SAC Information Team holds 14th Press Conference
NAY PYI TAW May 19
The 14th Press Conference of the Information Team of the State Administration Council was held at the Ministry of Information this afternoon and it was attended by Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun of the information team, Member U Khin Maung Oo of the Union Election Commission, members of the information team, representatives of respective ministries, officers from the Tatmadaw Information Team, invited guests, news agencies and reporters from local newspapers, local television stations, foreign news agencies based in Myanmar.
Before the press conference, necessary health tests were carried out for prevention of COVID-19 and attendees were given seats arranged at the required distances.
First, Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun explained the wellintended, pragmatic and effective efforts of the SAC government during its assumption of state duties to strengthen the multi-party democracy system in the interest of the national peoples, the invitation of the SAC Chairman to all ethnic armed organizations for an honest and frank discussions to enable the entire national people to enjoy the taste of democracy, peace and development. He added that paving the way for direct talks between the head of state himself and individual EAOs is a rare opportunity in the peace process of Myanmar and opening the door to frank discussions between major decision makers. Then, he said that the government and peace-loving people appreciate the good intentions for peace, public interest and regional development of ten EAOs that will participate in peace talks including seven signatories to the NCA such as the DKBA, KNU-KNLA/PC, PNLO, NMSP, ALP, RCSS (SSA) and LDU and non-signatories to the NCA such as the UWSA, NDAA and SSPP (SSA). He added that leaders of the ten EAOs who will participate in the peace talks were decision makers of their organization and the talks will start on 20 May.
He continued to explain the targeted killings and assassination of monks by so-called PDF, the objectives of terrorists and terrorist organizations to slash the main root of Sasana and their backgrounds, the need to protect the religion professed by majority of the people and measures taken to effectively take action against threats and physical attacks against monks when information andcomplaints are received.
Regarding the education, efforts made by the government to give special consideration on enabling every citizen to complete at least KG+9 (middle school level) education as one third of the population are at the middle school education level as per the 2014 and 2019 censuses, setting the students enrollment week for basic education high schools from May 26 to June 1 for the 2022-2023 academic year and reopening of the schools on June 2, providing school textbooks and stationery to students at KG and Grade-1 to 11 on a free education basis and school uniforms for students at primary level, re-invitation by the government for teachers, who are absent from duty, through the state media starting May 16, 2022, to resume duties due to the need of experienced teachers for improvement of new generation youths’ education, appointing more basic education teachers, reopening universities and degree colleges starting May 12, 2022, and attendance of the students, efforts for improvementof education in Chin State, sector-wise measures being taken by the Central Bank of Myanmar to ensure stability of currency, monetary and foreign exchange rates, measures being taken to achieve the objective of ensuring stability in domestic prices and implement the monetary policy, measures being taken to ensure adequate cash in the banking sector and provide more assistance for easy monetary services, measures being taken to ensure no excess hike in domestic gold prices and no disorder in the local market and not to trade the metal above the achievable price, rumours on businesses and businessmen, and measures being taken by the government to deal with undisciplined, unprocedural acts in political, economic and administrative sectors and acts being taken far beyond the proper procedure so that they will be back on the right path.
Next, Member of Union Election Commission U Khin Maung Oo made another PowerPoint presentation on preparations being made by the UEC for the multi-party democracy general election to be held and measures being taken by UEC including compilation of voting lists and inspection over political parties.
Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, U Khin Maung Oo and officials of departmental information teams replied to the queries raised by the reporters of news agencies.
To enable the media outlets to be referenced, documents and photos on the efforts made by the State Administration Council on peace, education, politics and finance and measures taken by UEC were on display at the press conference.
Press conferences by the Information Team of the State Administration Council will be held twice a month starting this month. Full coverage of questions and answers at the present conference will be published later.