Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at the meeting 4/2021 of the State Administration Council at his office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
Also present at the meeting were Vice-Chairman of the Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-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 and Saw Daniel, 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 the State Administration Council has been discharging the duties of the State for a month now. The nation was peaceful during the first week of its administration, but riots and protests have been occurring since the second week. Those demonstrations are caused by the persons who are disgruntled by the action taken against the vote-rigging amidst the COVID-19 prevention and containment restrictions. The Myanmar Police Force is controlling the situation by using minimum force and through the least harmful means. The MPF is doing its work in accordance with democracy practices and the measures it is taking are even softer than the ones in other countries.
New ward and village administrators have been appointed as the term of the old ones had expired. But there are acts against the appointment of the ward and village administrators. The government wishes to appoint only the persons who win the majority respect and who are free from party politics to a possible degree. Rejections against these appointments have appeared under the influence of party politics. Democracy tolerates whether it is pro or against a topic. Full democracies always accept appointments or assignments done in accord with the rule and law. As the township administrators are immediate superiors of the village administrators, they also should be free from political influence. Arrangements are being made to ensure this.
The State Administration Council has adopted five future programmes. Production must be boosted to improve the economic sector. The region, state, district and township councils must encourage regional production. Agriculture can be less affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and it is a business that earns money easily. So, local farmers need to be encouraged to work hard on agricultural undertakings. Political, social and economic objectives have also been adopted. The social objectives include an objective such as enhancement of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation. To contribute towards public health, nationwide outdoors sports and games must be held again. Myanmar’s traditional martial art should be among national sports. It is a kind of self-defence sport without the need for spare part equipment in training. Therefore, traditional sports should also be encouraged.
Action is being taken against the civil servants participating in the CDM. Some have taken their salaries without going to work, citing various reasons. Respective ministries will take action after systematic inspections. There are illegal contents and photos depicting those wearing indecent clothes contrary to Myanmar culture circulating, especially in social media. Such acts intend to harm the morality of people, so legal actions are necessary.
According to the findings from some ministries over- spending of the COVID-19 prevention and control, State funds and public-donated cash were found to have been spent for other purposes. The amount is billions of kyats. Relevant bodies are trying to expose embezzlement cases, the Senior General said.
Next, Council Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Council members U Thein Nyunt, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Khin Maung Swe, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Saw Daniel and U Sai Lone Hsaing and Union Minister Lt-Gen Soe Htut reported on illegal inflow of foreign money to associations, action to be taken against support of manpower and money behind riots and protests, taking of action against the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as it is an illegal organization, monetary support from foreign organizations, the need for the Union Election Commission to check and publicize the voter lists as quickly as possible, necessary help and measures for reoperation of factories, export of agricultural and livestock products, reassessment of Myanmar diplomats serving in the international community, boosting of electricity generation, amending and supplementing of the political parties registration law, election law and Hluttaw laws, conducting of agricultural census, construction of village production roads, sale of farm products from local farmers at correct prices, exposition of corruption cases under the previous government, illegal granting of leave of absence by officials at some people’s hospitals to doctors and health workers, exposition of local organizers and advisers outside the country encouraging civil servants to participate in the CDM, protests and lawless acts in regions and states, measures being taken by security forces to ensure community peace and the rule of law, mine clearance work in displaced areas and continued vaccination of COVID-19.
Concerning the reports, the Senior General said operations of some organizations are being scrutinized whether they are running their operations in accordance with rules and regulation or whether the foreign finance and assistance they received are legal or illegal. Action is being taken against the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, which is illegally carrying out activities while the new Union Election Committee is launching an investigation into vote-rigging. Domestic tourism, hotels, factories and workshops have been allowed to resume their operations in accordance with COVID-19 prevention rules and regulations. Relevant ministries have been instructed to take action against physicians, specialists and staff who are taking part in the CDM. It is important to take measures not to develop staff housings, special economic zones and industrial zones on agricultural land, to prevent the use of agricultural land for other purposes and to push for rural development.
Efforts must be exerted to develop Myanmar sports into ones that are systemic and meet international standards and to support athletes in respective states and regions to participate in international events. All border crossings have been opened for the development of trade. Measures must be taken to enable internally displaced persons to return to their native places and to arrange their secure social- economic lives. Efforts will be continued to make to vaccinate people against COVID-19. It is found that riots and protests are being incited on social media, and authorities are exercising restraint as peacefully as possible. Efforts were made to repatriate Myanmar nationals detained in Malaysia, and a total of 1,086 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia were brought back by Tatmadaw vessels. Measures are being taken to bring back those who are still left in Malaysia. The repatriation of Myanmar nationals who were abroad is one of the achievements of the council.—MNA
