KNU unable to see the light due to

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

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 April -- 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 officialsof 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 Wine
Chairman U Sao Kai Pha and mediapersons 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 thc people together with
the Government, have come home because they are now convinced of the
Government s genuine desire for peace and Unity and its sincerity for
upraising thc 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 thc 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 fundraiser 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 198Cw and elected as a
permanent member of the Cental 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 199S 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 wen 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
refu8ee 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; thc
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 thc 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 Shirnbun, 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 Mole will
return when the y 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 ask d 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 bpth 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 h 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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