[ May 31 , 2003 ]

What I have to say today concerns incidents in which Daw Suu Kyi, leading a group of her followers of the National League for Democracy, including U Tin U, traveled to some towns and villages in Myanmar and tried to disrupt the prevailing peace and stability in the country by inciting widespread disturbances and unrest. This agitation caused crowds to gather blocking thoroughfares, creating confusion and disturbing the peace. As a result those citizens who disapproved of these tactics and who opposed Daw Suu Kyi and her NLD party have staged demonstrations. This further led to confrontation between Suu Kyi supporters and anti-Suu Kyi groups. Exploiting the occurrence of such incidents the NLD has used the international news media to heap blame and criticism and put pressure on the Government with exaggerated reports and has been spinning fictional incidents out of thin air. It all seems to have been a scheme planned and synchronized in advance. So I would like to give you a briefing on the actual events that took place. Frankly, we are averse to a situation where charges and counter charges are made and explanations have to be given. Nevertheless because the truth needs to be told, we are now obliged to give clarification.

Daw Suu Kyi and her NLD group were given the freedom to travel countrywide to the states and divisions and to hold meetings with her party members with effect from May 2002. She, accordingly visited Mon State, including the Thamanya area from 11-6-2002 to 15-6-2002; she visited Mandalay Division and 16 townships in Magwe Division from 22-6-2002 to 29-6-2002; Mon State and 12 townships in Kayin State from 20-7-2002 to 23-7-2002; 14 townships in Bago Division from 14-10-2002 to 17-10-2002; 17 townships in the Shan State from 13-11-2002 to 27-11-2002; Rakhine State and 15 townships in Magwe Division and Ayeyarwaddy Division from 16-12-2002 to 24-12-2002; and 21 townships in Magwe Division and Chin State from 3-4-2003 to 14-3-2003, making a total of 95 townships that she has visited. Her present trip began on 6 May with visits to Mandalay Division, Sagaing Division, Kachin State and Shan State. After that she made a detour to visit Mogok in Mandalay Division and was on her way to Monywa from Mandalay. The leaders of State believed that if Daw Suu Kyi had the chance to visit the states, divisions and townships to see for herself the changes that had taken place and the great strides that had been made in development to ensure the nation’s future, she would be appreciative of the efforts made and would change her underlying negative and pessimistic outlook, which would then pave the way to national reconciliation. Hence the reason why in her previous tours she was given the red carpet treatment as an honoured guest and invited to visit development projects that included, Duyin Kabo River Water Pumping Project near Aunglan, the Yanpai Creek Dam Project near Taungdwingyi, The Ayeyarwaddy Bridge (Magwe) Project, the Paunglaung Hydroelectric Power Plant Project, The Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyaing) Project, the Winphanon Dam Project, the Thayet Tabin Agricultural Station Project near Minhla, the Taung Nawin Dam Project near Paukkhaung, the Nyaung Kaing Dam Project near Pan Taung and the River Water Pumping Ptoject near Na Hmaw.

When she first began her tour of the country, there was mutual agreement and coordination and she had given the undertaking that no untoward problems would arise from the gathering of large crowds; and that they would hoist the NLD signboard in township party offices that had been agreed upon by both parties after permission had been granted by the Township Election Commission concerned. So, on these trips Daw Suu Kyi and party were able to extend her party organizational branches, form youth chapters of the NLD and open party branch offices. But later going beyond what had been agreed upon she began to manipulate the situation so as to attract crowds on roads to where she gave speeches at every opportunity. She made use of monasteries where she could create opportunities to collect crowds and give speeches. In the next move she and her followers blocked thoroughfares and highways with their vehicles and placing tables in the middle of the road started to give speeches. Moreover, her speeches were far from positive; she did not tell the people present of what was necessary for the country, how she would work for its good and for peace and stability. There was nothing positive or edifying for the people in her speeches. The main purpose of her speeches was to search out any weakness of the government and exaggerate it. Finally what she said in her speeches became downright inflammatory for she urged the people to rise up and fight. With each trip her speeches became more and more vituperative and incendiary against the government and government officials and staff and her attempts to incite unrest more bold and blatant. She leveled charges and spoke derisively against educational and health personnel and against administrative staff and regional and local authorities; she made false accusations against other organizations and spoke scornfully about them. Her remarks were unfair and unwarranted and based wholly on rumours. As a result she has alienated and antagonized many people. But she has also intensified her efforts to create disturbances among large crowds. What we have discovered so far is that although Daw Suu Kyi herself was aware of some of these untoward incidents that occurred on these trips, there were some other incidents she did not know about and were just second-hand information and most of what she was told were false. Some mischief-makers would give full credibility when they heard some tidbit of news that they thought were favourable to them, whereas when they heard what they thought was unfavorable and harmful to others they would exaggerate it out of all proportion. Then such false and absurd news would be communicated to Yangon and those in Yangon would convey such false reports to the foreign media. The biased and opinionated foreign news agencies would then eagerly broadcast and relay any news that would hurt the prestige of the Myanmar Government. This is the system that surrounds the NLD and we understand full well that Daw Suu Kyi who is surrounded with people of such pessimistic and negative views will find it most difficult to see the Government in a positive light no matter how good its intentions and what it has achieved for the country. We have no wish to reproach Daw Suu Kyi, but her negative criticisms, her irresponsible statements and the way she has been trying to incite the people to unrest in the name of democracy will surely destroy the peace and tranquility that now prevails in the country. However, I would like to clarify the incidents that took place in her latest tour of Kachin State, Sagaing Division and Mandalay Division.

 On 2 May we were informed that Daw Suu Kyi and a group of her followers wished to go on a tour of the Kachin State on 6 May and that while on this tour they desired to put up the NLD signboard in some of their township offices. A reply was sent on 4 May that they could raise their signboard in some of their township offices. They then sent a supplementary request that they wished to put up their signboard in 16 additional townships in Mandalay Division and the Shan State. Among the 16 townships for which the request was made, it was found that some township offices had already put up their signboards and in any case there were some difficulties on our part concerning this last minute request. There was not enough time for us to expedite this supplementary request because there was a weekend intervening and the persons in authority also were away on tour. Moreover the list given by the NLD mentioned only the townships in which they wanted to raise the signboards and contained no particulars about the location of the office concerned and its address. It is necessary to provide explicit details as to the location of the office of a political party to avoid future complications. For instance the said office should not be situated on religious land, government owned land, on Development Committee (municipal) land, on agricultural land, land involved in a lawsuit or in premises, which a family member is reluctant to rent and so forth. Such details have to be taken into consideration to avoid confusion and arguments later. But, whenever there is some delay on the side of the government due to legitimate reasons, there have been instances where the NLD is quick to accuse the government of prohibiting the opening of their branch offices. On our part we I would like to point out that we acceded to their requests in time to facilitate the raising of their NLD signboard at the township branch offices in Sagaing Division during the tour. To achieve mutual understanding and mutual respect we have, in spite of certain difficulties, always done our utmost to resolve any problems that arise.

I would now like to brief you on some of their movements during their tour of the Kachin State. These incidents will clearly reveal their underlying intentions and the plans they had already made before the   tour.

The problem arose as soon as they departed Mandalay for Sagaing Division. Beginning from the arrival at Sagaing Bridge NLD party members on 20 motor cycles flying party pennants proceeded as outriders to Daw Suu Kyi’s motorcade and although it was broad daylight the headlights of the vehicles were all ablaze and with horns blaring they drove thus to Sagaing and from Sagaing right up to Shwebo. I, of course cannot enlighten you as to whether their leaders in the saloon cars were aware of all the noise and din. But this was the way they traveled throughout the tour with the outriders making a racket. They were most undisciplined in the stretch of journey from Momeik to Mogok. About 40 motorcycles preceded two abreast in the vanguard of the convoy and blocked all traffic on the highway. The convoy itself followed with its own motorcycle escorts. They arrived at Mogok in this manner and continued across the town till they arrived at their accommodations. This caused traffic jams and blocked all normal traffic. The motorcade traveled in the same unruly manner on the return from Mogok to Mandalay. Due to such reckless disregard of traffic rules and regulations a 21 year-old pedestrian from the village of Patheinlay, a girl by the name of Ma Myat Thinn Thu was hit by a motorcycle and sustained injuries in the leg.

On 9 May, as they were passing Sapai Natha Village on the way from Kantbalu to Kawlin Township, about 20 youths who had just come out of a video hall, called out, “We don’t want Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”. So, the convoy stopped and members of the NLD youth groups started to berate the village youths with the most vulgar and offensive words, which the whole village heard. Then they threw stones at the young villagers who were forced to flee. At about 6 in the evening just at the entrance to Kawlin there is a high school, where summer educational courses were being conducted by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). As usual there were banners with slogans of “the People’s Desire”. At about 6 in the evening when the NLD convoy arrived in this location the NLD youth members who were part of the convoy stopped to take video films and photographs these banners. On seeing this two young men in the school compound started to take photographs of the NLD youths in turn, but the latter group then screamed and threw stones at the two students who had to run away. When the convoy reached Indaw it was over 9 p.m., but about 90 people opposed to Daw Suu Kyi were there holding placards with the slogans of “the People’s Desire” and demonstrating against Daw Suu Kyi. But some NLD members lurking in the shadows threw stones at the demonstrators.  Villagers Htay Lwin (a) Bo Lwin, Thein Nu, Than Oo, Soe Myint Oo and Zaw Lwin Oo were injured in the incident.

When the NLD group arrived in Katha on 8 May, there was a considerably larger number of demonstrators against the visit of Daw Suu Kyi. There were shouting and insults hurled from both sides. Only when the chairman of the District Peace and Development Council intervened and placated both sides did the crowd disperse and the NLD convoy able to continue its journey. There was however no physical assault on either side in this incident. Similarly in some towns and villages in Kachin State, although there were NLD party members on hand to greet her in a variety of ways, there were also present those who were opposed to her and protested her visit. They too were determined to let Daw Suu Kyi and her followers know how they felt. Thus aside from those who demonstrated against her visit, there has been no attempt to prohibit, obstruct or interfere with her tour as broadcast by the foreign news media who base their statements on reports received from the NLD. There were no attempts to throw stones, to hit with staves and sticks, to bang on the car windows with fists nor have their been threats with the Kachin ‘dah’, sword. If such incidents had actually occurred as they claim one would surely begin to wonder if the whole convoy were now in bits and pieces.

By the time the NLD reached Momeik on 9 May, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was no longer alone in ranting against the government in her speeches, for U Tin U had also joined in to speak ill of the Government and the regional authorities, muttering threats and citing sections from legal tomes. On 25 May, after arrival at Nwe Yone Village in Singu Township NLD party members attacked with catapults, some people who had come to demonstrate against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Villagers, Kyaw Naing of Wa Yone Kone village San Oo and Pho Cho of Yauk Pin Yoe village, Singu Township were injured. According to an NLD announcement one of their members was also injured. When they arrived in Mandalay they collected a gathering in front of their Divisional party headquarters to give speeches. Later the traffic Police on duty in Maha Aung Mye Township arrived on the scene to ease the traffic jam. Some NLD party members then attacked the police pick-up truck, (registration number 5-Ka/8175) which was parked between 78^th/79^th Streets with iron rods breaking the windscreen glass. But the NLD announcement claimed that the truck was attacked because it forced its way into the crowd.

 It can be seen that Daw Suu Kyi and her followers, no longer satisfied with gathering a crowd and inciting unrest, had begun to assemble a large number of motorcycles and cars and in going from one place to another these vehicles had become most unruly and lawless. When they first left Yangon there were three cars and 18 people. On 29 May when they traveled from Mandalay to Monywa the number of vehicles and people had increased to 7 cars, 20 motorcycles and over 100 people. By the time they left Chaung-Oo and arrived in Monywa, the number had grown to 150 motorcycles, 16 cars and over 300 people. After arriving in Monywa they went around town for three hours causing a commotion in Monywa, which is a quiet and peaceful town. A photographer by the name of Maung Myo Myint who was present at the time tried to record this event on camera, but he was assaulted by the NLD followers. Maung Myo Myint received head injuries and is now in hospital for treatment. The video camera he had on him was also destroyed. Daw Suu Kyi and her followers then hoisted their party signboard at their Monywa party office that very same night. They did so in violation of the mutual agreement that a party signboard would be put up only after informing and receiving permission from the Township Election Commission or the Township Peace and Development Council.

On 30 May they left Monywa for Budalin at about 12. Fifteen cars with about 100 motorcycles escorting them in front, behind and on both sides entered Budalin with headlights blazing and horns blaring. After holding a signboard hoisting ceremony in Budalin they left for Dipaiyin. They made a stopover at Hsaing Pyin Village on the way and left for Dipaiyin only at 7.30 in the evening in 9 motorcars and 40 motorcycles as escort. About two miles away from the entrance to Dipaiyin they met about 5000 people waiting to protest her visit.

When the vehicles in Daw Suu Kyi’s convoy tried to forcefully push through the crowd, a fracas broke out between the two groups. The fight went on from about 8 p.m. till nearly 11 p.m. and there was a lot of confusion and disorder. In the turmoil one car was said to have driven off course and into a tree trunk at the roadside. Another drove off an incline at the side of the road and its glass shattered. One of the cars in which the anti-Suu Kyi demonstrators had come was burnt and destroyed by NLD members. In this incident, according to information received 4 people are said to have died in the car crash and accidents and about 50 people from both sides received injuries from the clash. Eight motor cars were damaged and 9 motorcycles destroyed. As soon as news of the fight was received a security force manned by police personnel and led by Secretary of the Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council went to the scene of the incident and brought the situation under control. The whole situation was under control by 12 mid-night. Those injured have been sent to hospital for treatment. Action will be taken in accordance with the law and every effort is being made to reestablish peace and calm in the area. During the night however, some NLD party members in groups went around town to destroy the signboards with slogans of ‘the People’s Desires’. When security forces arrived they dispersed and fled. At present the situation in Monywa is peaceful and stable.

It is evident that if Daw Suu Kyi’s convoy had passed by without confronting those demonstrating against her on the wayside and had tried peaceful means to resolve the problem with the few demonstrators on the road the situation would not have been so aggravated. The physical conflict was set in motion because the cars and motorcycles in Daw Suu Kyi’s convoy tried to force their way through and overrun the people. The main cause of the conflict however is due to the fact that the NLD violated the mutual agreements made and tried to use confrontational methods, which later got out of control. The NLD leaders were not able to exert control even on their own supporters and their motorcycle gang. During the entire trip, we made every effort to contact and warn the NLD leaders not to go to extremes and let things go out of hand but they paid no heed.  They rejected our words of caution and in fact went out of their way to provoke the situation by using their party members as tools in their confrontational tactics. This seems to be the root of the problem.

I would like to inform you that Daw Suu Kyi and U Tin U who went on the trip from Yangon are now being well-looked after by security forces.

Our country, as you all know, from the time of independence, has not had a chance like other nations, to let her people devote their efforts to the modernization and development of our country in peace and security. We have had to waste valuable time first tackling the internal insurgencies, the conflict in ideologies and internal disturbances and unrest. We have had to deal with traitors to the country who are bent on creating misunderstanding among our own people with their treachery and who under the influence of their foreign masters do their bidding against the interest of the country and the people. Most of our time has been spent on trying to resolve these problems and we were thus unable to focus fully on nation building and development. But much of this distressing situation has to some extent, been alleviated.  We have been able to lay solid foundations for future development and using these favourable conditions as a springboard we ought to continue unremitting efforts for further development. So, what is crucial today is to set our differences aside and through national reconciliation, national togetherness or call it what you will, we should forge and strengthen national unity to work in earnest and find the best ways and means for the development, progress and prosperity of our country, the Union of Myanmar. It is time we fully understand this vital need. Creating and aggravating problems with accusations and insults solves no problems and does not help national reconciliation efforts. We, on our part, shall systematically work to establish peace and the rule of law and order for we are firmly committed to our goal of development of the nation.