Irrewaddy
Q- I’m Htet Naing Zaw form Irrewaddy
News. What happened today in some places were coincided and simultaneous
terror attacks and I would like to know does the police department yet
able to investigate and identify which group has responsible for today
strikes? Most in the internet are widely speaking out about RSO to take
blame for this. And according to our unconfirmed sources, we’ve learned
that some of the RSO founders have aimed to establish outposts and
military training centers in Bangladesh. Back to my first question, I
would like to know which group has responsible for these ambushes.
A – First of all, I would like to thank
for your interestedly asked question. All the attackers were chanting
the word ‘Rohingya’ while they were raiding and all of them spoke
Bengali language. We captured two of the attackers alive. So we are now
conducting to confirm and issue the precise facts in accordance with the
information we have questioned from the captured two. What in the next
is to decrease the security concern growing among the local community.
We are now cooperating with the military and deployed additional ground
battalions and BGF forces with helicopters to block and sweep the area
where they retreated and expanding security measures for the safety of
civilians in the area. Thank you.
Q- The onslaught event was able to
perform as it’s based in the neighbor country. So does the Myanmar
Government plan to make objection against the neighboring for this?
A – Our police department is now
conducting investigations in conformity with the existing laws whether
there’s military training or others has been based in Bangladesh. If we
received firmed information which proved they really rooted in the
Bangladesh border area, we will call-in the Ambassador of Bangladesh to
Myanmar and precede the discussion on this issue. Even if they’re not
intentionally involved with this case, we are going to invite the
Bangladesh government to collaborate with us and will also ask for
constructive supports since this was our border affair. Yet, we’re still
waiting for more firmed and strong information needed. We will engage
to cope this very soon.
Q- Conflicts have been occurred among
the two communities within Rakhine State. Today attacks may probably
course the situation worse and how will the government intend to manage
with this.
A - Yes, this is one of the reasons of
holding this press conference. We are presenting all the actual
information and situation happening in the Rakhine State today to
acknowledge the real facts to the public and the different local
communities which I have mentioned above. We assume that explaining the
real situation of the conflict area may prevent the unnecessary rumors
and hoaxes. This is why we hold this conference. Continuously, I would
like to insist that peace and stability are elements that our country is
tremendously needed. There’re infrastructures which are needed for the
development of our nation and the stability is one of the most important
of them all. We are hoping to receive the supports and cooperation from
all while building the stability. This is also a reason of today
conferencing.
7 Days Media
Q- I’m Ye Naing from 7 Days Media. The
social network is now mainly criticizing that the police forces in the
Rakhine State was very few in numbers and had been killed a lot. What
would you like to say on these remarks?
A – Rakhine has the largest number of
security forces of all the states and divisions of Myanmar. We delivered
specialized performances in terms of the number of police forces. But,
as I’ve mentioned above, this even is not enough to face actual military
affairs. For example, we have deployed security forces in all places,
but we failed to ensure the effectiveness of security forces to patrol
this area. But additional security forces have since been brought into
Rakhine State which is regarded as a special zone.
Q – Can I know the exact number of security forces deployed in the Rakhine State?
A _ I’m sorry. This is the security matter so we have to keep it as classified information.
Q _ How will the government manage to prevent border security outbreaks?
A – Firstly, we have to appraise this
instance. Then we will go on for the security and rule of law in
separated areas. The Ministry of Defense will be on operations in the
area and the Ministry of Home Affairs will enforce security and rule of
law. We are now about to expand the security measures by conducting
collaboration movements. I would like to add some information that we
are now deploying forces with the use of helicopters. Thank you.
Q – What information did you receive from the captured two? Please let us know as much as we have advantaged?
A – Questioning and investigating these
two captured are still under process, so it would be difficult to make
them telling the truth. We’ve got some information. But if the
information we issued were not correct, the consequences may beyond our
reach. I’m sorry not to clarify inclusively about the investigating
process of two captured.
Q - This is my last question. When did
the military arrive to assist for the security concerns? Why could the
military not able to join during the attacks?
A - The coordinated ambushes were
happened in the middle of the night around 1 am and 4 am. The military
columns went after within an hour. But it is very important to identify
and contact between our own troops at night and that caused a bit hamper
in performing the operation. Except that, our cooperation went well
enough.
Democracy Today
Q – I’m U Mg Naing, Nay Pyi Taw regional
news in charge from Democracy today. I’ll ask only one question.
Border-security is extremely important at where everything in and out is
mattered and why there were only police forces deployed? Why there were
no military security forces? I mean, the raids only hit the security
police outposts. This is why I’m wondering why there has no military
security.
A – As I’ve mentioned above. We have
divided into operation area, and security and rule of law area. Military
forces are mainly based in the operation area. So, the military doesn’t
usually present in the security and rule of law area.
Skynet
Q – I’m Min Zin from Skynet. Are they
Bengalies from local or are they just intruded across the border right
now? And does the curfew of article 144 promulgate only within the
Maungtaw? Are there any more 144 encompassed areas?
A - The article 144 is pronounced to the
whole province of Maungtaw. So, including Butheetaung, all the
townships within the Maungtaw province are encompassed with the curfew.
Q – The attackers, Bengalies _ are they
new comers or existing local Bengali villagers or others who’s holding
some kind of national ID cards?
A - It is very hard for us to identify whether they are new or existing ones. But we will let all know as soon as we figure out.
Union Daily Newspaper
Q – I’m from Union Daily Newspaper. I’m
Khine Htoo. We have seen criticisms on social network concerned with
weaknesses in attaining information and lack of special investigation
forces like SB. What would you like to say on these comments?
A - We do have several systems to
collect information. We separated different zones to collect particular
information. And we also received info by cooperating with the local
community. We do have our own intelligence force to investigate. We
assume that there has a weakness in collecting information.
Popular News
Q - I am Sai La Min Aung from Popular
News. It was occurred in the midnight of the border region, so could it
be assumed as ambushed attacks?
A – I’m sorry, what would you like to ask?
Q – Do you assume this attack as an ambushed?
A – According to our investigation, we assume that the attacks happened between 2 am and 3 am.
Democracy Today
Q _ I am U Myint Oo, a journalist
working for the Democracy Today. We all know that the armed attacks in
Rathetaung have already happened. My question is that how will Ministry
of Labour, Immigration and Population handle entry and exist at the
border gate.
A _ Yeah. All right! Thank you. Ministry
of Labour, Immigration and Population has established four
sub-divisions in the western border of Rakhine State with 252 staff.
There were 30 civil services of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and
Population in the area where attacks occurred. There were 11 local
offices and 26 outposts in the remaining areas to carry out the
immigration procedure. We could not able to identify these attackers
during the immigration process. Appraising the case, we presume that the
attackers ambushed the outposts at the time when no one could see them.
Thank you.
Q _ Continuously in regarding this, I
would like to ask that how will the ministry tighten the check-points,
and issuing the national identity card.
A _ All right. I confirm that staff of
the ministry is going to tense the security in cooperation with local
police forces in the respective border areas. After such kind of
attacks, I assist that our ministry is going to strengthen our
assessments more than before.
Q _ As earlier mentioned that the attackers are the Rohingya. As a immigration officer, what is your opinion on this?
A _ Regarding this word, I reaffirm that
the attackers revealed themselves as “we are Rohingya” while committing
the raids. Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population confirms that
there is no Rohingya in Myanmar. Since the administration of British
government in 1921, the census taking process was carried out in
Myanmar, and continued in 1921, 1931 and 1941. According to the record,
only Bangladeshi was enlisted while there was no document for Rohingya.
Likewise, later after independence, the government of Myanmar conducted
taking censuses in 1983. According to these documents, there were only
found “Bengalis” but no “Rohingya”. Therefore, we presume that
“Rohingya” is a word used by other organizations in order to attack with
the aim of political instigation.
Q _ Thanks.
A _ Thanks.
A _ Thanks.
The Standard Time Daily News Agency
Q _ Mingalarbar! I am Naing Linn, a
journalist working for the Standard Time Daily News Agency. Concerning
with this matter, my first question is that “what is the aim of the
attack and why?” I mean on what they targeted. I would like you to
answer as possible as you can. And another point is that there are some
assumptions that the armed attackers may be disappeared among the local
people. Under the situation of being overseen by the international
watchdogs, how will the Ministry of Home Affairs manage to avoid the
conflicts among local communities during the investigation is under
process? I would like to ask Chief of the Police Force, what kind of
difficulties will be faced while investigating? And how do you consider
about this case?
A _ Are you asking about how they
undertook the terror attacks? Probably, there are several reasons
behind. Recently, local police seized about six million of Yaba pills in
Maungtaw on 17th of September and it is the largest amount during our
assignment there. These attacks might be related to the drug trafficking
according to the nature of terrorism. It might be related to economic
interests, as well as there are many related issues behind the scene.
Likewise, we have some considerations that the losers committed these
attacks. Another one is the arresting procedure. Union Minister for the
Ministry of Information clarified this issue in the morning. Regarding
to this, we urgently called a meeting and also pledge to arrest those
who involved in the attacks and bring them to the court in the
cooperation with local administrative bodies, leaders of the communities
and religious leaders, some of them might have desire the rule of law
while some might fancy for the terrorisms. We adopted the policies in
order to counter these attacks in accordance with the existing law, by
cooperation of the people who long for the rule of law. We have
systematically managed to handle in compliance with the law and
regulations, and in order to prevent the unlawful attacks. We also have
planned to carry out a concert-collective-action.
Brief Clarification of Deputy Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As a Deputy Minister for Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, I would like to answer this issue from the
international point of view. The Chief of Myanmar Police Force has
already mentioned his view. Our new government has taken to reduce the
tensions between the two communities and build understanding and trust
between different communities. We are making efforts to solve the
conflicts peacefully. Furthermore, I want to state that the violence was
coincided with the third committee meeting on human rights at the
United Nations General Assembly.
And the United State of America has lifted the remaining sanctions as well as EU has announced not to submit human rights report on Myanmar at the third committee. In this circumstance, the Rakhine issue, which the international communities have already kept their eyes on, probably has drawn the interests of the international community more and more. As the Chief of police force mentioned, it was necessary for the government and the people to respond in accordance with the law. Otherwise the violence may transform into peoples’ ugly response and the international community may also blame on us. I would like to urge the people that it is necessary to be careful in this kind of situation. Moreover, my consideration is that this violence may be the case in order to draw attention of the international community on the Rakhine issue in line with the international situations and in time with the submission of the human rights report on Myanmar at the third committee. That’s why, I would like to suggest that we, the people and the medias need to cautiously respond these violence in accordance with the law.
Modern Journal
Q _ I am Cho Zin Mar Win from the Modern
Journal. I would like to ask a question which is related to the
previous one. The Rakhine issue is the one which hooks the international
community’s attention. As Deputy Minister clarified, it was necessary
that the public need to respond this violence cautiously. In this case, I
would like to know how the government will handle in order to prevent
taking advantages in terms of politics.
Answers from Deputy Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A _ We have held a meeting led by the
State Counsellor this morning. As regards this case, we sincerely
proclaim that it is needed to react in accordance with the law. The
Union Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs is going to inform
today’s instance to the global when the investigations are becoming to
gel with the concrete evidences. As I mentioned before, there is a third
committee meeting on human rights and we have a proposal to submit to
the UN general secretary, special envoy on human rights at the UN
conference in October. With such circumstances, we will let the world
know all the situations happening here when we present at United
Nations. Thank you.
Q _ Yeah. Secondly, I would like to know
about the diplomatic relations. As these attacks happened near the
border, we can’t clarify which group has committed. But, all these
matters might be related to other country. If so, how is the current
situation dealing with a neighbouring country?
A _ Yeah, we have received the
instructions to discuss with the Bangladesh Embassy. If it’s necessary,
we are going to ask for the cooperation of the neighbouring country with
regard to this issue. We would like to reaffirm that we will be in
touch with the Bangladesh Embassy by diplomatic means.
Q _ Yeah. So, there isn’t any discussion yet.
A _ We are still waiting for the firmed
information and evidences, and as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we
haven’t contacted with the Bangladesh Embassy yet. However, concerning
with this issue, we have discussed with the Border Guard Forces and
cooperation could take place sooner by exchanging information each
other.
Q _ Another question is that, we heard
that the government has evacuated the local people in Maungtaw by the
use of helicopters, how the government will proceed further
arrangements.
A _ The issue that I mentioned above is
not the evacuation process. It is the measures that we have mobilized
the troops by helicopter for the security reason. If needed, we would
use all the helicopters in order to save our people.
Q _ Recently, is there any kind of evacuation in this situation?
A _ Yeah, there isn’t such kind of situation yet. We are able to detain the current situation well. Thanks.
A _ Yeah, there isn’t such kind of situation yet. We are able to detain the current situation well. Thanks.
Mizzima News Agency
Q _ Mingalarbar! I am Min Min from the
Mizzima News Agency. After happening these violence and attacks, how is
going to be the role of Advisory Commission on Rakhine State chaired by
Dr. Kofi Annan. Will these outbursts affect the role of the Commission?
I’m wondering about it.
A _ They are separate-issues. The
Commission chaired by Dr. Kofi Annan will continue their duties
according to their mandate. However, the commission will get more
opportunities to understand, obverse and will increase its right of
expressions concerned with these issues. They will also discuss all
these documents in their reports. Furthermore, duties and
responsibilities of the Commission will not be suspended due to these
violence and attacks.
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