Republic of the Union
of Myanmar
State Counsellor’s
Office
Information Committee
Press Release 1/2016
2nd Waning of
Tazaungmon, 1378 ME
(16 November 2016)
The following is an
unofficial translation of press release 1/2016 of the State Counsellor’s Office
information committee.
1. As
regards the news item about burning the abodes in Maungtaw area which appeared
in Bangkok Post 14th November 2016 issue, the statement of the
Tatmataw’s True News Releasing Body was published in State-run newspapers of
15/11/2016 issue.
2. To be
able to release the true situation concerning the news accurately, aerial
photos were taken by Tatmataw-owned helicopter in the villages of Wapeik,
Kyetyoepyin, Dargyizar and surrounding area in addition to
on-the-ground-sightseeing in the evening of November 15. During the inspection,
it was found that nearly 105 buildings in Wapeik village were burnt down, with about
30 in Kyetyoepyin, 30 or so in Dargyizar and some 20 abodes in Pyaungpike set
on fire.
3. Upon
receipt of the news that some 10 armed attackers entered Wapeik village in the
evening of November 13, security forces went to clear them out. Due to the clearance
attack of the security forces, the attackers set houses in the village on fire
and fled away. That news was published in the Myawady newspaper and broadcast on
Myawady TV on November 14.
The
Bangkok Post covered a news report based on satellite photos released by Human
Rights Watch, in which it accused that some 100 buildings were burnt down
before November 13. It was reported in Myawady newspaper and on Myawady TV on
October 13 that there were only 25 buildings burnt down in the above-said
village before the news released by HRW. According to findings from
investigation, it is learnt that 105 units out of its original number of
buildings—261 houses were ruined in the fire. Despite the fact that 245 houses
in the village of Kyetyoepyin were described to have been burnt down in Bangkok
Post, only 30 out of its original number—362 were found to have been destroyed
by the arsonists.
Similarly,
according to the onthe- ground-survey, there were only 30 buildings burnt down
out of its original number—330 in Dargyizar village.
BP
accused that 700 buildings were destroyed by the arsonists. Although HRW
expressed that 85 buildings were ruined in the fire, the actual number was only
20. It has been released that outbreaks of fire were caused by the violent
attackers.
4. During
the aerial inspection of the fire-destroyed sites by helicopter, some buildings
were found blazing near Yekhatchaung Gwasone village at 3 p.m or so. Government
troops in the line of security duty extinguished the fire. In it, 17 houses
were burnt down.
5. It was
found that armed attackers waging terrorist attacks on Maungtaw area are
burning villages and spreading false news and concocted stories linking with
some media with a view to getting monetary aids from international organisations
and misunderstanding security forces launching area clearance operation. The
activities of area clearance operation in Maungtaw area will be released to
keep pace with the time.
Ref; The
Global New Light of Myanmar
No comments:
Post a Comment