NAY PYI TAW May 12
State Administration Council held its meeting 4/2022 at the meeting hall of SAC Chairman’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon,addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, 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 Hsai, Saw Daniel, Dr Banya Aung Moe, Lt-Gen Soe Htut, U Shwe Kyein and Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway, and officials.
Ongoing peace talks with EAOs for internal peace
The Senior General said theolive branch was extended on 22 April. This year celebrated the Diamond Jubilee Union Day and 2023 will hold the Diamond Jubilee Independence Day. People have not enjoyed the taste of peace and democracy till now. Differences triggered conflicts. The need to peacefully settle the conflicts was mentioned in the 75th Anniversary Union Day address and 77th Anniversary Armed Forces Day address. Although the relevant organizations are also striving to achieve peace, there are some limits. So progress cannot be made as much as it deserves. Some EAOs are facing difficulties due to the existence PDF terrorists. Hence, the Senior General himself has extended the olive branch. Arrangements are underway to hold a meeting soonest.
Organization-wise separate meetings with the Senior General have been arranged to achieve an answer within a short period. The invitation was made to hold talks freely. The discussion will produce an answer, and further discussions will be held. The discussions will be made through bilateral coordination. They need to maintain the essence of democracy and to ensure deserved rights and fairness. Only then can the taste of freedom and the essence of democracy be enjoyed.
The Tatmadaw strived to pave the path to democracy in accord with the public desire. Tatmadaw was born of people, and it is also a part of the nation. Democracy means a government elected by the majority. It is a country governed by the people. Requirements and demands of ethnic areas must be fulfilled and power and fruits must be shared with them. So, the Union system based on democracy and the federal system is the destination.
Myanmar was a kingdom till 1886 when it lost independence. The country was large during the reigns of Kings Anawrahta, Bayintnaung and Alaungphaya. During the times, the country’s area was much larger than the present. But the country lost its territories under colonialism. There were administrative bodies at different levels under the monarch and history proves his sovereign power over the country. Colonialists exercised direct rule over the Myanmar proper and a different administrative system in hill regions. But the colonialist government had the absolute administrative power. During the independence struggle, colonialists tried to separate the plains and hill regions in granting independence. But the chieftains of hill regions never accepted it. Hence, Panglong Conference was convened, Union spirit was established and the struggle to regain independence for the single Union was launched.
Myanmar exercised various constitutions such as democracy and socialism after regaining independence. The Constitution (2008) has given sharing of powers, so it can be seen the constitution was drawn in line with the federalism.
In holding the peace talks, leaders of ethnic armed organizations were invited together with two members for holding discussions. So far, seven NCA signatories and three non-NCA signatories replied to attend the talks.
Although invitation was extended to leaders themselves of the EAOs to attend the talks, chairmen of some groups sent their representatives. Those representatives must have guarantees for the talks. The Senior General decided to seek an effective answer in the forthcoming peace talks. Negotiation will cover the desires of EAOs and the country. The talks will be arranged to be beneficial. The council meeting will discuss the topics for the talks. This address is just holding meeting for peace and the separate meeting will be held.
Need for all students to learn education
Exam results of all basic education schools were released on 24 April. Arrangements are being made to reopen the basic education schools as usual in June, and teachers will be appointed.
Likewise, arrangements arebeing made to reopen universities and colleges for learning of students. Efforts are being made to turn out qualified faculty members for adequate appointment. All faculty members must be qualified.
All students of basic and higher education must attend the schools. If they do not complete learning education, not only students and parents but also the State will face loss. It will be loss for workable forces as well as for the individual citizens. Hence, all students are urged to learn education. So far, more than 50 percent of students have enroll medical universities.
Health care services for the people and vaccination of COVID-19 pandemic
Health staff members depleted in the public health services. Hence, medical corps members of the Tatmadaw are assigned at the regions that need health staff, and graduated health staff will be appointed to serve the State duties. Likewise, needs of hospitals are being fulfilled for health services as must as possible.
With regard to the COVID-19, as infection rate was high in 2021, the people overcame difficulties through concerted efforts. Now, infection rate went down to 0.2 percent. The WHO stated that if the international community faces less than 5 percent of infection rate, it reaches controllable situation. But, all the people need to continuously abide by the COVID-19 restrictions. More than once COVID-19 vaccination has been given to the people of 18 years and above accounting for 92 percent. As vaccination coverage is less than in regions and states, especially in Chin State and Sagaing Region, efforts are being made to vaccinate those people as much as possible. Now, vaccination covers the people above 15 years. The students above 12 have been vaccinated.
Need for development of economy
In its tenure, the government faced trade deficiency. So, import was reduced and export was prioritized. Now, the country has trade surplus. Outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021 hindered the inflow of foreign investment as expected. Export and import volumes declined than that of previous years. Hence, the governmet made efforts for earning incomes. If consumption of fuel and cooking oil can be saved, spending of foreign exchange will be reduced. The country has land resources for cultivation of edible oil crops. If mixed and durable crops can be cultivated for achieving success in agricultural tasks, GDP of the State will increase. The government needs to fulfill the needs of farmers for cull cultivation. It is necessary to raise peracre yield and arrange systematic harvesting. Efforts must be made for taking adequate volume of bio-fertilizers produced from livestock farms for supplying necessary inputs for agricultural tasks. All must strive for development of the State economy based on agricultur and livestock.
SAC members U Thein Nyunt, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Khin Maung Swe, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, U Moung Har, U Sai Lone Hsai, Saw Daniel and Dr Banya Aung Moe reported on holding of talks on democracy and federal rights, installation of monitoring machines for arms and ammunition at the entrances and exits of in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area, regions and states, continuation of the path open to the remaining EAOs to be able to attend peace talks, measures for use of crypto currency, control of live cattle export to prevent any harm to domestic consumption, breeding of foreign pedigrees of meat cow, welcoming of the EAOs that are going to attend the peace talks, ensuring that all those eligible are awarded honorary titles, ensuring that land management is done in accord with the law and procedures, holding of inter-ministry sports and games to mark the diamond jubilee of Independence Day, opening of basic healthcare courses in Sittwe of Rakhine State, measures to ensure that children in Chin State go to school regularly when school season comes, enforcing of the rules and disciplines on COVID-19 testing in some airlines, and exposing and taking of action against some corrupt service personnel in land issues.
The Senior General said effective action is being taken against any act jeopardizing the rule of law. When it comes to the peace issues, talks will be held with EAOs individually. The government and the Tatmadaw have guaranteed a union system based on multi-party democracy and federalism. Attention will be paid to security measures at the checkpoints of town exits and entrances. Plans are underway to launch online banking system and it is necessary to create jobs for ordinary people to earn their income.
Plans are being made to ensure public healthcare system covers the whole country. Arrangements are being made to fill the vacancies of health staff. To do this, regional peace is important so, peace efforts are being prioritized.
Our government is trying to build a peace foundation. Peace talks require trust, honesty and orientation towards the interests of the union. In considering democracy and federalism, we need to think of it to the extent of the whole country.
In his concluding remarks, the Senior General said: “When we discussed, we found that there are two groups. One is the group that has signed the NCA while the other is the group that have yet to sign it. There are seven groups in the NCA signatory group. Of the non-signatories, three will be attending the talks. There are three signaories that will not attend citing thier reasons. The KNU has decided not to attend although it was willing previoulsy. Some of the organizations from KNU, KIA and KNPP have connections with PDF and CRPH which we have declared as terrorist groups. We know that these groups also have links with foreign countries. This is why they issued thier statements refusing to attend the talks.
“As long as there is an external interference in internal affairs of the country, it is quite difficult to ensure the stability of the nation. It is for Myanmar citizens to decide the affairs of Myanmar. It is not possible that other foreign nations interfere in the nation’s affairs to make decisions. Only the Myanmar citizens have to make decisions on Myanmar’s affairs. Therefore, we will march forward until the political goal that we and the people want is achieved through holding the dialogues with our own strength. We have already laid down the five-point roadmap. Internal peace matters are much linked to achieving the goal of this five-point roadmap. Therefore, we are to take action in accordance with the desire of our people to achieve peace. If we act giving special consideration to a region or group only, we will find it difficult to meet the people’s desire. If there is a wish to achieve true peace, it is to come and join the dialogues. If there is a wish to see true democracy on our path toward the democratic system, if all the ethnic people living in the Union make efforts with a sense of Union spirit, if there is a sense of sentiment that our goal must be achieved whatever situation we are in, if we act with a sense of Union spirit, I am of opinion that there is no reason that this peace dialogue will not be successful.”
He also said that the democracy system is an administrative system decided by the people and federalism is a system in which authority and rights are shared. Federalism is an ideology that rights on undertaking are separated and exercised in the way that different regions, states, people and ethnic groups work collectively. It means integration and sharing. Our nation’s main requirement is to achieve national prosperity and plentiful foods. If all are able to manage job opportunities in accordance with democratic ways based on peace, there will be prosperity for the nation. To be able to do so, the government leading the nation always has to create opportunities. Only if such opportunities are created, will there be plentiful foods. Both matters are inter-related, and to be able to deal with such matters, it is necessary to act looking forward to achieving peace.