Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses SAC meeting 5/2023
Nay Pyi Taw October 26
The State Administration Council held the meeting 5/2023 at the meeting hall of SAC Chairman’s Office here this morning, 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 Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dway, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, SAC members and officials.
NCA 8th anniversary held objectively with full political essence on 15 October on a grand-scale
In his address, the Senior General said the eighth anniversary of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement was held objectively with full political essence on 15 October on a grand-scale. SAC stands firmly on NCA. Hence, the meaningful anniversary address included a review of the past, present and future.
Peace overtures to EAOs began in 2011 to sign the NCA.
At the initial peace dialogue, the need to let Our Three Main National Causes stay intact and to adhere to the 2008 Constitution was emphasized. At the initial dialogues to reach the NCA, the interest of the participating EAOs was high. The first of a series of meetings was held in Laiza, Kachin State, and another one was held in Lawkheela, Kayin State. First, a series of meetings and dialogues; they were then followed by dialogues with peace negotiators, Tatmadaw representatives, civilian representatives; and finally the NCA was signed. NCA is a government-guaranteed reliable agreement signed by the government, hluttaw, Tatmadaw, political parties and EAO leaders in the presence of local and foreign witnesses and was ratified by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. NCA may have requirements for both sides, but it was signed by the EAOs and government with good faith to fulfill all requirements through negotiations. The NCA is based on the aspirations of the national races. It is also the State’s commitment to look into the requirements of ethnic peoples.
As nothing is more important than the national cause, Our Three Main National Causes is being safeguarded and all actions are based on 2008 Constitution during the time State’s responsibilities are being served
The State Constitution is the highest law in a country, and a guarantee for nation-building tasks. All actions must follow the Constitution. As the multiparty general election is based on the 2008 Constitution, only the parties that adhere to it can take part in the election. The results of the country’s multiparty democracy general election held in 2010 and 2015 won international recognition, and in other words, it was recognition of the government that took over the duties in accord with the 2008 Constitution and also the Constitution.
The 2020 election was held with an erroneous voter list.
Political parties complained about the inequalities during the pre-election canvassing campaigns. Tatmadaw gave repeated warnings to ensure freeness and fairness in the election. Tatmadaw made preparations to cast votes in accord with election rules and gave serious attention to voting.
As the multi-party democracy general election is an event that shapes the country’s political landscape, it deserves serious attention. Although officials of the relevant commission office, government, hluttaw, and Supreme Court were informed to respond to the findings about the errors in the voter list, there was no response.
Instead, attempts were made to convene the hluttaw with the representatives that won seats through vote rigging. Hence, Tatmadaw declared a State of emergency in accord with the 2008 Constitution and assumed State duties. Certain countries were practicing double standards by recognizing the election based on the 2008 Constitution and not recognizing the assumption of State duties after declaring state of emergency in accord with the 2008 Constitution due to vote rigging.
Experienced senior military officers and experienced civilians in relevant fields were collected into the State Administration Council and the government in their time of formations.
The government is firmly walking along the path of multiparty democratic system the people aspire to in striving for development of the state. Some foreign countries impose sanctions against Myanmar and interfere in internal affairs in the past and the present.
The history of Myanmar politics is very complicated. Before regaining independence, some acts were complicated. Due to giving priority to the independence of the country and time limit, at that time leaders of the national and political affairs could not adopt the national cause and political programmers as they liked. Such events happened in the post-independence period. The west bloc led by the United States of America constantly interferes in internal affairs of Myanmar. Myanmar and US are not enemies and they have not caused any wars.
Myanmar did not participate in even Vietnam war invaded by the US in Southeast Asia. But, the US intended an enemy to Myanmar due to a background.
The SEATO led by the US was formed in Southeast Asia in 1954. It primarily aimed not to proliferate in Communism in the Southeast Asia. But, it was dissolved in June, 1977. If the secession of the states mentioned in the 1947 Constitution and demanding the rights of secession for the states in 1961-1962 is adjusted with SEATO process, everybody can understand complication of the Myanmar’s politics. When they cannot see Myanmar’s politics as they like, they hostile the forces which protect the occurrences as they will like to see. At present, the group led by the US aims to hold up the China Containment Policy. So, they have been making attempts to cause the event for the government/group to grasp the power in Myanmar.
If not, they commit acts to cause instability in all sectors of Myanmar. The US itself gives aid to terrorist groups under the various titles. India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are friendly countries of Myanmar in the history. But, the countries which cannot go against influence of the US imposed trade, financial and foreign affairs sanctions against Myanmar. Myanmar is not relying on just a banking system. Myanmar joined hands with friendly countries and neighboring countries. So, Myanmar has been relying on various monetary systems without focusing on just a monetary system in financial and trade measures similar to the international community.
It is necessary to focus on further friendly relations with neighboring countries in addition to managing border trade. Council members have to consider the political affairs with farsightedness.
The history showed that Myanmar needs to take care of political affairs. In line with the motto: There is nothing than importance of national cause, the government is based on the Constitution (2008) not to harm the Our Three Main National Causes in its tenure. Council members, being experienced persons in respective fields, have to review various measure of the politics.
Implementing the adopted visions and missions to have success
The government is implementing two national visions to ensure prosperity of the nation and food security while initiating two political visions:
strengthening the genuine, disciplined multi-party democratic system and building the Union based on democratic and federal systems. To implement them, the government has adopted the Five-point Roadmap and nine objectives. The point to cement the NCA was inserted into the Five-point Roadmap.
On completion of state of emergency, a free and fair multi-party democratic general election will be held to hand over the State responsibilities to the elected government. Such a process has been informed the country and the people about the multi-party democratic system.
International cooperation should be made if Myanmar’s situation is to be better than it is now. Directly or indirectly encouraging terrorist organizations could delay the strength of multi-party democracy, and the implementation of national development activities, which are the will of the people.
Necessary to promote patriotism and love for the country
Just recently, I attended the opening ceremony of the 24th Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition. We need to promote patriotism, and to have a love for the country. National patriotism will awaken only if there is a culture. Similarly, we need to encourage not only Myanmar’s culture but also indigenous cultural performing arts. The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs has been established to preserve literary cultures from disappearing. There are collaborations with other relevant ministries, as well as the tasks the ministry needs to carry out by itself.
The Inle Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda Festival is an interesting event throughout the country, and I myself attended it. Council members themselves are urged to attend and encourage respective regionally significant events and other public ceremonies.
As the open season comes, they are urged to make field inspection tours of respective regions for development activities.
Lack of economic growth comes from weak productivity.
We are encouraging manufacturing activities. There should be no much difference in costs and prices in manufacturing and selling goods. Therefore, the council members need to encourage local manufacturing activities when they make field inspection tours of their respective regions.
Next, the council members explained their field trips to the respective regions and states and measures to be continued.
The SAC joint secretary explained matters related to the State peace and stability and the rule of law in October.
The Senior General said supervisory measures are being taken to ensure the correct reference prices of food, cooking oil, and fuels and to make sure that the market does not sell more than the appropriate price.
The council members need to act only in the interests of the country and the people. Then, he stressed the need for the commodity price supervisory committee to take systematic measures and gave other necessary suggestions.
In his concluding remark, the Senior General said the formation of political parties needs to be systematically correct and in accordance with the established rules. It would be better to have political parties’ leaders, members and executives if they were elected democratically and according to the will of a majority. The State Administration Council will meet with political parties before the elections. As such, democratically choosing leaders and representatives who really represent their own parties to attend the meeting will be meaningful. Only then will there be strong representation and long-term guarantees in identifying the processes that are important to the country.
Our government would continue to implement the national objectives and political objectives it has set.