MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE, YANGON
Information Sheet

N0. C- 2358 ( I/L )
19th September,2002

 Government of Myanmar Pledges Full Support to U.S. on Recovery of World War II Remains of Missing American Servicemen

      The Government of Myanmar received a U.S. Department of Defense delegation last week in Yangon, and pledged its full support to the U.S. in the recovery of remains of American servicemen whose aircraft crashed in flying missions over Myanmar during World War II.

      It was agreed that next month Myanmar officials will visit the United States Army Central Identification Lab in Hawaii to meet with U.S. forensic scientists who lead field excavations to discuss procedures for the joint recovery operation in Northern Myanmar.

    Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, said, "We are pleased to give our wholehearted support to the United States Department of Defense in this important effort to recovery the remains of Americans lost in combat flying above Myanmar during World War II. The crash sites are located in mountainous, jungle terrain in Northern Myanmar, and will require a significant joint recovery effort, prior to our monsoon season in 2003. I myself will personally give full support to this recovery mission."

      A framework for cooperation was agreed upon with the United States delegation led by Jerry Jennings, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, and senior Myanmar government officials.

      Field excavations will take place in four sites in Kachin State where U.S. C-47 cargo aircraft crashed. In early 2003, a U.S. team will work with Myanmar counterparts to visit and survey each site.