An explosion before the arrival of the SPDC members in Homalin

DVB (August19,2003)

One student was killed and many were injured when a bomb exploded during the Homalin Airport inauguration ceremony in Homalin, upper Sagaing Division on 3 August.

The explosion happened before the plane which carried State Peace and Development Council Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Soe Win and party who were to attend the inauguration ceremony,.

The guests did not know about the bomb blasts because the situation had returned to normal when they arrived.

But once they left the airport after the ceremony, members of the Naga culture troupe, Homalin Shan Ni culture troupe, and Burmese Thaing group were interrogated.

Some of them were detained by Military Intelligence Unit - 17(MI). Among them were Maj Soe Win, an engineer who participated in the construction of Homalin airport and many military officers.

The Homalin Township Peace and Development Council compensated the parents of the dead student.

The 15-year-old wounded student, Kyaw Zin That, was also given 15,000 kyat compensation and assurance that he would pass his examination.

The authorities have warned the people in Homalin to keep quite about the bomb blast.

But, the locals talked among themselves the alleged assassination plot against Lt Gen Soe Win and party.

Delegation members'list
- Lt-Gen Soe Win - Secretary-2 (Air Defence General)
- Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe - Transport Minister
- Maj-Gen Soe Naing - Northwest Military Command Commander
- Lt-Gen Ye Myint - Member
- The Chinese ambassador to Burma
- The Indian ambassador to Burma