Myanmar will, in no way, allow or accept armed forces of any country to intrude into sovereign limits of its territory
News reports of Thai media lack honesty, sincerity and mutual respect Press conference on joint SURA terrorists and some Thai forces attack on Tatmadaw outposts held

Yangon, 21 May - A press conference on the attack of opium-trafficking SURA terrorists and some Thai forces and the supporting fire of the Thai army on Tatmadaw outposts at Myanmar-Thai border was held at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road this morning.

Present were Minister for Labour U Tin Winn, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, senior military officers, heads of departments, officials of the Ministry of Information, U Sein Win of Kyodo News Agency, Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Hla Htwe, member correspondents and guests. Deputy Head of Department of the Ministry of Defence Col San Pwint said at about 4.06 am on 20 May 2002, the Thai army camps opposite Pangantgaw and Nyaungbingon outposts fired heavy weapons at the Tatmadaw outposts; SURA insurgents and some Thai units also entered the territory of Myanmar from the territory of Thailand and attacked Panmongsun, Nyaung-bingon, Pangantgaw and Yanpaingsun outposts.

At 7.10 am on that day, the tanks from Thai army arrived at Thai army camps opposite Pangantgaw and Nyaung-bingon outposts and fired with cannons on the Tatmadaw outposts at 7.30 am. Although the cannon fires stopped at 8.30 am, the firing of heavy weapons continued from the side of the Thai army camps, and these were disclosed at the previous press conference, he said. He added that the fighting was still going on this morning and the Tatmadaw camps were fighting against the enemies. Some Thai media reported false and fabricated news about Myanmar recently. The 20 May issue of The Nation daily reported that the Thai side had informed State Peace and Development Council Vice-Chairman Defence Services Deputy Commander-in-Chief General Maung Aye during his visit to Thailand that the Thai Army would launch offensive against the Wa national group which was involved in the drug issue and he did not make any objection.

The 19 May issue of The Nation daily mentioned that Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin himself had permitted a Thai special force to be ready to invade and attack the Wa region. The Reuters news broadcast by CNN on 20 May reported that a week ago a senior Thai official disclosed that there was a plan for the Thai Army to attack and occupy the Wa headquarters near the border in Myanmar's territory. It is totally untrue that General Maung Aye during his goodwill visit to Thailand had not objected to the programme of Thai forces to attack Wa nationals in Myanmar's territory. He categorically asserted that Myanmar will, in no way, allow or accept any armed forces of any country to intrude into the sovereign limits of its territory.

Even planning to to intrude into another country is not the good neighbourly act. General Maung Aye's visit to Thailand at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr Thaksin, meant to reflect the good neighbourly friendship between the two countries. However, the news reports of Thai media lack honesty, sincerity and mutual respect. The journalists are hereby convinced that the programme to attack one's country or to invade one's territory does not suit the conducts of a good neighbourly country. The Bangkok Post daily issued on 19 May stated a news report saying that as if the Tatmadaw were putting pressure on the Wa national groups in eradicating the drugs. The news report also said that as if the Tatmadaw were pin-pointing at the Wa national races to put pressures on and crush them to eliminate the drugs; that as if the Tatmadaw were using force in combing the area; and that as if the Thai army had reached prior agreement with the Tatmadaw to send troops to the area to launch a military offensive against the Wa people. In reality, the Myanmar government has not reached any mutual agreement whatsoever with Thailand concerning the matter.

Myanmar is stepping up its efforts to wipe out the drugs as a national task particularly in the border towns of Tachilek, Myawady and Kawthoung with the aim of making them opium free zones. In eradicating the drugs, the government is not oppressing the Wa national race, Shan national race or any other national race. The national race peace groups themselves are actively cooperating with the Tatmadaw in eradicating the narcotic drugs with greater momentum. While floating fabrications as if there were agreements with the Tatmadaw to launch military operations, perpetrations are being made to create problems at the border; opium-trafficking terrorist insurgent group SURA, which they have reared, and some Thai army troops jointly launched armed attacks against the Tatmadaw and Wa camps with the assistance of the Thai army barrage. This, he said, is an act to internationally create problems in the border areas Myanmar has always tried to solve the problem though diplomatic means and in a peaceful manner. Myanmar will use other means to solve the problem if the diplomatic means fail and the problems continue to be created.

Maj-Gen Kyaw Win gave the supplementary report. He also replied to queries raised by the journalists. A video-tapped CNN footage showing the attack launched by Thai army against the Myanmar Tatmadaw military camps the previous day. The Press conference ended at 10.20 am. The journalists then viewed the maps showing the joint armed attack made by SURA terrorist insurgents and some Thai army troops against the Tatmadaw camps and the Wa camps of the Shan State Special 2 under the assistance of Thai army heavy weapon fire.

Source: The New Light of Myanmar

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