National Defence and Security Council of Republic of Union of Myanmar holds meeting 2/2022
NAY PYI TAW July 31
The National Defence and Security Council of the Republic of Union of Myanmar held the meeting 2/2022 at the meeting hall of the National Defence and Security Council here this morning.
Present were Acting President U Myint Swe, Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw U T Khun Myat, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army)Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Union Minister for Defence General Mya Tun Oo, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, specially invited guests, SAC Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo. Vice-President U Henry Van Thio asked for a leave of absence from the meeting.
Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing explained the progress of work implemented in accord with the roadmap during the State of emergency period and future programs. He said the SAC government’s duration in office will reach one year and six months (18 months) on 1 August 2022 from the time it started assuming the State duties after declaring the State of emergency.
The government’s oneyear service in office was reported at the NDSC meeting 1/2022 participated by leaders and members of NDSC. The NDSC approved to extend the government’s term of office for another six months starting from 1 February 2022 in accord with the Constitution due to the situation of that time. He then presented a report on progress of work and accomplishments of the government during the period.
As regards the point “The Union Election Commission will be reconstituted and its mandated tasks, including the scrutiny of voter lists, shall be implemented in accordance with the law” of the five-point Roadmap, he said SAC established a new five-member UEC with U Thein Soe as the chair under the Order No (7/2021) on 12 February 2021. According to the findings of UEC, there were 38,271,447 (over 38.27 million) eligible voters during the 2020 election and a difference of 11,305,390 in numbers because of the involvement of 4,869,427 NRC-less voters and two/three/-time voters with single NRC, centenarians voters and age 18 and below voters. UEC has already announced its findings.
The Senior General said there were also many complaints concerning the election. Of the 1, 077 election-related cases, 546 were found to be against the Election Law. Of them 345 cases were under prosecution, 200 were closed and one under the process of seeking legal counsel.
A total of 2,417 responsible persons were prosecuted for their failure to systematically supervise the election process.
Legal cases were also opened against 479 persons for their involvement in vote rigging and unlawful acts. Plans are underway to take legal action against the persons who voted two or more times.
Led by UEC, the combined inspection teams with the participation of representatives of the relevant departments scrutinized the political parties in accord with the articles 18 and 23 of the Political Parties Registration Law and compiled voter lists. The inspection process will continue.
UEC met with political parties four times during the 18-month period to review the Election Law and election systems.
The correctness of the voter lists at the basic levels is the core of an election. A total of 4,869,472 (over 4.8 million) NRC-less voters cast votes at the 2020 election.
The nation-wide ongoing Pankin project has projected to issue 3,491,364 NRCs for elegible voters, FRCS and naturalized citizenship certificates during the 18-month period from 3-5-2021 to 3-11-2022. The project has completed issuing 3,340,130 (about 3.3 million) cards. Efforts are being made to meet the 100 percent target.
Relevant township election sub-commissions started functions of checking the household registration form-66/6 of relevant township immigration and population departments and ward/village-tract ground population of township general administration departments and implementing the pilot project on checking the ground population for correctness of basic voter lists of the pilot project as of 14 February 2022.
Up to 25 July, the tasks of 298 townships have been completed, and tasks of 14 townships are underway with remaining tasks of 13 townships. The townships where the checking process needs to be done are located in Kayah and Chin states, Sagaing and Magway regions where peace cannot be restored due to acts of violence. It is necessary to continue the tasks for completion.
With regard to task (2) that current COVID-19 preventive measures will be accelerated effectively, COVID-19 virus was found on 23 March 2020 in Myanmar. During the period the government took the State responsibilities from 31 January 2021 to 31 January 2022, there were 395,668 patients with positive result, 388,832 curedpatients and 16,185 people dead.
From February 2022 to 28 July, there were 78,477 COVID-19 patients, 79,592 of which were cured and 124 persons died. As the government accelerated prevention and control of the pandemic, infection rate and death rate rapidly declined. The number of patients which have been cured comprised number of the cured patients who suffered from the disease before the period, so, number of cured patients was larger.
Up to 26 July, more than 36 million of people, 36,047,094 persons have been given vaccination in the nation. With regard to vaccination, more than 85 percent of population in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, Bago and Mandalay regions, and less than 40 percent in Kayah State and Sagaing Region. Some parts of these regions are lack of peace and stability, so vaccination rate plunged into the set level. Hence, arrangements will be made for continuous vaccinating the people from these regions to meet the set rates and ensuring peace and stability there.
Regarding the purchase of vaccinations till 3 July 2022, 45 million of vaccination doses were purchased from China, India and Russia. A total of 31,591,600 doses of donated vaccinations were accepted from China, India, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan’s Nippon Foundation, GAVI, Covax Facility and AHA Center. As of 1 April, Myanmar has been producing vaccinations. Till 1 July, Myanmar has produced 4,091,625 (more than 4 million) doses. A total of 80,683,225 (more than 80 million) doses were accepted from donation and purchase. Agreements were signed to purchase more 1.4 million doses of vaccines.
It is necessary to upgrade health services for enhancement of individual average lifespan for building the healthy and fit human society, beef up the awareness for the people to know safety foods, inspect foodstuffs for ensuring safety, use modern medicines and treatment equipment for health sector, and prioritize production of vaccines and vaccination process for ensuring prevention of COVID-19 and give health coverage to the entire nation.
The work process (3) concerning rapid remedying the businesses caused by COVID-19 in various ways, the COVID-19 affects businesses of global countries including that of Myanmar. So, the businesses affected by COVID-19 pandemic will be remedied in various ways. Before the term of this government, the country has been gradually burdening larger and larger foreign debts year by year. There are more than US$-15.57 billion of foreign debts, and US$-4.14 billion has been paid back till 31 March 2022. The remaining amount of debts is more than US$-11.42 billion. The government is paying back some US$-700 million of government and private loans yearly. Hence, within one year period of the government arranged increase of export goods and reduction of unnecessary import products. In previous two terms of governments, they had US$-24.71 billion of trade deficiency. Mainly, they did not encourage production
of domestic products and imported them abroad. According to the trade condition, from February 2021 to date, export volume was worth US$-15.37 billion and import volume US$-15.37 billion, totalling trade volume US$-31.75 billion with US$-1 billion of trade surplus.
Trust in banks declined due to inside and outside instigations, they could not operate normal. But with government support, they have all been able to operate regularly. For easing the restrictions on businesses, measures are being taken to reduce interest rates or wait for a certain period and ensure revenues that the State deserve are received. To revive the agricultural and livestock breeding businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ks-2,335.49 billion of agricultural loans have been disbursed to farmers and breeders. Plans have been made to pay Ks-400 billion out of the remaining fund of Ks-491.18 billion for the socioeconomic development of rural people who rely on agricultural and livestock breeding under the permission of the COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment National Central Committee.
Due to the pandemic and political situations, 291 private factories and workshops with 104,798 workers halted their operations. During a period between 1 February 2021 and 18 July 2022, 114 new factories were opened and 100 old ones reopened totalling 214. Therefore, 54,819 workers returned to their work. We hereby report the need to take measures for all the private manufacturing businesses to re-operate so all the workers can return to work.
Public transport services almost halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, political situations and high fuel prices, leading to commodity price hikes. The government is trying to ensure that the people rely more on public transportation. With decreasing COVID-19 cases and the political situation beginning to get stable, public transport services have become more operative in the past six months compared to the previous year.
Regular domestic flights were reopened on 17 April after the COVID-19 restrictions on the hardest-hit towns had been lifted. Sixteen international airlines are operating and there were 116,758 Myanmar citizens who departed the country and 78,614 Myanmar citizens who entered the country while 19,963 foreigners who entered the country and 18,970 foreigners who departed the country till 29 July this year.
With burgeoning population in our country, more and more sources for their living conditions are getting necessary.
As an average person consumes about 155 kilograms (about 97 pyis) of rice a year, the current paddy cultivation acreage is enough. Efforts to boost yields will earn much more national income. As regards cooking oil, much has to be imported with foreign exchange due to domestic insufficiency. So, plans are being made to extend cultivation of sunflower that can produce about 140 viss of oil per acre in any place. In 2022-2023, it has been targeted to cultivate over 1.5 million acres of sunflower across the country. Ks-100.248 billion will be loaned to sunflower growers.
These measures are aimed at facilitating the government’s efforts to reduce poverty of rural people. Constant efforts are being exerted to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas and to increase the socio-economy of the people.
Based on agriculture, our country cultivated 17.306 million acres of paddy in 2019-2020, and about 17 million acres in 2020-2021. There were 14.926 million acres of monsoon paddy and 2.276 million acres of summer paddy. Efforts are being made to improve per-acre yield of paddy, a major crop of the country. Ks-400 billion will be invested in growing summer paddy, pea, maize and oil crops under a contract farming system in the coming cultivation season.
When it comes to carrying out Task (4): "To emphasize the achievement of enduring peace for the entire nation in line with the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA)”, internal peace and stability is crucial for national development. This is why, the Tatmadaw issued a statement on ceasefire and eternal peace on 21 December 2018. There have been 21 peace statements till 28 February 2022.
The government formed the Central Committee for National Unity and Peacemaking, the working committee and the coordination committee on February 17, 2021 and the peace process was promoted. During the 18 months, the Chairman of the State Administration Council, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and the EAO members met 9 times and the coordination committee, EAO groups, political parties, and other organizations that want peace met for 75 times and able to discuss about peace, the welfare of the country and the region.
As the year 2022 has been set as the year of peace, it is necessary to implement peace practically, I personally want to discuss with the leaders of the ethnic armed organizations on April 22. A total of ten ethnic armed groups including seven of the ethnic armed groups that have already signed the NCA and three of the ethnic armed groups that have not signed the NCA yet, responded to meet and discuss. Nine of them have already been met, and the remaining one group will be met in early August. We would like to report that we will continue to hold further meetings with the groups for the second time as soon as possible.
The Senior General said discussions were also held for implementation of multi-party democracy in accordance with the will of the people, and building a union based on democracy.
In addition to a friendly and open discussion about what is really needed and should be and what is desired for the region and the country and federalism regarding the agreements in part (1/2/3) of the Union Agreement and regarding the points to be discussed in Table (2) that remain to be discussed in Part (3) and the agreements were signed.
Regarding the invitation to meet and discuss the leaders of the ethnic armed organizations for peace, the invitation was made again for the ethnic armed organizations that had not attended at the first meeting on June 14 and EAOs (ethnic armed organizations) will also need to cooperate.
From February 1 to July 23, 2021, 6,311 weapons, 335,184 ammunition of various types and 11,715 grenades/mines of all kinds that were brought into the country in various ways that were captured from terrorists. We have found out that the terrorist incidents that occurred only in areas controlled by KIA, KNU and KNPP, which supplies military equipment including manpower, weapons and munitions. The seized weapons are KIA-made weapons and weapons from the Thai-Myanmar border in KNU controlled area. Therefore, it is necessary to take time to ensure that there are no illegally manufactured and imported weapons.
There were many ways including forming the illegal committee, parallel government, terrorist organizations to prevent stability and peace on serving in accordance with the constitution of our government.
Within 18 months from February 1, 2021, to July 22, 2022, a total of 14,907 incidents including 7,246 grenade/homemade grenades and mine attacks, 6,567 cases of assassinations, 1,094 arson attacks, occurred.
A total of 3,483 innocent civilians including government employees, administrative officials, monks and nuns, and children, were killed, 3,065 were injured, and 41 were missing.
There were 4,026 terrorist attacks in Sagaing Region, 2,442 times in Yangon Region, 2,194 times in Mandalay Region and 1,395 incidents occurred in Magway Region. As the highest number of incidents occurred in these areas, the Senior General expressed the need to continue to ensure safety, calm and peaceful and the rule of law to restore to the original conditions.
Efforts are being made to prevent and suppress the dangers of narcotics, which will make the entire nation be ruined.
The total amount of drugs and related goods seized in 2021 was over Ks-970,288.9714 million (US$-524.48 million). From January to May in 2022, more than Ks-576,416.6651 million (US$-311.58 million) worth of drugs and related items were seized. As the value seized in the five months of 2022 was more than half of the value seized in 2021, the anti-narcotics activities were accelerated in our government era. As they have already identified that these drugs mainly come from Shan State, it would be necessary to identify and suppress the drug production and transportation until there are no sales at all.
Then, the Senior General briefed the meeting on implementation of the task-5 stated in the five-point roadmap, "Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair multi-party democratic elections will be held in line with the 2008 Constitution, and further work will be undertaken to hand over State duties to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards,” saying “The SAC government has been taking measures with the aim of holding free and fair multi-party democracy elections.
I have reported on implementation of task-1 and remaining measures to be taken fully.
The free and fair multi-party general elections are fundamental to the strengthening of the disciplined multi-party democracy system. Functions of the government are operated after respective Hluttaws and the government have been formed. Therefore, I would like to point out that it is important to enable all the national races and representatives of the people and social classes in the entire country and to hold elections in the entire country without leaving any constituencies.
Since the multi-party democracy system was first adopted in the country, three general elections have been held. Out of 330 townships in the country, elections were held in 325 townships in the 2010 elections, in 323 townships in the 2015 elections and 315 townships in the 2020 elections. It can be seen that the number of townships where elections were held decreased one general election after another. It should be noted that the number of ethnic areas that lost democratic rights increased during the terms of democratically elected governments that promised to the democracy system.
I would like to point out that there are many steps to be taken for holding elections in the entire country without leaving any constituencies.
It was said that elections did not take place in some townships due to the lack of stability.
The main reason for lack of stability, especially the presence of armed conflicts, is the emergence of ethnic armed organizations.
To solve the issue, the government understands that it is necessary to promote the rights of national races and their areas. I would like to point out that it is important to take measures to enable national races and representatives of ethnic areas and social classes to participate in the Hluttaw, the legal political platform.
All 92 political parties in the country can be classified into three groups including (1) there are 43 political parties that are based on political ideologies, (2) 30 regional political parties and (3) 19 ethnic political parties.
As the current First Past The Post -FPTP is not perfect to implement comprehensive representation, measures are being taken to include the proportional representation systems in the electoral system. To do so, relevant organizations including the election commission still need to make preparations and take necessary measures.
It is also necessary to reform political parties in line with the electoral system and to launch comprehensive awarenessraising campaigns on the electoral system among the public. I would like to point out that it takes time for preparations and implementation.
Then, the Senior General briefed the meeting on the strengthening of the genuine and disciplined multi-party democracy system, saying,“Today, the Tatmadaw is assuming state responsibilities in accordance with the constitution because responsible officials of the previous government, representatives and election officials violated the constitutions and existing laws. The nascent democracy system of the country was wilting. It is important not to allow such undesirable incidents to repeat. Measures must be taken to prevent democracy bullying, establishing dictatorship under the guise of democracy and giving priority to personal cult instead of institutions.
Measures must be taken to prevent unacceptable irregularities in elections. It is vital to lay down foundations at present for the future and to strengthen fundamental rules.
The government is taking such measures in the interest of the people and the country in the future.
It is essential to further strengthen the genuine and disciplined multi-party democracy system in the country. The Tatmadaw has firmly guaranteed the multiparty democracy system and the union based on democracy and federalism. Under Section 20 (f) of the constitution, the Defence Services is mainly responsible for safeguarding “Our Three Main National Causes,” stipulated in Section 6, 7 and 8, the multi-party democracy system and the union system.
The Tatmadaw will continue to discharge such responsibilities as the guardian in the interests of the country and the people.
Then, the Senior General briefed the meeting on the need to extend the term of the SAC government for another six months in accordance with the provisions on state of emergency of the constitution in order to accomplish the responsibilities.
Then, Acting President U Myint Swe invited each council member to discuss the extension of the government in accordance with Section 425 of the constitution.
Council members discussed in unanimous support for the extension of state of emergency in the entire country for another six months in accordance with the mandates under Section 421 (b) and Section 425.
In his additional participation in the discussion, the Senior General said what he presented is based on the true situation. Although we offered to hold a dialogue as there had been differences in ballot since the end of the 2020 General Election, the previous government ignored it.
We are discharging duties of the State in accordance with the Constitution and have been acting in line with the existing laws.
The Tatmadaw is formed to defend the country against external enemies and not to ensure internal security. But, only if the government assigns the Tatmadaw when it is necessary according to the situation of the nation, it discharges duties for internal security. It has jointly taken duties of defense and internal security upon assigned tasks since the AFPFL government.
Despite making efforts to implement the five-point consensus of ASEAN since 2021, it had been difficult to carry out it due to the outbreak of COVID-19. We are trying to implement it.
We are also making efforts to ensure peace politically and stability economically. As we are moving forward to the Union based on democracy and federalism, tasks will be carried out to ensure full rights of ethnic people and enable Hluttaw representatives of ethnic people to participate in the Hluttaws.
Then, Acting President U Myint Swe participated in the discussion saying that it is seen that the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services fully briefed on the state of duties of the State being taken by the State Administration Council over the last 18 months in accordance with the Five-Point RoadMap and the Nine Objectives laid down itself. It is recognized that SAC has safeguarded Our Three Main National Causes, national interest of the State, enduring amid the acts of obstruction and disturbance at home and abroad.
It is the Tatmadaw, a well-andsystematically-organized institution that has appeared and stood front to defend the State whenever there were difficult crises and hue disputes in the country. There were malpractices of vote in the 2020 Election during the reign of the previous government. The Tatmadaw tried and urged the previous government time and again to hold negotiation talks to find a solution to the claims of the organizations and persons concerned.
All learnt that as the socalled democratic government and its officials ignored the way of holding the requested talks and did as they please, the followup consequences happened.
According to the Constitution, the Tatmadaw is mainly responsible to protect the Constitution, to safeguard Our Three Main National Causes, and to safeguard the true, fully disciplined multiparty democracy system. Those duties are not created but assigned historically. In our country these days, it is seen that the State Administration Council formed by the Tatmadaw in accordance with the
Constitution has been discharging duties of the State in line with the Five-Point RoadMap, the Nine Objectives, the two national tasks, and the two political tasks. Moreover, it is safeguarding and maintaining the true, fully disciplined multiparty democracy system and doing action to ensure compatibility between people’s democracy system and national democracy system. It is also seen that SAC is building a foundation based on democracy and federalism in order that the future Union will be firm.
It has been heard that belief is courage. It is believed that the SAC and the Tatmadaw will dutifully discharge duties assigned historically. According to the current situation of the nation and tasks to be done, all the members of National Defence and Security Council including me unanimously support the State Administration Council to extend the period of state of emergency declared nation-wide according to the politics of the nation for further six months to ensure emergence of free and fair multi-party democracy general election that will strengthen true, fully disciplined multi-party democracy system and help build a Union based on democracy and federalism.
Therefore, as per the decisions agreed by all the members of National Defence and Security Council who are attending the meeting today and authority under Article 421 (b) of the Constitution, I would let the National Defence and Security Council know that it is declared that the state of emergency declared nation-wide according to the politics of the nation is extended for another six months
starting from August 1, 2022 according to Article 425 of the Constitution and that responsibilities of the State is further handed over to the Chairman of State Admini-stration Council and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services for the another six months according to Article 419 of the Constitution. The National Defence and Security Council itself will issue the announcement. I would like to urge SAC to be dutiful in discharging duties assigned historically as a guardian, to make necessary efforts to ensure rule of law, law and order, improvement of socio-economic life of the people and true, fully disciplined multi-party democracy system.
Then, the Meeting 2/2022 of the National Defence and Security Council concluded.
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