Question of CNN International news agency
NAY PYI TAW October 26
Excuse me! Major-General Zaw Min Tun, I am Sandicidu from Hong Kong based CNN International news agency.
I sent this letter as I’d like to ask a statement or a reply from your related to statements which came out for attacks by the Myanmar Tatmadaw on the anniversary celebration held in Kachin State on 24 October.
These statements mentioned more than 100 civilians were wound and many persons dead in the airstrike.
The United Nations also issued a press release that it was unacceptable for attacks of the security forces with larger strength on the unarmed civilians and that it demanded the security forces to take responsibility for the incident. Let me know how would you respond to the press release. Thank you.
á The information was released for the incident on 24 October through State-owned media. I think you might have read the press release issued by the State. If so, you would not ask this question. All the topics you would like to know have been mentioned in that news. It is one of the points I’d like to tell you.
á For the second point, I’d like to ask you what facts do you refer for your question and how about legalized it is.
á For the third point, where is the location for the death of people and artistes mentioned in the rumour? How did those artistes arrive there? Some documentary photos portraying those artistes are in KIA uniforms are spreading. So, who are they? How many numbers of artistes arriving there do you know? Some close societies said those artistes are alive. I think you ask me for unapproved thing.
á With regard to the fourth point, the spokespersons of KIA used it as the KIA controlled area. If so, who will be there?
There were only KIA troops, PDFs and their related persons.
It is based on our evidences.
As it is a controlled area or restricted area as mentioned by KIA, any civilians are not allowed to go there. They are uneasy to go there. If the people go there via Kanse, they have to pass the ruined Baw Sar Di Village and along Uru River. It is called Urukha Creek. After passing there, they would arrive there. You may check the satellite maps. You may know so. Check that building. It is a stall Guan Maw said. There is no one stall. Local people buy goods in Kansee and Aungbalay (Tanguan). No one stall is there. If so, it needs to coordinate between KIA spokesperson and Guan Maw for their speeches at first. There was no traveller. Any local people are not beyond Baw Sar Di Village. You may think who go there.
á As the fifth point, I would say that according to the statements, only the PDF members and NLD members including persons with the level of KIA brigade were included. We have evidence in connection with the levels, names, positions. There was not any list of civilian names.
As names of some NLDs and PDFs were found they would be connected with groups declared as terrorist groups. So, it is obvious that they were jointly committing terrorist acts.
Who were behind the incidents which occur in Sagaing Region.
You can know if you check them KIA is providing not only training to PDFs in Sagaing Region but also arms and ammunition as well as mines. Of the seized arms, the great majority were from KIA. All the arms seized in Mandalay Region were also of the KIA. We have records in connection with the involvement of KIA officer from behind the scene. Hence, the Tatmadaw had to launch a necessary military operation.
During the previous year, these groups attacked our area control camps near Aungbalay Village. If you look at online photo evidences, you can see that all the dead or wounded wore uniforms. There were no civilians at all, as it is not a civilian dwelling place.
á The last thing I would like to say is that Tatmadaw never attacks unarmed civilians. PDF took away 15 passengers near Kandaunk Village on Monywa-Kyaw road on 12 October.
In response, commander troops launched search and rescue missions in the area around Yinbaungtai and Shwehlan villages in Yinmabin Township on 19 and 20 October. There were three engagements with KIA/ PDF groups. At last, commandoes could rescue 26 hostages including women, children, civil servants and villagers. Children from two to 12 years were included in the hostages.
Some were under confinement from seven months to one year. This is the nearest answer.
Tatmadaw never attacks civilians. It only rescues the people confined by terrorists.
á Now, I have already given you a comprehensive answer to your question.
Tatmadaw does no attack unarmed civilians. It only saves the people. Yinmabin incident is the proof.
KIA announced that the area in Phakant where the incident took place was a KIA brigade 9-controlled area.
Evidences show that only KIA members and PDF terrorists and their affiliates were there. Hence, Tatmadaw had to launch an operation. We have no idea about any annual celebration.
We knew that it was a den where enemies and terrorist were hiding.
So, we launched a necessary military operation.
Throughout history and till now, Tatmadaw has never attacked civilians, and we don’t need to clarify about the matter in connection with fake news.