(1) Senior General Than Shwe sends felicitations to Queen of United Kingdom
YANGON, 21 Apr - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on the occasion of Her Majesty's Birthday which falls on 21 April, 1998.
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(2) Senior Officers Meeting of 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific opens
YANGON, 20 Apr - The Senior Officers Meeting of the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific commenced at the Sedona Hotel on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road here at 9 am today with an inaugural address by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin. It was attended by Prime Ministerof the Republic of Tonga Mr Baron Vaea, ministers, deputy ministers, senior officers, officials and delegates of Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam, Resident Representatives and officials of UNICEF, UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and FAO, heads of department, observers, local and foreign media personnel and guests.
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(3) Nyaungdon area wetlands reclamation proceeding as planned
YANGON, 20 Apr - Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt inspected No 3 Bawathit Agricultural Production Camp, reclamation cultivation land and prawn breeding in Nyaungdon Township, Ayeyawady Division, this afternoon.
Accompanied by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun. Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, officials of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council, department heads and officials, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt left for No 3 Bawathit Agricultural Production Camp of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Nyaungdon Township, Ayeyawady Division, by car and arrived there at 3.15 pm.
They were welcomed there by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and officials.
Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Col Tin Hlaing and officials reported on the reclamation of cultivation land at Hsamalauk Wetlands, Nyaungdonkyun Maubin District, land preparation for cultivation and arrangements for growing paddy and other crops including chilli, onion and pulses and beans.
Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt gave instructions on keeping accounts of income and expenditure including wages for machinery and labour building a primary school and clinic for the new project village and making efforts to ensure achievement of projects.
Later, the Secretary-1 inspected reclamation of wetlands.
Then, the Secretary-1 proceeded to Asiatha Freshwater Prawn Breeding Stationat Hsamalauk Village, Nyaungdon Township.
Officials reported on progress of work.
The Secretary-l later inspected Panhline Sluice Gate.
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(4) KNU unable to see the light due to internal, external impediments KNU-NLD link undeniable, foreigners training KNU, peace group leader points out
YANGON, 20 Apr - CEC member and Head of Economic Department of KNU Phado Aung San who exchanged arms for peace with the Government on 17 April met the Press at Myanmar Radio and TV this morning.
Phado Aung San and his group returned to Myanmar on 7 April 1998.
Training Commandant Yaw Mu with the rank of Colonel and Saw Thay Gay with the rank of Major, who are prominent among the members of the group which exchanged arms for peace, Director-General of MRTV U Kyi Lwin. Managing Director of Printing and Publishing Enterprise U Than Maung. Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department Lt-Col Chit Naing, Director(News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun. Adviser at the Ministry of Information U Kyaw Sunn head of departments and officials of the Directorate of the Defence Services Intelligence and Office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence, directors of MRTV, chief editors of dailies and news agencies and Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sein Win, Chairman U Sao Kai Pha and media persons were present.
Head of the Department of Bureau of Strategic Studies Col Thein Swe said:
Today's Press conference has a special significance because it concerns the return to the legal fold of KNU members to effect an exchange of arms for peace. May I say at this point that this particular group like previous KNU groups who have returned to work for the country and the people together with the Government, have come home because they are now convinced of the Governments genuine desire for peace and Unity and its sincerity for upraising the quality of life for all the national races of the country.
This group is led by Phado Aung San who is the Central Executive Member and also the Head of the Economic Department of the Karen National Union and with him are Training Commandant Yaw Mu with the rank of Colonel and Saw Thay Gay with the rank of Major, who also happens to be the nephew of KNU leader Bo Mya.
They arrived back in Myanmar on the 7th of this month at Htee Thay Khee village near the Thaung Yin river on the Myanmar-Thai border. The group consists of officers and other ranks, totaling 70 in number and 143 family members, bringing together with them .51 assorted arms including one 82mm mortar.
Phado Aung San had not only dedicated himself for many years to the movement of the KNU. But was the leading fund-raiser and person responsible for the economic undertakings of the KNU. He was also someone depended on and trusted by Bo Mya. Phado Aung San was a member of the KNU representatives at the second peace negotiations held with the government at Mawlamyaing in February 1996. The government on its own initiative had held many peace talks with the KNU, but because of some at the more extreme and fanatical members within the KNU, the discussions failed.
Phado Aung San came to realize that the KNU was straying farther away from the goal of peace, since Uncle Mya, under the influence of anti-government instigators from both within and without the country, was using the peace talks as an instrument for political coercion, such as convening a conference of all dissident groups at Metharawhta on the Myanmar-Thai border. He had also begun to comply more and more to the wishes and demands of the opposition groups. Thus in the interest of the KNU members under his command of the local populace, Phado Aung San made a decision to exchange arms for peace and on 1st March 1998, he contacted the authorities concerned and Tote a letter informing them of his decision.
Phado Aung San and the military authorities were obliged to hold secret meeting and consultations many times to plan for the safe conduct of the KNU members and their families to Myanmar. On the evening of 6 April 1998, the KNU group led by Phado Aung San left the encampment of their families near Maiwaikhee village in Thailand known as the New Camp. They arrived at a prearranged rendezvous on the morning of 7 April 1998 and were thus escorted home to Htee Thay Khee village on the Myanmar side.
Now I would like to invite the press corps to interview Phado Aung San himself to get a first hand account.
Phado Aung San recounted that he entered KNU in 1967 as a lower division clerk in Central Forest Department and later he was promoted to a superintendent. He was promoted to the department secretary and in 1986 and elected as a permanent member of the Central Committee, he added. He became a CEC member and head of Central Forest Department after the demise of Phado Thatee, who was the head of the department then, he said
Departments were merged at the 1995 congress and later the departments were reorganized, he recounted. The congress elected him as a permanent CEC member.
He was elected as head of Economic Department, he said he took charge of Forest Department, Agriculture Department and Mining Department, which were under the Economic Department, he recalled
Although he was assigned duties as head of Central Forest Department in 1980, no rights and power when granted to him, he said. The department never earned money however it cut trees along Dawmwe Creek and Thanlwin banks, he recounted.
The reason is that, illegal border gates were earning large sums of money at that time, he said. KNU faced financial difficulties when the Tatmadaw seized all those border gates after the 1986 Armed Forces Day, he recounted. He presented a plan to KNU Central Committee. The Central Committee agreed to it and the Central Timber Production Committee was formed. From that time the Forest Department earned income, he said
Central Forest Department had to cease timber production after Manerplaw fell on 27 January 1995, he recalled. Opportunists of KNU used the income of over 200 small sawmills along the border.
He said he would like to give the reason his group has exchanged arms for peace with the Government. He never accepted when actions did not follow the theory as he is a pragmatist, he said. When something was passed at the meeting it must be realized, he noted. What the meeting has agreed was to always kept the door open to hold peace negotiations with the Government as KNU wants peace, he said. But the door is kept open with a guard holding a stick in front of it to hit all representatives who want true peace, he said. But the door is kept open only to those who said the Government will disintegrate soon and it is oppressing the people, he added
"We understand that the people want peace and are demanding peace and if we oppose their desire we will suffer one day. If we serve the people's interest we will gain benefits," he said
He could tell who really wanted peace and who did not want peace in KNU central, he said. But those who wanted peace had much difficulty. When they left KNU there were threats to harm or shoot or kill them, he said
He said they took infants, the old and the sick people together with them and this proved their strong desire for peace.
When they arrived at Htithekhee with their arms, the commanders, officers and Tatmadaw men welcomed them, and as soon as they saw the welcoming sign bearing "We welcome our family members", their fear dispersed, he said
He said that as they came to know that they were regarded as family members, they were in great joy and that at first, they planned to stay at Htithekhee where they would reclaim lands and work for border region development.
He also spoke of the welcoming ceremony arranged with the leadership of Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt on 17 April and the government's support for their resettlement, agriculture, health, education and livestock breeding.
He said they are 35 families and the government arranged for 200 households and allocated 500 acres for cultivation.
KNU has not returned yet because of the internal and external subversives, he said and added that KNU cannot still fulfil the desire for peace demanded by the public.
"We can know the taste of a fruit after we eat it but no one in KNU dares to eat it as they fear death" he said. "However, our group ate it and knew how delicious it is," he added
He said that he wished other members of KNU to come and eat the "fruit, that among KNU members, there are some leaders who want peace and those who do not and that they are disunited, some leaders working with NGOs and some leaving for other countries.
He also spoke of the disunity in the KNU Central Executive Committee which cannot hold the meeting regularly.
He said that their group went to Thai side on 27 January 1995 and had to stay there though they did not want to, that they did not want to go to the refugee camp, that they had many difficulties while staying at the so called new camps in Thailand.
KNU is based at the refugee camp though they do not have the permission of the Thai government, he said and added that for security of refugees, KNU members are armed.
The junior officers, management and clerical staff and troops stayed at the refugee camp, and if they were asked about their strength, they would say that they had about 20,000 to 30,000, but in reality, there were around 1,000 he said.
He said that the officers and troops of the refugee camp did not want to fight the battles and they wanted peace, that in whatever attitude the KNU upper echelon, the subordinates really wanted peace; Thai government wanted KNU to make peace with Myanmar government and that he did not know what sort of difficulty Thai government had to implement their desire.
He said that Thai government allowed those who did not want to attack them when they were returning to the country and that it should support their action if they really wanted peace.
Continuing, he spoke about various hindrances they encountered when they were returning to the country and noted that Thai government should allow and make arrangements for those who wanted to return.
He said he attended the 1974 congress as a delegate and at that time, Mahn Ba Zan was elected chairman; Uncle Mya was the vice chairman and chief of staff in 1976, Mahn Ba Zan was put aside and Uncle Mya grabbed his place; the CEC proposed to dismiss Uncle Mya at its emergency meeting on 5 March 1995; the date was fixed to call a congress as he turned down the proposal to dismiss him and asserted that only the congress had the right to do so.
He noted that when Mahn Ba Zan was removed, the CEC meeting was not called, let alone the congress, that Uncle Mya did it on his own accords that Metharawhta congress was held to throw him out and that he knew there would be bloodshed if Uncle Mya did not win in that congress.
He said that he arranged the congress, that district and brigade leaders who came to attend it had instructed the central leaders not to meet him and that no one went to meet Uncle Mya.
He said that as he knew what Uncle Mya would do it he did not win in that congress he went to him and told him that he supported him, and that he explained to him that they would choose one who could give them money as their leader.
He said he got money in his own way and gave it to Uncle Mya who in turn gave it to the brigade and district leaders and thus, Uncle Mya got the support.
Short temper
He said uncle Mya was short tempered and at times he behaved thoughtlessly and ruthlessly, he was credulous and used to take one-sided action.
Phado Aung San cited one incident in which Uncle Mya ordered the killing of Shwelon, a KNU member, a follower of KNU instructor col Yaw Moo after believing the instigations of one Hsan Lon Tee.
He also recalled another incident in which Uncle Mya shot both hands and both feet of Saw Klosay an ABSDF member, who snatched a gun of the group and tried to escape but was captured. He said uncle Mya ordered the man to be dragged out and killed.
Uncle Mya charged captain Kali Waw, who was regarded as a man of good combat skills in the KNU, and ordered him to be killed based on an insignificant offence, Phado Aung San said
He recalled that when a woman relative of uncle Mya's wife got entangled in love affair with a KNU member in spite of her tender age, Uncle Mya put the man in custody, got the girl undressed and beat her in public.
Inconsistent decisions
He said a situation arose to remove refugee camps in 1996. He said Uncle Mya told him if he could stop the plan in view of the big trouble to be confronted by the people since the camps were very large. As asked, he said, he made plans and he was in a position to manage it. Because NGOs made great profit if refugee camps had to be removed he said. They claimed K 1,000 where K 100 was sufficient for a job in order to pocket K 900, he said. He said since they could take the share they liked shifting of refugee camps. Then the refugee camps had to be removed in February 1998, he said. After learning this, he said, the Central Executive Committee meeting was called at which it was unanimous that the camps should not be removed. The meeting then considered who would carry out the resolution, he called. Finally, the meeting assigned duty to him, he said. The Thai government had ordered removal of the refugee camps, he said. As he was making arrangements, he said he received a telegram asking him to return immediately. So, he had to return to Maesot, he said.
On his return, he said, the CEC meeting was again convened. It passed a resolution that the camps should be removed, he said. The people got angry, he said. No one could persuade them, he said adding they would not move even if they were to die, or else they would return to the homeland. Since no one could ask them, Uncle Mya himself met them and told them, he said. At first, it was not to shift camps, people were asked to stand united and arrangements were made accordingly. Then questions were asked such as what the plans were, what the Thai government said, he recalled. He said he made plans secretly but when they asked questions openly he found it difficult to answer. The Thai government had already adopted the policy that refugees were to be shifted he said. He added that he would not want to say how NGOs had done. When Uncle Mya himself had gone to the refugee camps and told them that they were to shift, what the meeting had decided had become meaningless.
Phado Aung San said his group was not alone in returning to the homeland. A large number of Kayin people in the north of Papun had also returned. He said he would like to request the government to make arrangements for them as well.
KNU leadership divided
He said in the KNU, there are those who want peace and those who do not. Those who want peace do not know how to achieve it, they do not have the gut or they could not do to get it. But, he said, he had made peace. By so doing, many more will return, he said. He said he was pleased and peaceful to learn that the government would take care of the returning KNU members and the public by looking after their accommodations, food and livelihood irrespective of their number.
He then thanked the government for extending a warm welcome, help and care to his group.
Afterwards, questions were asked by U Sein Win of Kyodo News, U Hla Htwe of Antara News Agency and Nihon Keizai Shimbun, U Khin Maung Myint of NHK, U Maung Maung of JiJi Press, U Aung Shwe Oo of Nippon TV, U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV, U Khin Maung Thwin of AFP and U Tin Maung Aye of Asahi Shimbun.
Phado Aung San and Heads of Department of the Office of Strategic Studies Col. Thein Swe and Col. Than Aye replied to their questions.
Replying to the question asked by U Sein Win of Kyodo News about the KNU's desire for peace, Phado Aung San said in the KNU leadership, those who want peace are in the majority. But they do not have the gut and are not able to manage to make peace, he said. The rest in the KNU leadership are those who have settled well economically in Thailand and who have possessed houses and farmland. They are in the minority and most in the KNU followers want peace, he said. He said his entire group had returned in spite of difficulties. Many will return when they know that the government has extended all the necessary assistance to his group, he said.
Answering the question of U Hla Htwe of Antara News Agency and Nihon Keizai Shimbun about the Metharawhta meeting, Phado Aung San said he refused to accept that meeting and that he had not attended it. He said although he usually made arrangements beginning with financial matters when KNU meetings were held, he had done nothing as far as the Metharawhta meeting was concerned. He noted that the Metharawhta meeting was not attended by organizations but by single individuals.
Regarding the question about the connection between the KNU and NLD asked by U Sein Win of Kyodo News, he said KNU announcements contained points in support of NLD and NLD had supported the Metharawhta declaration. This showed there were connections between the two and no one could deny this, he said.
Replying to the question of U Khin Maung Myint of NHK about the number of refugee camps and the wealth of KNU leadership, Phado Aung San said there are about nine camps and most of refugees have returned to Myanmar. In the KNU leadership, he said, vice-chairman col. Shwe Hsaing, commander of No 6 brigade major Tu Tu, battalion commanding officer Soe Soe and present chairman of Hpa-an District Phado Ah To are rich. Phado Ah To is very rich and he owned a large number of houses and farmland in Maesot.
In connection with the question about short-term and long-term programme of the government to accommodate the group asked by U Aung Shwe Oo of NTV, he said he thought he had to ask for land to live and for the families' livelihood but he had found that the government had made all the necessary arrangements such as accommodation, food and clothing for one year. It had also allocated 500 acres to engage for agriculture and livestock breeding, he said, adding his group had handed over weapons that could endanger peace. He said his group had abandoned all the destructive acts since Myanmar New Year Day. He said the group had no need to take up arms since the State had taken charge of its security.
In connection with the question of peace negotiations asked by U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV, Phado Aung San said both the KNU and the government want peace. Since they have common objective they will have to realize it, he said. However, there is no peace because the KNU had made demands to which the government could not agree, he said. He pointed out there have been numerous armed groups which had made peace with the government and they are extensively engaged in development projects in the respective regions. KNU on its part is not in a position to carry out regional development tasks so far.
Replying to a question asked by U Sein Win of Kyodo News about KNU training courses conducted with foreign instructor, he said KNU has to pay for their upkeep. Though they did not have to pay salaries the upkeep cost more, their food, accommodation and especially visa renewal expenditures cost much, he said
In connection with the distance between the refugee camp and the border as asked by U Aung Shwe Oo of NTV, he replied that it is about ten miles from the Maewaikhee New Camp to the border. Despite the distance, be said the group left the camp at 4 pm on 6 April and arrived at the bank of Thaungyin River at about 8 am on 7 April.
Replying to the question asked by U Khin Maung Thwin of AFP about the number of CEC members, Phado Aung San said there are 10 CEC members, namely, the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, joint secretary-1, joint secretary-2 and five CEC members.
Then, the media personnel viewed photographs and maps related to exchange of arms for peace by Phado Aung San and group and Metharawhta agreement on display in the MRTV Hall.
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(5) Minister for Labour receives Ambassador of Japan
YANGON, 20 Apr - Minister for Labour Vice-Admiral Tin Aye received Ambassador of Japan Mr Kazuo Asakai at his office this afternoon.
Present also were Deputy Minister for Labour U Kyaw Aye and heads of department.
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(6) Minister for Health receives Professor of Caen University Hospital
YANGON, 20 Apr - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein received Professor Valdazo of University of Caen Hospital of France and party at his office today.
They discussed programmes to give training on ear, nose and throat diseases, surgical operation and anesthetics in cooperation with Caen University.
Deputy Minister Dr Mya Oo and officials of the ministry were also present.