Junta forewarned of bomb attacks

Politics

Junta forewarned of bomb attacks

According to a source close to the Army, Rangoon had already received advance notice served by a mysterious group of the impending bomb strikes since March:

The group had demanded the release of all political prisoners as its condition. As a result, the military government issued an order on 19 March to all state agencies to maintain a 24-hour vigilance against possible sabotage on government buildings and installations.

The saboteurs however had directed their 7 May attacks on public places instead, leading to at least 11 dead and 162 injured.

"The government did not have the least idea which group it was even though it had accused the Karen, Karenni, Shans and the government-in-exile (formed by Aung San Suu Kyi's cousin, Dr Sein Win) within hours of the carnage", said the source, who had an opportunity to see a copy of the warning.

"What's more, their intelligence system was still starting from scratch since Gen Khin Nyunt was busted."

He however could not recall the group's full designation, though he remembers the words: Union, Democracy and Brigade. "The group threatened to keep on attacking until all the prisoners of conscience including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were freed", he added.

Security officials located another "explosive device" near the Aung San Stadium at 14:00 on Monday, 9 May. "But it turned out to be a dummy."

The anti-Rangoon Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party, Shan State Army and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, 'the usual suspects' as Thailand's The Nation daily dubbed them, have already issued statements condemning the bomb attacks.