone were found and seized.    

A brief summing up was then given by Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Kyaw Win as follows: 

Col. San Pwint has now given a detailed briefing on the explosive teams dispatched by terrorist insurgent groups, their various contacts and accomplices and the explosive materials and devices seized from them.

We had advance information that terrorist insurgent groups and other dissident organizations were planning to use Martyrs’ Day as a pretext to send in their bomb squads to explode bombs and wreak terror. So we were vigilant and kept constant surveillance as a result of which we were able to foil these attempts and apprehend the culprits. The bomb explosion plots that we have uncovered are part of a well-planned and organized scheme. With the KNU terrorist group in the lead other insurgents and terrorist groups such as the SURA, KNPP, ALP, CNF, and the so-called student group, the ABSDF, the expatriate NLD group and the Democratic Party for New Society, have since the end of 2002, been in conspiracy and held meetings to step up their military and political activities.

They drew up a Plan for a Mass Uprising so that unrest and disturbances would break out countrywide. The forces which they envisage as participants in this uprising include expatriate Sein Win’s NCGUB group, the NCUB led by Bo Mya, the NLD and other above ground political parties, the national race peace groups, students and youths, monks, workers, peasants, members of the intelligentsia and technocrats. They had also set the goal for the NLD party and other political parties to give their support to this mass movement and forge an alliance so that the NCUB, NLD, other local political organizations, peace groups and international organizations could join forces for the success of their ulterior motives. The culprits who were sent to explode bombs are an integral part of their overall strategy for implementing their plan for mass uprising. It is not just for exploding bombs. It is part of the scheme to recruit people as UGs for the final goal of a mass uprising; it is part of forging links and establishing contacts. The ultimate aim is to join up with the NLD in the country, push the people out on the roads and cause unrest and mayhem across the whole country.

 I do not know whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD leaders in the country are aware of this scheme or not; and whether or not they are linked to this plan, they alone would know for certain. But what is obviously clear is that the movements that are part of the scheme for inciting a mass uprising is directed towards giving support to NLD political activities within the country. If due to this plan for a mass uprising people should take to the roads and create disturbances, we will unavoidably face again the tragedies of 1988. The people are absolutely against such a recurrence and they will definitely not let this happen. Those who want to see such a tragic situation are the terrorist insurgents and dissident organizations, which will make stop at nothing to make things go their way. But, the Government   has the responsibility and the duty to protect the country and the people from such a tragic situation. That is why legal action will be brought against all those who have been arrested. Moreover the government will continue to investigate and uncover any person who attempts to destabilize the country and disturb the peace by conspiring with terrorist insurgents and other dissident groups and take firm and effective action against them.