Nay Pyi Taw March 22
The State Administration Council held its meeting (7/2021) at the meeting hall of the Council Chairman’s Office here this morning, with an address delivered by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were Vice Chairman of the Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Com-mander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Council members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Thein Nyunt, U Khin Maung Swe, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, U Moung Har, U Sai Lone Hsaing, Saw Daniel and Dr Banya Aung Moe, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut.
In his address, the Senior General said missions of the Council were presented and discussed and the council members put forward region-wise situation and national requirements at the previous meetings. Thanks to the realization of the meeting decisions through coordination success has been achieved to a certain degree. Regardless of their residential place, party and ethnic origin, the council members must collectively join hands with the desire to serve the national interest. As regards the review of the laws discussed by them at the previous meetings, some of the enacted laws are under scrutiny to ascertain whether they meet the legal norms. As appropriate laws in connection with security have been enacted, measures to exercise and control them should be taken into consideration.
Since its assumption of the council duties, arrangements have been made to reopen schools. Some of the teachers of the basic education schools are staging CDM. Some teachers were absent from the refresher courses for the high and middle school principals, held as a part of a school reopening program. It is found that they were under threat to join the CDM. Teachers of the institutions of higher learning and doctors of hospitals are also facing the similar threat. They should make a complaint to the respective authorities about the matter. Some teachers and doctors are still absent from work as they are worried that they may face punishment if they return to the unit, the Senior General said.
The majority of civil servants have been serving for many years. They are therefore urged to return to work. Despite having their different opinions, service personnel need to serve dutifully no matter what government takes office. They must follow the civil service rules and disciplines. Failure to shoulder their duties is not a crime but a violation of the civil service disciplines. For the first time, they will have to sign confessions. For further violation, actions will be taken against them in accord with the civil service rules and disciplines. Local people have demanded help of the Tatmadaw as some hospitals are closed due to doctors’ participation in the CDM. Willing government staff are being allowed to resume their duties. For those who are unwilling to serve, replacements will be made.
Over the past one month, democratically-staged protests have turned into riots and violence. First, protesters threw stones at the security forces handling the protests. Second, they came to attack the security forces with iron hooks, nuts, hand-made guns and swords and even killings of security personnel and among the people occurred. What’s more, arson attacks on factories, an important productive force of the State, running with local and foreign investments, and lootings occurred. Accordingly, martial law had to be imposed. Security forces are handling the protests in accordance with the law and step-by-step procedures.
Measures have to be taken to grant national registration cards to every eligible citizen or ethnic national without fail. In doing so, council members need to cooperate in respective sectors. The scrutiny of the voter lists show that many voters went to the polls in Kungyangon Township of Yangon Region even though they have no national registration cards. Among them were non-ethnic races of Myanmar. How many non-Myanmar nationals without NRCs there are nationwide cannot be known. The scrutiny also shows that there were extra published ballot papers while hundreds of thousands of ballot papers went missing and there were additional ballot papers.
The Central Bank has allowed the private banks to reopen in line with the rules and disciplines. Their closure without following the rules and disciplines adopted by the Central Bank means the violation of law, so action will be taken against them in accord with the discipline. Measures must also be taken to reopen the closed factories and SMEs, which are local production forces, to create job opportunities again. The Senior General then stressed the importance of respective sectors to operate transport services as regularly as ever for commodity flow.
Afterwards, council members U Thein Nyunt, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Khin Maung Swe, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, U Sai Lone Hsaing, Dr Banya Aung Moe and Saw Daniel reported on continued efforts to remove Myanmar from the list of least developed countries as quickly as possible, prompt measures to effectively penalize those who committed murders in Hlinethaya Township, exposition of instigators who are behind CDM activities, giving of protection to civil servants, response to circulation of fake news, regular operation of administrative mechanism and education and health sectors, display and sale of jade at Myanmar Gems Emporiums, launch of government-to-government and bank-to-bank systems in border trade, review and reassessment of the associations contrary to the constitution, reconstitution of township development committees in respective regions, return of Rakhine IDPs to their homes, easing of travel restrictions, reoperation of private banks as regularly as ever, official reopening of Phayathonesu border gate, development of Phayathonesu region tourism and its transport, continued tasks for Ye-Dawei national grid connection, closer dealings with ethnic armed organizations and continued peace talks, holding of a free and fair election, systematic implementation of border trade activities with neighbouring countries, easing of taxation policies, control of entry of illegal foreigners to Myanmar and review of the establishment of factories in residential communities.
Then, Vice-Senior General Soe Win reported on clearing landmines in Kachin and Rakhine states.
After hearing reports, the Senior General said that measures will be taken for Myanmar’s graduation from the least developed country status as soon as possible and restrictions on tourism are being relaxed. Instructions will be given to resume the activities of township development affairs committees in respective states and regions and steps will be taken for smooth transportation in Phayathonesu region with long term view. Peace process is being implemented by forming leading committees and work committees. Four hydropower projects are being implemented in Myeik to supply electricity in the region. Measures will be taken to continue to implement Myeik fish auction market and Dawei industrial zone projects. It is necessary to reduce the exploitation of natural resources, which must be maintained as reserves of the country. Similarly, energy resources must be maintained and it is ne-cessary to generate electricity from renewable energy like hydropower and solar power. In exporting timber, it is necessary to export finished products. Natural environment must be conserved by replanting forests.
As members of the council are well experienced persons, it is necessary for all to do the best for the country and to prove one’s abilities based on the experience.
It is fully confident that challenges will be overcome and success will be achieved by working together in consultation with one another.
