Union Minister U Maung Maung Ohn replies to queries raised by reporters from South China Morning Post from China, Nikkei Asian News, Kyodo News, TBS and Asahi Shimbun from Japan

Union Minister U Maung Maung Ohn replied to questions raised by reporters from South China Morning Post from China, and Nikkei Asian News, Kyodo News, TBS and Asahi Shimbun from Japan through videoconferencing on 23 February.
In his introductory speech in the interviews, the Union minister expressed his delightedness to meet them. On the opportune occasion, he said he would like to clarify matters related to Myanmar. He requested those reporters to send the information message to the international community and explanation on misinformation and one-sided accusations related to Myanmar.
Now, the State Administration Council has already turned one year term of discharging the State responsibilities. In reviewing the one-year endeavours, everybody may see the council carried out the appropriate tasks serving the interests of the State and citizens day and night. Especially, the council emphasized two national political processes such as prosperity of the country and food sufficiency while steadfastly implementing the two political processes such as strengthening a genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and building a Union based on democracy and federalism.
Despite facing hindrances committed by unscrupulous terrorists to the tasks, it can be said that these tasks achieved success to some extent due to the trust and encouragement of the people. Recently, the government observed the Diamond Jubilee Union Day on a grand scale with the participation of cultural troupes from regions and states as well as all walks of life. It showed the understanding, trust and unity of all walks of life together with the State Administration Council in observing the grand ceremony.
Currently, NCA signatory ethnic armed organizations and non-NCA signatory EAOs, except the organizations declared as terrorist groups, have been invited to join the perpetual peace talks. Significantly, the topics in the perpetual peace talks will not be restricted in advance, and the talks are arranged as freely as possible. On the other hand, it will be the new step for the peace process as of this year.
The Union minister continued to say that the State Administration Council has decided to strive for two national processes: the prosperity of the country and food sufficiency and for two political processes: building a Union based on genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and disintegration of peace and sovereignty as of this year in cooperation with the people.
In reply to the question raised by South China Morning Post of China: whether it is losing control/dominance of the country’s peripheral region such as Rakhine, Chin and Kayah states where fighting has been intensifying, the Union minister said the reporter knows CRPH, NUG and PDF terrorists commit terror acts in some parts of Chin and Kayah states and Sagaing Region many times and do propaganda on lack of peace and stability in the country through social network pages. Their terror acts and unlawful activities cannot give the safety of life and property of the people. So, the security forces are on duty of taking necessary security measures for ensuring peace and stability of the regions and the rule of law round the clock.
As the State Administration Council places emphasis on security for regular running of social lives of the people, there is no loss in security dominance of the country. Security and stability of the State have been under control by cent per cent. The Tatmadaw addresses the threats of CRPH, NUG and PDF with arms in the border areas to fully protect the people. Some people sent complaints that they cannot accept the unlawful and brutally killings. Security and stability measures are being taken in all parts of the nation, and a total of 15,742 administrators have been appointed in 16,370 wards and villages of regions and states. And, a total of 2,619 new administrators have been appointed in the vacancies of 3,176 ward/village administrators who resigned from the positions due to threats of CRPH, NUG and PDF, and security measures have been taken fully in towns and villages.
The reporter asked about the response to the multiple reports of defections from the military. The Union Minister said that if that military personnel violate rules, action will be taken against them under the rules, regulations and laws of the Tatmadaw. Likewise, if members of the Myanmar Police Force violate the law, they will face action taken under the rules, regulations laws of the police force. The news on the Internet pages represent the events of some cowards who did not dare to admit their guilty moves in breaking the law, and these events are exaggerated on the pages. A handful of those cowards were lured under the fear. The Tatmadaw members and MPF members are discharging their duties round the clock by cent per cent loyalty to the State and the people. The participation of State service personnel across the nation in the Diamond Jubilee Union Day ceremony proved their trust over the State Administration Council in fair and correct management.
The reporter asked one more question that isn’t your insistence on characterizing the CDM/NUG/NUCC as linked to “terrorism”—in the same mould as Islamist terrorists—counter-reproductive in your efforts to win the hearts minds of the Myanmar people? Why don’t you take a middle ground position? In his response, the Union Minister said CDM/ NUG/ NUCC groups were declared as terrorist organizations as they commit destruction to life and property of the people, blowing up of roads and bridges, setting fire to towns and villages and killing for no reason against the innocent people. As unlawful killings, setting fires, blowing up and exploding as well as accusing the people of informants are acts of terrorism, in reality, any country and government cannot accept these unlawful acts. So, CDM/ NUG/ NUCC are exactly identified as inhumane terrorist groups.
The Union minister continued his clarification, saying that during the period from 1 February 2021 to 20 January 2022, terrorists destroyed 525 bridges and roads, 27 hospitals and clinics and 504 schools and education buildings, killed 20 Buddhist monks, 95 government service personnel and left 153 personnel injured. In 9,437 terror acts within a year, 4,338 terrorists were arrested along with seizures of 5,606 assorted arms, 161,556 assorted ammunition, 1,890 grenades and 11,424 homemade mines/mines. CDM/ NUG/ NUCC terrorist groups violate the laws to undermine the peace and stability of the State by posing threats to the people with brutally killing Buddhist monks and people.
(To be continued)