A Special Press Conference ( March 18, 2002 )

 U Aye Zaw Win, Daw Khin Sanda Win and sons Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win supported and won company commander and Tatmadawmen stationed for security of U Ne Win to use them as pocket unit Their acts can break up unity within Tatmadaw

At the present Press conference, some of the evidences including communication equipment, military uniform and equipment, badges and cars which have been exposed and seized, and accounts of the witnesses would be shown. A company under the command of a company commander was assigned duty to serve as the security unit of U Ne Win. Although the relations between the past successive company commanders of the security company and the brothers, Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win, were normal, the three brothers gave special privileges to the company commander who was assigned the duty two years ago to win friendship and influence over him.

Kyaw Ne Win provided the company commander with K 50,000 monthly to win friendship and to keep the commander under his control. Since February, the company commander informed Kyaw Ne Win that he had to attend the commanding officer course in March. Kyaw Ne Win told him that there were plans to coordinate with a senior military commander to make changes in the leadership of the State in March before the Armed Forces Day; that plans were made to assign a commander of a military command the post of the commander-in-chief of the Defence Services; that a trustworthy commander should be taking charge of personal security of his grandfather, U Ne Win, at the time of emergency, that he would present the matter to the officials concerned to give the company commander exemption from the course.

Aye Ne Win himself had met with the Vice-Adjutant-General and asked him to give the company commander exemption from the course. His reason was that he would not like to make any changes in the personal security commander of U Ne Win, as his grandfather had undergone heart surgery in Singapore not long ago; that he was anxious about the reduction in the number of persons who would be able to serve the convenience of his grandfather.

 The Vice-Adjutant-General told him that the matter was not concerned with him; that it should be presented to the battalion and the military command concerned. At the same time, the company commander informed his commanding officer that the family of U Ne Win told him not to attend the course as a birthday party of U Ne Win was going to be held. The CO had to submit the matter to the different levels at the military command to give exemption to the company commander. When the authorities concerned searched him, they found 72 walkie talkies, batteries, rechargers, earphones and military gear from his boxes. Moreover, the authorities also seized camouflage rain coats, camouflage caps, camouflage boots, camouflage pistol holders, knife holders and magazine holders which were provided by Kyaw Ne Win and his family. Some of the seized belts, gear, magazine holders and gun holders were of foreign made.

They were bought by Kyaw Ne Win in Singapore. According to the interrogation, it was known that Kyaw Ne Win dropped a hint to some of his close friends about the changes to be made in State leadership before the Armed Forces Day and consulted with them about the matter. Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win disclosed the plan to the person they worshipped and asked him to give them protection for success of the plot. The three brothers gave him K 300,000. According to the witnesses, who are their associates, the five members of the family including Daw Khin Sanda Win made frequent irregular closed-door meetings last month. The family also held a closed-door meeting on 7 March 2002 before the three brothers met with the senior military commander. Kyaw Ne Win presented a set of military uniforms to each soldier of that company. Moreover he provided bullet-proof vests, caps, bugle gear, combat boots, belts and camouflage green jackets and warm clothes for the company. According to the military traditions, the officers have to inspect the uniform of the soldiers in turn. The official supervisors have to inspect the soldiers in turn every Monday. The company commander has to inspect his soldiers in the last week of every month.

 Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win, together with the company commander, inspected the soldiers. The two brothers also inspected the hostels together with the company commander. According to the rules, only the commanders at different levels inspect the soldiers under their command. Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win, who are civilians, breached the rules by inspecting the company, which amounts to attempts to influence the Army and which shows that they had a motive to break up the Armed Forces.

Monday military uniform inspection and daily hostel inspection were conducted in accord with a marking system. The first, second and third prizes were presented. From time to time, consolation prizes were also presented. Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win personally presented K 7,000 for first prize, K 5,000 for second prize, K 3,000 for third prize and K 1,000 each for two consolation prizes. Moreover, a luncheon was regularly given to the soldiers of the personal security company at the company office every Wed-nesday of the first week of the month. At the luncheons, ceremonies were held to present the first, second and third prizes by Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win respectively.

Kyaw Ne Win held sports meets for the company. He also provided the soldiers with sports gear. The company soccer matches were also held. Kyaw Ne Win hosted dinner at his own expense two times in honour of the winning team at the Sedona Hotel. Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win and their personal security guards totalling about 120 were present at the dinners. After the dinner, the company commander and Kyaw Ne Win gave speeches. The prize-presentation ceremony was also held after the dinner. Kyaw Ne Win presented a quartz watch, a walk-man radio cassette, and a package containing K 15,000 to every selected footballer of the battalion team and every footballer of the winning team.

 Kyaw Ne Win also set up three poultry farms, one quail farm and one cattle farm for the welfare of the company. The brothers also took some of the officers and soldiers of the company together with them to recreation places like Ngapali. What has just been said is about the privileges that were given to a company, a sector of battalion of the Tatmadaw, to organize the company for self-interests.

They hosted dinners in honour of the winning soccer team of the company and presented valuable gifts with every intention of winning it over and making it their pocket unit.

 When Golden Crown Co Ltd opened at the Nawarat Hotel was searched and raided, one Tharne & Tharne satellite phone, four Pasti satellite phones, four Erricsson satellite phones and communication equipment, GSM phones and communications equipment were seized. Moreover, what is significant is that when the office of Aye Ne Win was searched, a golden embroidery resembling the State emblem and greeting cards bearing the golden embroidery were found. In the greeting card is a family photo of U Ne Win,

 U Aye Zaw Win, Daw Khin Sanda Win and sons Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win. Altogether 350 envelopes and cards were confiscated. It is learnt that in the beginning of year 2001, Aye Ne Win created the golden embroidery for the family. In foreign countries, family emblems are kept in the high social classes. Imitating the western style, they created the emblem with symbols representing the dignity of both sides of their parents. In the emblem, a peacock wearing the magaik crown is on the top. An arm badge with three swords, a tiger, a harp and a ngayant fish, about which were explained at the previous special press conference, is in the middle. On the left of the arm badge is a lion holding a symbolic dagger, which implies that their mother Daw Khin Sanda Win is Tuesday-born and the lion represents her. The holding of a symbolic dagger denotes controlling and giving instructions to the three brothers. On the right of the arm badge is a peacock sheltered by an open white umbrella. The peacock represents U Ne Win, and the picture means that U Ne Win is sheltered by an open white umbrella. The words under the arm badge are Panna, Saddha, Sama and Viri. Although Aye Ne Win said that it is a family emblem, it is made in a way it bears more than a passing resemblance to the State emblem. The symbolic dagger, the white umbrella and the magaik crown in the emblem form parts of royal regalia, and it seems as if they were creating a royal family. In the light of it, it can be assumed that the family of U Ne Win was trying to turn themselves into a royal family. It seems that if they managed to seize State power, they would establish the monarchy and try to maintain family power for life.

Then, business matters related to illegal import of cars without licences are going to be explained.

As instructed by Kyaw Ne Win, Director Wai Lin Hsan of Pyi Sone Kyaw Trading Company situated at the Nawarat Hotel bought cars without licences. Kyaw Ne Win also had cars bought by other car brokers besides Wai Lin Hsan. Out of the cars without licences, some were sold at a profit and some installed with false number plates and used not only by the family but also at the company. Matters pertaining to 15 cars without licences have been explained at the previous special press conference. According to the information about the use of cars without licences, on 6 February 2002, four cars without licences were seized in Namhsan and kept in Taunggyi. These four cars were those bought by Wai Lin Hsan with the use of K 100 million given by Kyaw Ne Win. Wai Lin Hsan and party went to Mae Sai in the neighbouring country, bought one Escalade worth K 40 million, one Pajero worth K 30 million, one Land Cruiser worth K 20 million and one Pajero worth K 10 million totalling four cars worth K 100 million and brought them into the country through the illegal route.

Kyaw Ne Win not only bought cars without licences inside the country but also ordered cars from abroad illegally. A container addressed to Kyaw Ne Win and sent from the port of Tokyo, Japan, arrived at Asia World Port in Ahlon by mv Gissang on 27 November 2001. Although the container was addressed to Kyaw Ne Win of Maikha Street, Mayangon Township, he was not able to claim it for lack of an import licence. As the container was not claimed within 60 days, it was put on the list of auction. It was opened and checked to find one Isuzu car imported by Kyaw Ne Win. It is Vihe Cross Isuzu (98 Model) and was bought with Hondi system. These cars were confiscated in accord with the law and rules and regulations.

In view of these events, U Aye Zaw Win, Daw Khin Sanda Win and sons Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win supported the security company members and won them over, thus attempting to use them as their pocket unit. That company was supplied with communication equipment of various sorts, military uniforms and equipment bought illegally from abroad. They kept the company extravagantly supplied with every intention of using them for their aim. These acts can break up unity within the Tatmadaw. As Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win discussed the matter with some persons close to them, authorities managed to disclose those implicated in the plot against the State and some witnesses. Kyaw Ne Win did business not within the framework of the law. He committed business malpractice, thus going beyond the framework of the law and rules and regulations prescribed by the State. As the attempt of U Ne Win's family to seize State power and break up the Tatmadaw has been connected with business malpractice, action will be taken according to the existing laws. Then, Maj-Gen Kyaw Win replied to the queries raised by the journalists. The special press conference ended at 12.50 pm. Afterwards, the journalists viewed seized items and photos on display.