NAY PYI TAW June 16
State Administration Council held meeting 5/2022 at the meeting hall of SAC Chairman’s Office here 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 Lon Hsai, Saw Daniel, Dr Banya Aung Moe, U Shwe Kyein and Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo.
Overtures for perpetual peace
As regards the peace talks, the Senior General said, “I made peace overtures on 22 April as a support to achieve perpetual peace. Later certain signatories as well as non-signatories issued statements refusing to attend the meeting for various reasons. Certain groups kept their attitude quiet. But there are groups that want to attend the meeting, because actual discussions were beyond the expectations. So, there are EAOs that have realized the benefits of the discussions. Some still keep quiet as they are monitoring the responses of the groups that had already attended the meeting. In fact, they wish to come. One group contacted me recently. After consultations among us, we issued another statement the next day to facilitate their participation. Our peace initiative has two political goals – strengthening democracy and establishment of a Union based on democracy and federalism.
As the Tatmadaw stands firmly on these two goals, any groups, with different views can hold discussions, based on them.
Our peace program focuses more on the groups that hold arms. In this regard, we have made peace overtures.
Another topic is the Union based on democracy and federalism.
We are going to build a Union where democratic and federal administrations are combined.
Democracy guarantees equal rights, and this will be within the framework of law. Likewise, administrative powers must be shared equally in the federal system. We will have to set the degree of powers for townships, districts, states, self-administered areas and the Union. How will
the Union exercise the rest of the powers? Powering sharing must be fair. Roughly, federalism includes such practices. But the federal systems global countries are practicing vary from one another. So, we will adopt a system that is suitable for the country. All must have equal rights. It is my belief.” Terrorist attacks and preventive measures He said terrorism broke out on 3 March 2021. PDF terrorist group committed over 1,100 attacks. There were over 700 engagements in taking action against terrorists and 301 pistols, 707 assorted automatics, 672 hunting guns, 1,870 homemade guns, 653 home-made motors, totaling 4,203 were seized. Most of the automatics were supplied by certain EAOs, while some are imported ones.
Security forces, administrative staff and duty conscious people died or were wounded in curbing terrorism. Hence, the government is providing benefits they deserve.
Action has been taken against terrorists and their associates.
SAC has granted amnesty for many times. But action is being taken against certain persons taking part in terrorism or supporting terrorism. Those who committed brutal terrorist acts met with severe punishment and the government will continue to take effective action against them.
The need to achieve economic growth Regarding the economy, close supervision has been exercised during the period that I am taking responsibilities. There were trade deficits in the last two terms of democratic governments.
There are government-involved chapters and enterprises in the trade industry according to the nature of our country as well as private-run manufacturing businesses. During those terms, it is found that there were trade surpluses in the government sector but trade deficits in the private sector. It is necessary to handle the funds carefully as those funds are the money the government earned and that earned due to various reasons.
Therefore, at the time I am taking responsibility, import of some unnecessary goods on trade has been controlled and supervised, and necessary goods are allowed to be imported.
There has been an US$-1,140 million trade surplus from February, 2021 to May, 2022. In this fiscal year, there are loans to be repaid to foreign countries. It is seen that it is necessary to earn revenues for the State. So, we are making efforts to promote and support export industries to boost the private sector’s export volume.
We have given encouragement for the development of the national economy. Priority is being given to export of finished products rather than that of local products as raw materials.
Measures to restore banking services Regarding the banking services, there was uncertainty of the banking services as there had been political disturbances after we took the responsibilities.
As there were acts on with drawals of deposits due to fears, withdrawals of cash from banks on the purpose of economically motivated attack, and cash withdrawals without being in accordance with the set rules and regulations, closely supervised measures had been taken in order that banks would not collapse. As of January, the bank services have been almost restored but it is seen that some banks are still weak to restore such services due to the difficulties in staff strength.
Efforts are being made to get the banking services back to normal.
Measures being taken to enable students to learn in education What we are doing is that all children at school age could learn in education. For this, schools were reopened in 2021 but reclosed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This year, there has been an increase in enrollment at basic education high schools.
So far, about 6.7 million of students have been enrolled at schools and of them, about 6.3 million students have been in classrooms. By percentage, 94.1 percent of the enrolled students have been going to school. It is seen that some parents are weak in encouraging children in education. In regular transitions, 60 percent of students are only at KG to Grade-4. Those who have completed secondary education are only about 50 percent. Teachers are granted benefits depending on their
academic degrees and all the officials responsible for school administration are allowed to enjoy an extra 10 percent of their salaries. Such benefits are also allowed to be enjoyed at other universities. As there has been a bigger number of students learning in education in this academic year than that in the year earlier, it is a good sign for the nation.
COVID-19 outbreak and vaccination campaign In respect of COVID-19, the confirmed cases are just 0.14 percent in the country this month. The confirmed cases are 613,464 from the start of the outbreak to May 15. The fatalities were 19,434. There has been no more death yet this month.
Since the pandemic began, the percentage of confirmed cases has been just 0.07 on average so far. The pandemic is still happening in some countries in the world and so far the number of confirmed cases in total has reached about 592 million and the fatalities over 6.3 million.
Our country has much less in confirmed cases due to concerted efforts of the people and enthusiastic cooperation of civil servants and retired personnel.
However, as we still need some COVID-19 rules, some rules and restrictions remain effective. If the number of confirmed cases keeps going less, restrictions will be eased further. 78.2 million doses of vaccination have been received through purchase and donation. 64 million shots have been performed and efforts are being made to carry out more vaccination measures in the remaining regions. Officials concerned need to push the vaccination measures in their states and regions.
Measures being taken to boost sports sector Medal winners in the 31st SEA Games were rewarded. Of them, gold medal winners will be granted special permits to import cars. Such opportunities are offered to those who made good performance to win gold as gold medals bring honour to the State through letting the national flag fly above other nations’. It is seen that the athletes are working so hard that they will achieve success in the forthcoming 32nd SEA Games. We encourage the sports sector so that efforts will turn into successes in international sports events to bring honour to the State. Sports events are being held in states and regions and the sports event will take place in November and December marking the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of Independence Day. Athletes with good records in those events will be selected to reinforce national teams.
The need to take measures for development of agricultural and livestock sectors The industry that many can operate in the country is the manufacturing businesses based on agriculture and livestock.
Those businesses are vital in the nation’s economy. Other industries need other resources including capital, electricity, and human resources. The nation has more than 48 million cultivated acres – 11.7 million for sequential cropping and 34 million for intercropping.
If sequential cropping can be carried out in all the cultivated acres, there will be an increase in agricultural products as well as in job opportunities.
According to the population census, women make up 53 percent of the population of the country and it is necessary to utilize the labour of women in promoting their role. If agriculture and livestock breeding tasks can be carried out effectively on the existing land, agriculture and livestock products can be exported to other countries.
To that end, the country has sufficient land and if efforts can be made to boost yields instead of expanding current acreages, it would be beneficial for the country. Seeds, land, water and techniques play a key role in agriculture. It is learnt that Yesin Agricultural Research Department has been exerting efforts to provide quality varieties and measures are being taken to encourage more research.
As for the livestock breeding sector, there are more than of buffaloes, pigs and chicken in the country. It is necessary to utilize the livestock breeding sector beneficially. Efforts must be made to manufacture biofertilizers for agricultural farms from manure produced by livestock breeding farms. Agriculture and livestock breeding tasks require skilled larbourers and experts. Therefore, measures are being taken to open more agriculture and livestock breeding training schools and universities. Efforts must be made to help thrive agriculture and livestock breeding tasks by applying modern techniques instead of traditional methods.
If agriculture and livestock breeding tasks continue to thrive during the next two to three years, businesses in the country will see growth within the next five years. Plans are underway to supply sufficient fertilizers to achieve success in the agriculture sector. Efforts are also being exerted to produce fertilizers from coal while electricity can be generated from the waste heat produced during the process. It would be beneficial for the country if natural fertilizers can be produced locally. In utilizing water, natural fresh water must be utilized beneficially. There are water shortages in upper Myanmar as it receives lower rainfalls. However, there are shortages of fresh water even in areas like Rakhine State and Taninthayi Region, which receive higher rainfalls. To reduce the shortages, it is necessary to build rain water reservoirs while natural water resources are utilized beneficially. Everyone is urged to exert efforts to carry out agriculture and livestock breeding tasks properly as they can boost production.
Then, members of the SAC U Thein Nyunt, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Khin Maung Swe, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, U Sai Lon Hsai, U Moung Har and Saw Daniel reported on enacting laws to effectively take action against terrorists who committed the killings of monks, novices and nuns, employing more healthcare personnel to ease the shortages of doctors, to ban the participation of members of national races literature and culture committees in states and regions in party politics, coordinating with respective international sport bodies to include Myanmar traditional cane ball sport in the SEA Games to be held in Cambodia.
They discussed about to reorganize sports federations in Myanmar, to continue youth awareness seminars in schools, to solve the problems needed for the legitimate political parties to exist in accordance with the relevant laws, to fulfill the requirements for Kandawgyi water supply in Sittwe, Rakhine State, to loosen the time limit for pensioners in Mindat area to receive pensions, to arrange for students to study safely and securely, to speed up the process of obtaining passports for basic workers affected by COVID-19 and to make negotiations with those who should be involved in the peace process in Kayah State.
Regarding the discussions, the Senior General said that special courts were being set up to ensure the effective punishment of those who kill people from religious groups. Regarding the affairs of the political parties, the provisions of the election law and the registration law of political parties will be imple-mented only after appropriate amendments. In the field of health care, plans are being made to fill the needs of urban and rural doctors with the appointment of assistant health officers and to increase human resources. Arrangements will be made to include all Myanmar traditional sports in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Cambodia. Myanmar will coordinate with relevant regional and international organizations for the reorganization of sports federations in Myanmar. After schools are opened, youth awareness-raising seminars will be organized in schools.
It is needed to think of how to collect and use rainwater in areas where water is scarce and to conserve groundwater.
The needs to supply water in Kandawgyi Lake in Sittwe will be fulfilled. Delays in obtaining passports for migrant workers are due to the high number of workers who went to work in foreign countries these days.
The government must create job opportunities as much as possible for the citizens to work in the country. By doing so, domestic production will also increase. It is needed to invite those who should be involved in the peace process in Kayah State.
Then, the Senior General said in concluding remarks that discussions are underway with relevant ministries to open livestock and technical high schools at the district level for the development of the country's human resources. The successful students from these schools are trained and educated at colleges and universities by taking entrance exams through school of agriculture, livestock and technology to allow them to continue their education.
Only then the required human resources for agriculture and livestock sectors will be developed.
The government will do its best to provide adequate water in areas where there is a need.
Arrangements must be made for the construction and use of rain-storing pools and reservoirs in city, ward and house. The stored water needs to be used sparingly to avoid wastage.
There are many challenges related to education. Education plays an important role in democracy. Every school-age child needs to have KG +9 level.
We need to create educational opportunities. From that, the transition to the vocational education
system can continue.
The responsible officials in each region and state need to push for it, said the Chairman of the State Administration Council.