uncovering hidden burmese military

7/31/2019 Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military

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A GEOSPATIAL VISUALIZATION ESSAY

Authored by:

Dr. U Win (Viz Center at San Diego State University, California, USA)

Released by:

Democratic Voice of Burma

(October 09, 2010)

[email protected]


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About Naypyitaw and BurmeseMilitary Regime

Location of Naypyitaw, new capital city ofBurma, 300 km north of Yangon. Burma hasbeen under brutal control of militarygovernment. The Burmese militarygovernment is considered to be one of therogue regimes, and US officials have recentlyreferred to it as an "outpost of tyranny".

According to the Harvard report, "Crimes inBurma", the Burmese military regime hascommitted four types of crime - forceddisplacement of civilians, sexual violence,torture and murder. The internationalcommunity, including the US, have backed theUN commission of inquiry, suggested byQuintana, to investigate whether Burmese

junta chief Than Shwe should be tried at the

International Criminal Court (ICC).

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military Secret UndergroundInstallations near Naypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released by Democratic

Voice of Burma.


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Burma MilitarysSecret intelligence

Information

The huge amount of evidencecollected by Democratic Voiceof the Burma (DVB) over thelast five years reveals that theruling junta is trying todevelop long-range missilesand digging themselves in

with a series of militarybunkers. The entire populationresents that the nationalbudget has been diverted formilitary purpose instead ofhealthcare and education forthe people. That is why thepeople sent information aboutthe Burma army to DVB. .

Uncovering Hidden Burmese MilitarySecret Underground Installations nearNaypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released by

Democratic Voice of Burma.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFCa3iuKLg

Burma Military DiggingUnderground Tunnels

In August 2009, three special reportson Digging the Tunnels werepublished by Democratic Voice ofBurma (DVB) after a five-yearinvestigation into the Burmese regimescountry-wide network of undergroundtunnel constructions.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military SecretUnderground Installations near Naypyitaw byDr. U Win. Released by Democratic Voice ofBurma.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFCa3iuKLghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFCa3iuKLg


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Burma ArmysNuclear Ambition

In June 2010, the DVB produced andreleased a documentary film, BurmasNuclear Ambitions which uncoveredevidence of North Korean involvementin the development of Burmesemissiles, as well as Russias training of

Burmese nuclear technicians.Evidence in DVBs report explains thatBurma doesnt have a nuclear bombyet, but theres no doubt about theirintent on pursuing the development ofa nuclear bomb.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military SecretUnderground Installations near Naypyitawby Dr. UWin. Released by Democratic Voice of Burma.

http://www.dvb.no/burmas-nuclear-ambitions/


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Hlwe-gyi

UndergroundTunnels Project ofBurma Army

Among many AutoCADengineering drawings ofBurmese militaryintelligence informationconfiscated by DVB, aHlwe-gyi drawing with~15-mile longunderground tunnelalignment mark-ups wasdiscovered by DVB.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military

Secret Underground Installations nearNaypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released byDemocratic Voice of Burma.

YezinDam

UndergroundTunnel Alignment

Commandand

Control Center


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Profile of the Hlwe-gyiTunnel Project (a samplesegment)

The drawing included the profile ofthe tunnels. The tunnel floorstarted and ended at the level of

850 feet (260 meters) above sealevel. The deepest floor was at1,150 feet (350 meters) which wasnearly 3,000 feet from the surface

of the ground.



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Underground BuildingFloor-plan (PP216) in

AutoCAD Engineering

Drawing

DVB found another AutoCADdrawing with a floor-plan(PP216) which has a networkof tunnels for an undergroundbuilding with eight tunnelexits. Specifications forvarious chambers in thetunnels included: (a)

camouflage frames (nets), (b)anti-wave rooms, (c) a seriesof elevated explosion-proofrooms, (d) dispersion rooms,(e) a car washing place (innorth tunnel only), (f)ammunition bunkers and (g)sealing doors. Two shortertunnels are used for inclined

blast. They are installed withshock-wave reduction doorand sealing doors.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese MilitarySecret Underground Installations nearNaypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released byDemocratic Voice of Burma.


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Satellite Imageries

Acquisition

DVB purchased a set of 2006

and 2008 Quick Bird satellite

imageries, and processed theseinto color infrared (CIR) data.It was pan-sharpened with aresolution of 0.6 meterresolution. CIR produces a high

contrast between non-livingobjects and natural foliage(red), but also can detect subtle

changes.



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Investigation of PP-216Underground Structure

DVB determined to identify thePP-216 underground structurewhich was located in the Hlwe-gyi tunnels project drawing.Therefore, a piece of land area(Area of Interest) was extracted

out of the CIR imageries andinvestigated to discover if itmatched with what wasdescribed on the PP216engineering drawing.


Extracted CIR image


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Location of Area of Interest (Naypyitaw Military Command & Control Center)

Location of the Area of Interest (AOI), the site of possible underground military command center, is located in the westernShan Yoma (Ranges), roughly nine miles east of Yezin Dam. It is fewer than six miles away from the residence of Burmesedictator, Senior General Than Shwe, which is built on the foothill of the western scarp of Shan Yoma. From Pyinmana, anadministrative town,AOIis located 16 miles east along Pyinmana-Pin Laung Road. AOIsite (PP216) is an underground

complex connected to an underground structure. This site is also located at the southern end of a 15-mile-long tunnel.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military Secret Underground Installations near Naypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released by Democratic Voice of Burma.


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SignificantFeatures on theCIR image

Major entrances oflong tunnels withexplosion proofdoors are labeledwith A, B, C and D.Entrances of thethree other smallertunnels are markedwith 1, 2 and 3.

(Left) The entranceswere found on theCIR in purple coloron the CIR images.These arecamouflaged nets inblue-green (cyan)colored nets on thenatural color images.

Uncovering HiddenBurmese Military SecretUnderground Installationsnear Naypyitaw by Dr. UWin. Released byDemocratic Voice of Burma.


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Visualization of Roads and Terrain of the Area of Interest on Google EarthTM

Three paved roads were built around feeding access to the tunnel entrance. The winding paved roads wereconnected to a wider through-road which runs along an old creek bed. Both ends (of east and west) of thismajor throughway road meet Pyinmana-Pin Laung Road. There were trails and narrow roads built parallel tothe feeder roads and connected with the tunnel entrances.



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An Overview of VisibleSignificant Features on the ColorInfrared Images (CIR)

The significant features that wereseen on the CIR matched what wasshown on the PP216 drawingindicated as surface entrances of thetunnels connected to the

underground building. Eachentrance on the CIR image wasanalyzed by using visualization tools.DVB consulted with ex-militaryintelligence personnel who confirmedthis site as a military command andcontrol center.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military Secret

Underground Installations near Naypyitaw by Dr. UWin. Released by Democratic Voice of Burma.


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Location of SurfaceEntrance Gate

A fly-over animation videofootage of locations ofsignificant features was shownon the DVBs latest

documentary film, BurmasNuclear Ambitions. This is ashot indicating an open surfaceentrance gate of a tunnel.


http://www.dvb.no/burmas-nuclear-ambitions


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PP216 Location onGoogle EarthTM

In August 2010, Google

EarthTM posted GeoEyesatellite imageries coveringNaypyitaw and areasextending eastward to thelocation of these tunnelentrances.

Taking advantage of theavailability of the high

resolution imageries, DVBconducted an analysiscomparing March 2008 CIRinformation and April 2010natural color images byDVB.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military

Secret Underground Installations near

Naypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released byDemocratic Voice of Burma.


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April 2008Digital Globe

CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Naturalcolor

2008 CIRImages vs. 2010 NaturalColorImages: After Two Years

Entrance Site (A): This site isthe entrance for the maintunnel. This 2010 imageconfirms that the middle sectionof the front view is the mainentrance gate. The width of

the gate is ~40 feet (12meters) and the height is about~10 feet (3 meters). Comparedto the 2008 image, the image in2010 shows fewer vehicles andcontemporary buildings in frontof the gate, indicating that theconstruction phase is relativelycompleted.



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CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

2008 CIR Images vs. 2010Natural ColorImages: AfterTwo Years

Side View of Entrance (A): Bothimages show the layout of thestructure of the entrance gateentering the hill. The 2010 imageshows that the paved road endedin front of this site. It also showsthe ground surrounding and infront of the gate has been cleaned

up. It indicates that theconstruction phase of this entranceis completed. The enlarged viewof the segment of the entrancestructure shows that there is a sidegate. The width of the gate isabout ~8 feet (2.5 meters) andthe height ~10 feet (3 meters).

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military Secret

Underground Installations near Naypyitaw byDr. U Win. Released by Democratic Voice ofBurma.

April 2008 April 2010


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CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

2008 CIRImages vs. 2010 Natural ColorImages: After Two Years

Entrance Site (B): This site (B) is located east ~2,000 feet (600 meters) of Entrance Site (A). The 2008 image was sharper in definingthe cliff wall where the tunnel entrance sits on top of it. The 2010 image shows the completed driveway that stopped on the left side ofthe entrance structure at the base of the hill. The bottom part of the camouflaged net was extended over the face of the cliff.


driv

eway

cliff wallcliff wall


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buildings

buildings

buildings

driveway

buildings

cliff wall

April 2008DigitalGlobe

CIR image

buildings

buildings

buildings

buildings

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

2008 CIRImages vs. 2010Natural ColorImages: After

Two Years

Entrance Site (B) andvicinity: The 2010 imageshows an ongoing constructionsite of the Entrance (B). Alarge number of buildings withworkforce were still in place. In2010, an apparent new

driveway as big as the mainroad has been constructed onthe left side of the entrancecomplex. The driveway leadsuphill to the back of thecomplex where it enters thegate of the tunnel in the hill.



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CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

gate

gate

Entrance structure


Gate Building at Entrance Site (B): Tilting the image view sideway permitted the viewing of the possible site of the entrance buildingstructure and its gates. (upper row - left and right) An enlarged portion on the CIR 2008 image (lower row left) made it possible todistinguish the shadow and an entrance gate of the side wall of a building. The path on white ground ended up at the entrance gate.The 2010 image clearly showed the driveway on the left side of the complex ended up at another entrance gate. (lower row right) The

middle picture on the lower row shows a structural body of the entrance site which hosted the gate(s) of a tunnel.



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CIR image

April 2010GeoEyeNatural

color

2008 CIRImages vs. 2010Natural ColorImages: AfterTwo Years

Entrance Site (C): This site islocated east, ~700 feet (213

meters) away from Entrance (D).The 2010 image showed the upperportion of the camouflaged netwhich appeared on 2008 imagehad been removed. That sectionof the entrance site looks as ifimploded or collapsed. There wasa row of camouflaged net spreadalong the road in 2010. The gateor a pill-box (bunker) appears onthe edge of the front wall. Theroof extends about ~20 feet (6meters) and the height about ~7feet to 8 feet (2.5 meters). (right)

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military SecretUnderground Installations near NaypyitawbyDr. U Win. Released by Democratic Voice ofBurma.


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Entrance Site (D): Interestingly, the 2010 image showed the camouflaged net extended for ~100 feetover the road, and covered the rock wall on the base of the tunnel entrance. It appears to be that the mainentrance gate was on the base of the wall at the ground level where a road was still under construction.The entrance gate is about ~20 feet (6 meters) high and ~20 feet (6 meters) wide. (right) It looks like aperson standing just inside the gate.



CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

Entrance Site - D


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CIR image April 2010GeoEye

Natural color

Camouflaged net

covered in 2008

Gate entrance

visible in 2008


Open Surface Gate at Entrance Site (1): The 2008 image was a major victory for the discovery of a gate at this tunnelentrance site (1), openly visible on the surface. The pictures shows a person standing at the entrance of the gate. Therewas a camouflaged net covered on the ground next to the gate. (above, left) Two years later, the 2010 image has noartificial camouflage. The open surface gate was almost not visible anymore. (above, right) It is notable that the 2010imageries (or the title) for this particular area is fuzzy. (right)


cliff wall

Open gate entrance

cliff wall


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CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color


Inclined Tunnel Entrance Site (2): As described on theAutoCAD drawing on theunderground command and control center building, this must be the exit-entrance site of ashort tunnel. This place was recognized as a significant site because of the camouflaged netfeature picked up on 2008 CIR mage. The site was totally covered under shadow so thatnothing really was identifiable underneath the net. The 2010 natural colorimage showed thecamouflaged net had been removed. That means this entrance is not a large sized structure,and not intended for a busy use. The site didnt have a paved road running from the mainroad. This 2010 image now shows a packed ground used for car parking in front a smallentrance site. Besides, there also is a trail from this site running straight north for ~20 feet (6meters) to a place which is unidentifiable except a faint mark at the base of the hill.


Entrance gate?


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Possible Short Access Entrance Site (3): It appears to be the exit site of a short underground tunnel which has ashortwave reduced door installed at this end. Activities can be seen on the ground on two places. The western activity sitewas located at the bottom of the hill slope, and the eastern activity site was at the south end of a small ridge. They were150 feet (45 meters) apart. A major road runs and has given access directly to both activity sites. The western site tendsto be the exit-entrance connected to the main tunnel, and the other activity site looks more like an underground bunker.



CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color


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Camouflaged Site: This entrance must be a smaller ancillary tunnel from a main tunnel. It is located ~500 feet (150meters) straight above Entrance D on the same face of the hill slope. (right) Within two years between 2008 and 2010, theguard house and a temporary building (or bunkers) in front of the entrance site have been located in the same place. Thissite doesnt appear to be as busy as the main entrance sites.

Uncovering Hidden Burmese Military Secret Underground Installations near Naypyitaw by Dr. U Win. Released by Democratic Voice of Burma .


CIR image

April 2010GeoEye

Natural color


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END NOTE

O This report confirms that the features on the satellite images matched the underground tunnel entrances of an engineering drawing obtained by DVB.O This report doesnt attempt to identify the details of the underground tunnel entrances.O This report confirms that there is an underground structure Burmas army has installed under the hill.O This report confirms that this underground building is a military command and control center directly control by Naypyitaw Army which is located six miles west from here.O This report demonstrates that this grand scale military secret underground project to evade destruction by their enemies was identified by a small group of civilianprofessionals using geospatial technologies available for private industries. Today, there are more advanced technologies available through private sources as well as militariesin the world. These technologies are able to locate and blast reinforced concrete shells of the tunnels.O It is appalling that Burmese junta has diverted 40% to 60% of the national budget to the military, but less than 3% to 5% has been allocated for healthcare and education of its

people. For the construction of underground structures, billions of dollars have been used, villages have been destroyed to secure the lands, and forced people for labor.

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