Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Delivers a Speech at 2/2023 Meeting of State Administration Council

The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) attended the 2/2023 meeting of the SAC which was held at the meeting hall of the SAC Chairman Office in Nay Pyi Taw on 23 February, and delivered a speech at the meeting.

The Chairman of the SAC Prime Minister delivered an opening speech at the meeting as follows:

• It is the first meeting after an extension for another six months for the state of emergency, and in which the reformed SAC members attended.
• It will have to strive for the success of the newly road map and objectives adopted by the SAC.
• The state of the emergency period has been extended for another six months as there does not prevail stability and peace for hundred per cent, thereby arising the need to restore the stability and peace to be able to hold the free and fair election.
• The free and fair election is to be held across the nation in such a way that everybody will have the right to vote.
• The people have the right to decide as to whether they will vote or not, however, the duty of the government to make necessary arrangements to enable all people to vote. The government is required to protect the voters against the threats and/or pressures and to ensure stability and peace at the time of voting.
• The country is not hundred per cent stable and peaceful because of the attacks made by certain EAOs and the so-called PDF terrorists and it is necessary to continue to restore stability and peace to the country.
• Concerning the political parties, the political parties are rather weak in fulfilling the aspirations of the people and their regions, and they cannot win the love and trust of the voters. Therefore, the political parties must have to represent the people and their regions for fulfilling the public aspirations.
• Parties that took part in the election will be able to answer the voice of the people and realize the national aspirations only if their candidates won the parliamentary seats. In this regard, the Political Parties Registration Law had been amended.
• Party leaders must be provided with the opportunities to understand the public aspirations and needs. A certain extent of time is required for the people to observe about the political parties and their leaders.
• The last census of Myanmar was conducted in 2014 and there is almost a ten year gap. So, some data are needed to be confirmed again.
• The government presented the need to extend the state of emergency period for another six months to the Pro Tem President as more time is needed for the hundred percent in readiness.
• And as requested by the Pro Tem President, the SAC government has declared martial law in certain regions to restore stability and peace.
• Imposing martial law is not to restrict the people but to effectively control the activities of terrorists who are trying to undermine the interests of the people.
• Emphasis must be placed on stability in areas where priority should be given to security, stability and the rule of law.
• To effectuate national prosperity and ensure food security, the government has been carrying out people-centred development activities. It should be aware that the prosperity is directly linked to the stability.
• As for food security, the government has now been encouraging manufacturing based on agriculture and livestock breeding.
• If the socioeconomic life of the people from basic strata can be promoted, the country will prosper. As the SAC is promoting not only the interests of a small group of people but the interests of the majority of people, members of the SAC are required to place emphasis on the tasks.
• At the national level, rice sufficiency is 142 per cent. If the regions which are not self-sufficient are needed to boost per acre, it will contribute to local self sufficiency of rice.
• In carrying out agriculture tasks. It is important to meet the targeted yields. Agricultural land must be expanded in some areas if necessary.
• To make human resources necessary for agriculture and livestock breeding tasks available, a high quality of education for students has been encouraged.
• Regarding education, basic education schools have been reopened but some cannot be back to school for lack of security or economic reasons. We want them all back to school in the coming academic year. Responsible officials are required to take necessary measures to urge all students to return to school in the upcoming academic year.
• As Myanmar is an agricultural and livestock breeding country, it needs skilled workers in the sectors. During the term of the SAC, new agriculture and livestock breeding institutes have been opened, and agriculture, livestock breeding and engineering technologies courses will be taught at schools in 50 districts.
• The multiparty democratic system will be exercised and, in the executive sector, we are building a Union system based on democracy and federalism.
• In this regard, the executive power will be delegated to all states and regions in an appropriate manner because the federalism is sharing the power.
• Regarding federal rights, it can be found that the laws, rules and procedures to be adopted by the Union level, region and state levels and self-administered zone level prescribed fully in the Tables (1, 2, 3 and 5) of the constitution have not been completed yet.
• In discussing with the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), the Tatmadaw is doing its best to have a balance between their needs and desires and what the State should deserve.
• In democracy, Hluttaw is the highest political stage. Ethnic groups for their part must represent the Hluttaw on a larger scale in the political stage for demanding their rights under the law. Therefore, a certain enough time is needed for political parties.
• There were some criticisms, responses and desires when the state of emergency period was extended for next six months, after the SAC’s two year duty report had been presented to the Pro Tem President. In this regards, we analyzed and reviewed their criticisms.
• According to the findings, there are three major points: to hold elections again, to ensure peace and stability, and to stabilize commodity prices.
• For peace and stability, martial law was imposed in some townships. According to the past experiences, the Tatmadaw is acting in accord with the law.
• Currently, Tatmadaw is taking measures to ensure genuine democracy and strengthened democracy.
• Election is the prestige of a country. So, efforts must be made to ensure an honorable election. It is still necessary to take time to ensure correct voter lists.
• Regarding the commodities prices, the rise in the prices is because of the trade deficit in the past due to the imbalance of import and export.
• Despite the rise in commodities prices in our country, there has been no lack of basic commodities.
• Encouragement is being given to domestic commodity production to ensure increase in the nation’s earnings. The government must be striving to ensure a decrease in the prices.
• In the area of international relations, Myanmar is giving special consideration to friendship relations with other nations and international organizations by upholding our nation’s sovereignty and national interest.
• The current situation in the country is only our internal affairs. The forthcoming election is just our nation’s election, not a world election.
• As the motto saying “Keep Moving Forward to Achieve Our Goal”, we will move on ensuring development of the nation. Then, members of the SAC presented their suggestions on ensuring stability and peace of the country.

After hearing the reports presented by the relevant officials, the Senior General gave necessary instructions as follows: 

• Appointing SAC members is based on experience of politics and administration and duties to be discharged. In this regard, SAC members have been appointed to represent all the ethnic peoples as much as possible.
• The Council members are to make efforts looking forward to the interests of the State. As the Council is the highest level organization of the State, each Council member is to act in accordance with the status of the Council.
• As what we are doing is taking the responsibilities as a milestone, our endeavours could be tested, and must be a standard one.

Also present were SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway, Joint-Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, SAC members and officials.

Source: GNLM (24-2-2023)

• The state of the emergency period has been extended for another six months as there does not prevail stability and peace for hundred per cent, thereby arising the need to restore the stability and peace to be able to hold the free and fair election.
• The country is not hundred per cent stable and peaceful because of the attacks made by certain EAOs and the so-called PDF terrorists and it is necessary to continue to restore stability and peace to the country.
• The political parties must have to represent the people and their regions for fulfilling the public aspirations.
• As the needs to prioritize for ensuring the State peace and stability requested by the Pro Tem President, the SAC government has declared martial law in certain regions to restore stability and peace.
• Imposing martial law is not to restrict the people but to effectively control the activities of terrorists who are trying to undermine the interests of the people.
• The government has been carrying out people-centred development activities. It should be aware that the prosperity is directly linked to the stability.
• During the term of the SAC, new agriculture and livestock breeding institutes have been opened, and agriculture, livestock breeding and engineering technologies courses will be taught at schools in 50 districts.
• In the area of international relations, Myanmar is giving special consideration to friendship relations with other nations and international organizations by upholding our nation’s sovereignty and national interest.