Statement by His Excellency U Maung Myint , Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar at the Briefing Notes on Current and Truth Situation of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Excellencies,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of UN Agencies,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to state that it is indeed an honour and pleasure to have the opportunity to receive all of diplomats.

The main purpose of today's invitation is to explain the current and truth situation.

I would like to brief you the background of the current situation to get more understanding.

The Union of Myanmar has been existed upheld sovereignty for many years. During the 19th century, the British imperialist had waged three wars of aggression against Myanmar and occupied the whole country in 1885.Due to the divide and rule policy practiced by British imperialist, the misunderstanding and discord took place among the nationalities of Myanmar. And yet national unity had been fostered and through bloody resistance against the British and Fascist Japan. Myanmar regained her independence in 1948.After independence it had encountered insurgent movements which based on religion and ideology. Insurgencies had a detrimental affect on development of the country and led to more the distrusts and discord among nationalities.

In 1974, one party ruling system and socialist economy were implemented under the leadership of the Myanmar Socialist Programme Party, but political and economic situation had become from bad to worse. In 1988, the Union of Myanmar had reached to the edge of national disintegration as a result of uprising caused by political forces, both inside and outside of the country.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw was compelled to take state responsibility on 18 September 1988 and adopted the three national causes; that is non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Due to the lack of peace and stability, the successive governments could not achieve economic development. With a view to achieving peace and stability Tatmadaw Government made efforts to get trust with national armed groups. As a result all 18 national armed groups returned to legal fold except KNU. Some factions of KNU, such as DKBA and other groups led by U Thamuhe, Phado Aung San and Brigadier General Htein Maung returned to the legal fold. Peace window has kept open to the remaining factions of KNU. National armed groups, who had returned to legal fold, are making every effort for the national development in joining with the Government. The Union of Myanmar has been enjoying peace and stability that had never been achieved and unprecedented in our history.

Enduring Constitution is prerequisite in building a new State. The 1947 Constitution and the 1974 Constitution were obsolete and incompatible with prevailing situation and therefore a new Constitution must be draw up. In drafting a new Constitution, it will be of utmost importance to get consensus of workers, peasants as well as all nationalities. And therefore, the seven steps road map was adopted and convening of the National Convention to consider basic principles of the new Constitution is the first step. The first meeting of the National Convention was held on 17 May 2004 and altogether 1088 delegated from 8 strata and groups attended. The fifth and final session was successfully concluded on 3 September 2007 after adopting basic principles of the new Constitution.

The successful conclusion of the convening of the National Convention had been a striking hit to destructive elements both inside and outside of the country. And therefore, at the end of August, when the final sitting of the National Convention was in session the unscrupulous elements are exploiting monks in order to disturb stability of the State.

On 28 August, in Sittway Rakhine State, about 140 monks had staged a demonstration and demanded the falling of commodity prices by holding placards. This kind of demonstration is nothing to do with religious principles of Buddhist monks. By next ten days, the authorities had to use tear gas to disperse crowds because the destructionists who accompanied with the monks tried to enter Government buildings. No monks was injured.

On 5 September, the destructive elements had penetrated into some monasteries in Pakoku Township for instigations. Therefore, some monks and novices had staged protest walk for demanding falling of commodity prices. The responsible monks and threatened the life of a responsible monks, therefore, the authorities had to fire warning shot to break up the protest. There was no bloodshed in that incident.

On 6 September, the responsible authorities paid a visit the monasteries and explained the situation in Pakoku. Three of the vehicles used by the officials were set fire and officials themselves were taken as captive by about 50 monks.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The internal and external destructive elements had made fabricated and made-up stories to instigate demonstration of monks not only in Pokoku but also Yangon and Mandalay. Their strategy is to take advantage of monks in order to start public demonstrations in the streets.

In doing so, so-called 88 generation student group, the NLD members and underground Communities elements had agitated for unrest. Therefore, the government had taken into custody of Min Ko Naing , Ko Ko Gyi and others members of so-called 88 generation student movement to control the situation in time. The key players in this event are Min Ko Naing, NLD and a powerful country. Some of the staff s from Western Embassies in Yangon have routinely visited to NLD office and gave advices and financial support to stir up unrest. During the period of exercising significant restraint by the Government, the situation become even worse.

The destructionists and monks have poured into the streets and staged the protests such as reciting paritta in some major cities. Later, they are demanding political issues, such as, bringing down of commodity prices, reducing fuel prices, holding dialogue with NLD and releasing Aung San Su Kyi. If we carefully monitor the demonstration, we would regrettably witness destructive elements are exploiting the monks for their own political advantages. Their main point is to instigate similar unrest which happened in 1988. There was collusion between destructive elements and foreign media in order to make the situation worse. The monks were pursued and threatened by the instigators for daily demonstrations. While they failed to make instigation, the protesting monks destroy and threw drinking water bottles at monastery building of Kyakhatwaing in Baga.

There are about 70,000 monks reside in Yangon. We have information of about 5,000 monks taken part in recent demonstrations. There are about 500,000 all over the country. Therefore, only about 2% of monks have participated in demonstrations.

On 24 September, Minister of Religious Affairs had made details supplication of the matter related to current situation to Sayadaws from state Sangha Nayaka Committee. Minister of Religious Affairs made requests Sayadaws to give instructions. State Sangha Nayaka Committee has given Directives No.93 which referred previous Directives No.65, 18, and 85.

The Directive No.65 was issued on 11 June 1984 which mentioned that action would be taken against monks and novices who violate individually or in groups Vinaya rules and laws prescribed by the Government.

The Directive No.81 was issued on 5 November 1990 which instructed the members of Sangha (community of monks) must be under the supervision of respective organizations of Sangha and they could not establish illegal Sangha organizations.

The Directive No.83 was issued on 13 July 1991 and prohibited members of the Sangha from involving in party politics.

The Directive No.85 was issued on 26 March 1996 and instructed members of the Sangha to follow Vinaya rules.

The Drective No.93 was issued on 24 September 2007. It reminds the monks and novices to follow the previous Directives such as not to be involved in politics and just to practice religious matters. It has instructed different levels of Sangha organizations to supervise the activities of monks and novices.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

To say briefly, all of these measures are undertaken by State Sangha Nayaka Committee to remind all members of the Sangha to follow the Vinaya rules and respect rules and regulations of the Government. It is not an instruction made by the Government.

For the sake of maintaining peace and stability of the country, the Government has to impose Article 144(curfew) in Yangon Municipal areas and Mandalay district on 25 September.

The Government has shown considerable restraint on demonstrators over one month period and handled the situation with a great care. But demonstrators over one month period and handled the situation with a great care. But demonstrating monks and novices have been taking into the streets due to the instigations of destructive elements.

Yesterday, about 12:30 hours an attempt was made by ten thousand of monks and destructive elements to overrun the police troop near the junction of Sule Pagoda and Anawratta road. To prevent such attempt, police opened fire and as a result of this attempt, two high ranking police officials and eight police personnel were injured and two motorcycles were set fire. In addition, one demonstrator was dead and three others injured. The police personnel controlled themselves not to happen bloodshed at their utmost but they must protect themselves not to allow the situation of giving away their arms. It is evident that security personnel have tried to get minimum injury under such circumstances.

Since 28 August, the Government has detained just over 30 persons who violated law and order.

It is evident that the Government has taken a lenient approach in comparing with other countries. In early September, anti-war demonstration took place in big country and nearly 200 protestors were arrested. We can make a comparison, in Myanmar , we have detained about 30 persons.

It is evident that that majority of monk do not wish to see protest walk of young monks and novices who have been exploited by the internal and external destructive elements for their political benefit.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have noticed that internal and external destructive elements and self-claimed Hlutt Taw representative of NLD are trying hard for bloodshed, to discord among nationalities, and by doing so, they are expecting the fall down of the present government and to seize state power in a short-cut . In this effort some western embassies have been involved in providing financial assistance to them.

It is my expectation that this briefing of the current situations will lead your Excellencies to see the true picture of the situations.

No matter how much destructive elements try hard to instigate riots beyond controllable, the Myanmar Government will spare no effort not to make bloodshed in accord with laws and regulation. It is our earnest hope that the good-will of the Government will be prevail and the disturbances would be calm down. It is true that those disturbances hinder the construction of a new democratic State.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I wish to inform Your Excellencies distinguished diplomats that the Myanmar Government, together with entire people, will remain resolute to continue towards a modern developed democratic nation.