Members of So-Called Special Task Agency (STA) Arranging Explosive Works during Thingyan Period in Yangon Arrested in Time

Members of So-Called Special Task Agency (STA) Arranging Explosive Works during Thingyan Period in Yangon Arrested in Time

      The national government has declared as terrorist organizations - the NUG, CRPH and their subordinate’s so-called PDF groups, claim to be “for the people”, but are lawlessly killing civil service personnel and innocent citizens, including Buddhist monks and teacher, as well as in engaging in looting, and robbing. Additionally, the terrorists are detonating mines in public places like fun fairs, to sustain fatal injuries. They are also blowing up public-owned buildings that are related and working together with the national government, aiming to disrupt the government mechanism.

      According to the information secretly tip-offed by the people who do not want terrorism that PDF terrorist groups were planning to blow up water-throwing pavilions in Yangon region so as to disrupt the happy and peaceful celebrations of unarmed civilians in the water festival and frighten people, security force members speed up the measures to prevent the acts of terrorism, identify and arrest the terrorists, and also ensure community peace and stability in Yangon region using information advantages.

      Due to the relentless efforts of the security force members round the clock, So called Special Task Agency (STA) member Zaw Htet Aung (aka) Nyi Nyi and Ye Min Pai (aka) Ye Ye Min (aka) Win Lwin Oo were arrested in Kyimyindine Township on 4 April 2023 along with two pistols, three pistol magazines, 44 rounds of .380 ACP bullets, 50 plastic Moulds used in making IEDs, 18 cords of detonators, nine packs of gunpowder, 200 carbon sticks, one pack of Sulphur, 13 box of steel balls, one bag of iron pieces.

      In the incident, two offenders were arrested along with two pistols, three magazines, 44 rounds of .380 ACP bullets, 50 plastic moulds used in making IEDs, 18 cords of detonators, nine packs of gunpowder, 200 carbon sticks, one pack of Sulphur, 13 box of steel balls, one bag of iron pieces.

      According to the accounts of the arrested offenders, the two arrested offenders had attended the training of explosive device making for a month in a forest near Kyar Inn Seikkyi township in the operation area of KNLA Battalion (6) in September 2021.

      After finishing the explosive device making training, they joined the so called Special Task Agency (STA) terrorist group which is organized with 20 members, Zaw Htet Aung (aka) Nyi Nyi, Ye Min Paing (aka) Ye Ye Min (aka) Win Lwin Oo, Naing Naing Win (aka) Htet Arkar, Kaung Htet (aka) Phoe Si, Chan Myae Thu (aka) Ju Ju, and remaining to be arrested offenders, Nay Min (aka) Thet Paing Soe, Minthargyi, Mamee, Ko Pyae, Thar Nge, Pi Shein, Ko Thet, Phyu Lay, Bangyi, Wathone Soe, Okkar and Ayoe, led by the absconder former Pyithu Hluttaw Representative of NLD Party for Kunchankone Township Soe Thura Tun, Son Ye and Tayza (aka) Htain Lin in February 2022. The STA terrorist group was formed with an aim of carrying out brutal killings of teachers, civil servants and unarmed civilians in Yangon after accusing them of ‘Dalan/ informer’; committing armed robberies, collecting extortion from the rich people after threatening them; and blowing up the public-owned buildings and facilities with no reason.

      The two arrested offenders along with the weapons/ammunition and explosives taken from absconder Tayza (aka) Htain Lin left Kyar Inn Seikkyi for Yangon. They then started to test and make IEDs at Ye Min Paing (aka) Ye Ye Min (aka) Win Lwin Oo in Yangon.

      The two arrested offenders, under the instructions of the absconder former Pyithu Hluttaw Representative of NLD Party for Kunchankone Township Soe Thura Tun and NLD hardcore members Son Ye, Tay Za (aka) Htain Lin, planned to blast the Thingyan water-throwing pavilion located on Kyaunggyi street, Zaygyi Anout ward of Kyimyindine township, the office building of social philanthropic association in Kyimyindine township, and other crowded water throwing pavilions in Yangon city. The planned to blast the said places using highly-explosive devices put inside 50 plastic cups with the heinous intention to inflict civilian casualties as well as to open fire with two pistols. If they succeed the undertakings, the fugitive Soe Thura Tun will reportedly give him K1,000,000 as they coordinated and agreed. 

      Besides, from March 28, Zaw Htet Aung (aka) Nyi Nyi monitored the situation of security personnel and condition of constructing water-throwing pavilion in Kyaunggyi Street of Zaygyi (West) Ward in Kyimyindine Township by opening a betel nut shop on the opposite site.

      According to the accounts of the arrested offenders, the absconder former Pyithu Hluttaw Representative of NLD Party for Kunchankone Township Soe Thura Tun and NLD hardcore members Son Ye, Tay Za (aka) Htain Lin were displeased because their support Party, NLD Party, was disbanded on March 19 over its failure to meet election registration deadlines according to political parties registration law by Election Commission. Besides, they were displeased the case that occurred on October 25 in which Naning Naing Win (aka) Htet Arkar, Kaung Htet (aka) Phoe Si and Chan Myae Thu (aka) Ju Ju from so-called STA terrorist group were sent from Kyar Inn Seikkyi to Yangon to commit terrorist acts, however, they were arrested by security personnel and were sentenced in prison for many years. Therefore, during the occasion of Myanmar traditional Thingyan festival, the people will enjoy the celebrations at the walking Thingyan activity and at water-throwing pavilions. With the jealous mind to happy celebrations of the people at Thingyan festival, the terrorists planned to carry out acts of terrorism in Yangon city with the intents to frighten the people so they will not peacefully participate in the water festival. However, their plan was prevented and the perpetrators arrested in time due to the due to the thorough search and investigations of the security force members. 

      It is reported that measures will be taken to take harsh legal actions against the arrested offenders. The entire public is encouraged to protect and fight against those engaged in terrorist activities, and is also encouraged to report any information about the terrorists’ whereabouts and movements to relevant authorities in confidence, in order to arrest the related offender as soonest. The whistleblowers and those who are arrested are being given a deserved and confidential reward, and that the entire public is requested to work together to restore peace and stability to the towns and villages as soon as possible, and ensuring peaceful and happy water festivals of the people in Thingyan period.