(Note: I will dissuade those who want to abscond from doing so: says a
student)
The Information Committee of the State Law and Order Restoration
Committee held the 20th press conference at the Ministry of Defence on
the afternoon of 6 January 1989 attended by local and foreign
journalists.
A spokesman of the committee read out the VOA’s 6:30am broadcast and
the BBC’s 6.40am broadcast on 6 January 1989 to the newsmen and he
categorically denied the points mentioned about Myanmar.
The news broadcast by VOA
After the Tatmadaw (Military) had taken over powers in September
Burmese students absconded and then they returned. It is said that the
United States of America is making enquiries as regards the news that
of those students who had returned to Burma some after their return
might have died during their detention."
The following news item broadcast by VOA shows that the US interferes
in the internal affairs of Burma; "Mrs Phililp O Claire the
spokeswoman of the State Department in Washington said that the United
Stales of America got worried about the news that was based on the
reliable source and that efforts would be made for knowing exactly
what had happened.
The news broadcast by BBC
The BBC also broadcast a news item in which the US State Department's
statement was in the nature of its dictated to the Burmese
authorities. The US State Department in Washington said that its
embassy in Rangoon had urged Burmese authorities to investigate the
case that some anti-government students died during their detention.")
The Information Committee gave the list of students and their
addresses to the journalists for them to be able to interview at their
residences and to find out whether the broadcasts made with malicious
intent were true or not.
The local and foreign journalists dividing themselves into four groups
conducted interviews with the students of their choice at their homes
the same day and these interviews were carried in the 7 January issue
of the papers.
Two groups of journalists interviewed some students on 7 January
afternoon. Group 1 is made up of photographer U Hla Myint and myself
and group 2 comprises editor U Tun Aung and research officer U Tun
Min.
We first interviewed Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe, 7th standard student, whose
residence is at No 165, Lanmadaw.
His father is a repairer of electric motors and we too had a chance to
meet his parents. His parents are U Aung Myint and Daw Nu Nu. His
elder sister Ma Sanda Aung and his younger brother is Maung Thu ra .
We introduced ourselves to Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe’s parent’s and told
them that we came to interview them to be able to present the true
situation of the students to the people and required their help to
tell us the truth.
When I asked Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe how he returned, he replied, I am one
of those who returned to Burma on 26 December 1988 in the first batch.
Maung San Thwin, 7th standard student, No 2 Middle School, Dagon, of
6th Street, also came back together with me. We two are friends. We
two left the-Thay-baw-bo camp of the insurgents and went to Tak where
the reception camp has been opened.
When I asked further he said, "I left Rangoon on 27 October 1988.
There were altogether 12 of us. We were at the Thay-baw-bo camp 15-20
days. I consulted with Maung San Thwin to leave the camp as the
weather there was terrible and the food was poor too. We arrived at a
town in Thailand. On seeing an office we went there and told a person
that we are Burmese students and that we were in need of help to be
able to return to Burma. A person from the office took us to the Tak
reception camp which is about 70-80 miles away in a car."
When Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe arrived, we asked him if there had been any
summon or interrogation. He said, "No one has summoned us or
interrogated us. The Township Law and Order Restoration Council gave
me a form to fill up. I’ve filled up my name, father's name, NRC
number, qualifications, address, the date I arrived back place of
departure, flight etc". He also showed us that form.
His parents, Daw Nu Nu and U Aung Myint told us that their son is now
undergoing medical treatment as he got inflicted with malaria while he
was in the jungles. His grandfather U Htwe, 70, said, I don’t let
anybody take my grandson away. I won't leave him out of my sight."
When we asked him if he had visited his friends who arrived back
together with him and if he had heard any rumours, his mother Daw Nu
Nu said, "We have visited his friend. We know that his friend also has
malaria. We are also worried as we have heard the rumours.; Hence we
don't let our son go anywhere."
When we asked them if they had heard the rumour to the effect that
these students who arrived back were seized and persecuted. Maung Kyaw
Kyaw Soe said, "I haven't heart any rumours. I've met with my friends.
Some of my old friends wanted to abscond and asked me the route. I
explained to them the difficulties encountered and told them not to
abscond. I’ve also informed their parents about it. His grandfather
interrupted, “Tell them to take your experience as an example."
Then we bade farewell to Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe and his family and
proceeded to No 36, 6th Street, to meet Maung San Thwin. Maung San
Thwin's parents are U Thein Maung and Daw Mya Nyunt. We explained to
them the aim of our visit. U Thein Maung said, "Maung San Thwin is now
sick as he got inflicted with malaria there. Now he is undergoing
medical treatment. " Then we interviewed Maung San Thwin
who was lying-in his bed. Maung San Thwin recounted to us his
experience and the difficulties he had encountered in absconding
together with his friend Maung Kyaw Kyaw Soe.
His mother Daw Mya Nyunt said. “Maung San Thwin is my youngest son.
Maung Thein Oo, who is a private of No 49 Burma Regiment, is the
eldest.
The other children are Maung Tun Tun, Maung Than Win, Maung Thein Win
and Ma Hnin Hnin Soe. I have altogether six children. I was very
worried about him while he was away."
Maung San Thwin's father U Thein Maung said, "We are natives of
Laymyethna and I first thought he had gone to Laymyethna. Only later
did I come to know that he had absconded and I was really worried, Now
my mind is at peace."
Concerning his health, his mother Daw Mya Nyunt said, "His temperature
sometimes rises up to 105 degrees Fahreaheit. Yesterday his
temperature was 102 degree Fahrenheit. He is now being given medical
treatment by a doctor..
"He vomits when he gets high fever."
When we asked them if their son had been summoned for interrogation,
they said there had been neither any summon nor interrogation.
As Maung San Thwin was feeling dizzy, we told him to take medicine
regularly.
Maung San Thwin’s father U Thein Maung said, “When our son recovers
from illness, we’ll send him to the workshop. We are fortunate to see
him again. His mother Daw Mya' Nyunt also told us that she would never
let her son go anywhere and that she was very happy when her son
arrived back and she also expressed thanks to the State. Maung San
Thwin also told us that he would never go anywhere and would work
together with his parents.
We then proceeded to Maung Thant Zin's house at No 35, Hledan Street
in Kemmendine Township. His father is U Tun Yi, a shopkeeper of
Nyaungbinlay Market. When we arrived, we saw Maung Thant
Zin together with his mother ' Daw Tin Nyunt.
First we asked Maung Thant Zin to tell us his experiences. He
answered, "I followed the blackmarketeers from Taunggyi on 22
September 1988 for fearof being arrested. I arrived at the Hwe Pagoda
camp. There were about 300 students al the camp. Most of them were
from Loikaw in Kayah State I also attended the basic military training
course. The course period was very long because the insurgents wanted
us to become insurgents when the last date for the return of the
students expired. When I arrived at the camp I met Maung San Thwin,
son of U Thein Maung of 6th Street in Rangoon. I had never met
Karenrni insurgent leader U Bya Reh. Sonny and Richard were the
leaders of the students at the camp. One day, students from Taunggyi
held a funfair at the camp. Then, a course instructor told us that
Burmans had been exploiting for 26 years and. they were still giving
trouble and that all Burmans were to be wiped out'. The insurgents
then took aim with their guns.
But we were fortunate. They also took away the guns which were given
to the students for security. 'Then altogether 137 students of us left
the camp.
We did not have a chance to know the State's announcement. When we
were about to leave the camp the insurgents took aim with their guns.
'But we told them that if they shoot us we would kill them. Then we
coordinated the matter for about two hours with the one who said that
he was a Karenni Home Minister. However, we left the camp."
We again raised a question. "Maung Thant Zin, did you hear the rumours
to the effect that you would be arrested and killed when you arrived
back?" He answered, "We came back full of anxiety. But when I saw my
father and mother welcoming me at the airport I was very much
surprised. We were very happy for we were accorded a rousing welcome
by the authorities concerned."
His mother Daw Tin Nyunt also told us that she thanked the State and
that her son had realized his misdeeds .
When we asked Maung Thant Zin whether he did not visit any of his
friends he replied that he was the only person among his friends to
abscond and that he came to know Maung Soe Win only when he was in
Taunggyi.
He replied to our question of whether he listened to the VOA and
BBC broadctsts and said that he did not listen to them because he
has no confidence in what they say.
When one of us asked him whether he had been interrogated or taken
away he answered that he had not been harassed in any way. He even
said that it was lucky for us to meet him because he helps his elder
sister who runs a shop in 23rd Street. 'I go here and, there freely,"
he added.
To our question if he would like to go to the camp again, he replied,
"I have no such intention at all and I will even dissuade those who
intended to go there from doing so."
Our group then left Maung Thant Zin's house to interview other
students who returned from the Tak reception camp, Thailand. We
proceeded to Maung Nyan Bo's house at No 5, Kyaunggon Street,
Sanchaung Township. He is a student of the Technical High School. His
parents are U Maung Maung and Daw Thaung Thaung.
When we arrived at his house, Maung Nyan Bo was not there. His
brothers Ko Aung Kyaw Soe and Ko Weili explained to us that he had
gone to help her sister in repairing her house in Mingaladon.
Ko Aung Kyaw Soe said, "When Maung Nyan Bo absconded, we searched for
him everywhere. We were afraid we would not see him again. We do not
know how to express our happiness when the authorities concerned
informed us that our youngest brother was at the reception camp."
Ko Weili also said, "My father and my elder brother brought him from
the reception camp. We are very grateful that he was given a rousing
welcome and was taken care of by the authorities at the reception
camp."
When we asked whether he had been summoned or interrogated after his
arrival, Ko Weili said "There has neither been summon nor
interrogation,
My younger brother seems to be feeling repentant as he met with many
difficulties there.'
When we asked if they had heard any rumours, Ko Weili said, "We have
heard the rumours. But it is necessary for us to carefully consider
whether they are possible or not. We do not consider them to be
possible. We do not believe them.
to be continued
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