The National Defence and Se­curity Council of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar held meeting No 1/2024 at the office of the State Administration Council Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

 

Also, present at the meeting were Pro Tem President U Myint Swe, Vice-President U Henry Van Thio, 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 Admiral Tin Aung San, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, specially invited SAC Sec­retary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Sen­ior General explained the undertakings in the six-month period of the State’s responsibilities and future tasks. With regard to the State security measures, he said that some EAO and PDF terror­ists used various ways and means for the deterioration of the socioeconomic life of the people and peace and sta­bility of the nation within six months. Regarding the incidents in Shan State (North), MNDAA insurgents launched attacks on Chinshwehaw with the use of drones starting on 27 October. To do so, MNDAA had made preparations by holding several meetings with its alliances since 2022. Alliances provid­ed arms and ammunition, electronic technologies and monetary assistance. MNDAA primarily aimed to rebuild its power in the Kokang region as Special Region-1. At present, MNDAA robs the property of the people in the towns their occupied, destroys public property and recruits new members from families of local ethnicities.

 

MNDAA follows the armed struggle line to grasp power without abiding by the law of Myanmar, which exercises a democratic system. The 2008 Constitu­tion gurantees equal rights to all ethnic­ities in all regions and states in addition to self-administered zones. The Consti­tution designated the Kokang region in the eastern part of Thanlwin River as the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. Before the Constitution (2008), it was a special region. Kokang armed groups led by U Pheung Kya-Shin, which split from the Burma Communist Party, joined hands with Tatmadaw till 2009. Since then, the airbases of Tatmadaw were stationed to administer the region together. Al­though they were warned several times not to produce narcotic drugs in 2009, the group did not heed the warning. So, military action was taken against them. Kokang Self-Administered Zone was ad­ministered by elected persons in 2011. Then, Myanmar-China border trade was opened in Yanlonkeng of Laukkai, and Myanmar-China trade measures in Chin­shwehaw were under both governments’ agreements until the period before the attacks. Tatmadaw will allow the desires of ethnic armed organizations under the Constitution, and some matters will be decided under the voting. Tatmadaw had disclosed that it agreed to amend some appropriate facts in the Constitution at the meetings with ethnic leaders and political leaders. According to country’s history and official relations process, all things will be done under the law in the Kokang Special Region. Tatmadaw rep­resentatives hold the meeting. If these facts are ignored, renewing the warlord system can be accepted for some back­ground reasons.

 

MNDAA insurgents attacked Chin­shwehaw and Kunlong, whereas its allied TNLA insurgents attacked Hsenwi on the Lashio-Muse route and disturbed Kutkai. TNLA insurgents attacked the Muse trade zone in 2016 and people’s militia camps and security outposts in Muse in 2018. So, clashes happened between Tatmadaw and TNLA. TNLA continued attacks on Namhkam, Nam­hsam, Mantung, Namtu and Mongngaw regions. It aims to grasp the Palaung re­gion. The Constitution sets the Palaung Self-Administered Zone for the Palaung region. TNLA commits attacks to seize the greater power. They extremely rob and destroy the property of residents and recruit new troops, causing plight to residents. So, tea production in the Palaung region has declined. All basic education schools were closed. Up to now, the Palaung region has faced more economic and educational problems. If it accepts the multiparty democratic system, it has many opportunities to hold political dialogues. But TNLA turned a blind eye to such a point and used its arms to struggle. The insurgents buy drones from the neighbouring countries, and some drones can be prepared to be military used and equipped with large bombs. Insurgents interrupted main un­ion highways to hamper the development of the socioeconomic life of the ethnic people and blocked the border trade route. Border trade is initiated under agreements of relevant countries. So, Myanmar is holding meetings with China to operate the regular process of border trade measures in the Muse region.

 

Tatmadaw takes all measures under the Rules of Engagement for Self-De­fence and the Rules of Engagement for Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insur­gency Operations to restore normality and not to cause misunderstandings with other countries. So, Tatmadaw manages restricted operations for shells not to fall beyond the border line and not harm the people. Insurgents intentionally launch heavy weapons into other countries to cause misunderstanding. So, officials of both sides held talks to solve it. As insurgents attacked the military with technology and excessive strength, Tat­madaw retreated from some posts due to the possibility of harming the military families.

 

The complications in Shan State (North) were rooted in online scams. Kokang region has been using drug traf­ficking and gambling measures for many years. During the outbreak of Covid-19, online gambling was committed, and its supporting staff were brought there. Then, foreigners illegally arrived in the Laukkai region. At present, most illegal businesses are based on border regions of Myanmar, China and Thailand to com­mit online scams and online gambling on a broader scale. So, Myanmar, China, and Thailand effectively negotiate to combat such acts. Most of them are foreigners under the protection of ethnic armed organizations. As they can do illegal busi­nesses relying on arms, it is necessary to cease the armed struggle. Severe action is being taken against those involved in the cases.

 

During the period from 5 October 2023 to 29 January 2024, a total of 48,210 Chinese and 1,810 other foreigners, total­ling 50,020 who illegally reside in Myan­mar, were handed over to relevant coun­tries. On 23 January 2024, 1,002 male and 36 female Chinese, totalling 1,038 who fled from Pansang, Laukkai, Mongpauk and Mongla regions, were handed over to the relevant country under the law.

 

With regard to AA insurgents, AA insurgents violated the temporary cease­fire agreed with Tatmadaw in 2020 and participated in incidents in Shan State (North) in October 2023. Mainly, it wishes to take arms assistance from its alli­ances. From the time of the Tatmadaw government to date, development tasks have been undertaken in Rakhine State. So, Rakhine State can see unprecedented development at present. At a time when Rakhine State faced the impacts of storm Mocha, Tatmadaw and the government made utmost efforts for rehabilitation in Rakhine State. The Senior General himself arrived in Sittway and inspected the loss and damage in the natural dis­aster and took necessary measures. The SAC Vice-Chairman and senior military officers were sent to other townships to manage quick rehabilitation tasks. So, these regions regained improvements. Now, all storm-hit areas have greater progress. All universities and basic ed­ucation schools were opened in Rakhine State 17 days after the storm, with the largest enrollment rate.

 

However, AA insurgents launched their attacks on the Donpaik police out­post of the border guard police force in Rakhine State at 5 am on 13 November 2023. Then, it used drones to attack two security posts in the Paletwa region and Pauktaw. At present, AA is attacking some regions of northern Rakhine State. Local Rakhine ethnics are suffering the impacts of the acts of AA insurgents, which commit instability in the region. Basic education school and university students are learning education for the 2023-24 academic year. At the start of 2023-24 AY, 573,000 students attended the basic education school in Rakhine State. Due to threats of AA insurgents, only 279,392 students are attending the schools, with more than 48,76 per cent of absentees suffering the impacts of AA insurgents. AA insurgents now recruit new student youth members and agitate hatred of other ethnicities. Only when Rakhine State restores durable peace can it hand over a good future life to new generations. So, the region will have greater progress. So Tatmadaw strives to ensure peace and stability and people in Rakhine State must cooperate with Tatmadaw.

 

NCF, which has signed the NCA, cooperates with CDF terrorists in committing terrorism in Chin State.

 

On 29 October 2023, Tatmadaw re-occu­pied Thantlang, where CNF/CDF ter­rorists took positions. These terrorists attacked Reedkhorda in Falam Township and Lailinpi and Rezwa of Matupi Town­ship in Chin State in November 2023. At present, CNF insurgents commit insta­bility in Tiddim, Kanpetlet and Cindwe of Chin State.

 

KNPP/KNDF insurgents attacked Loikaw with excessive strength as of 11 November 2023. Due to information from residents, Tatmadaw assaulted a large number of KNPP/KNDF insurgents. These insurgents tried to accumulate arms and ammunition for attacks. On 17 December 2022, their arms and am­munition were seized in Sawta Village of Hopong Township. A total of 1,133 small arms and heavy weapons, 10 RPGs, more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 7,600 grenades, six 107-mm rockets and related accessories were seized in Panmont Village of Panglong on 16 No­vember 2023 and Sanphu Village in Ho­pong Township on 20 January 2024. These arms and ammunition were taken from their allied ethnic armed organizations.

 

Seizing trafficking arms and ammu­nition to Kayah State could hinder the terrorism of KNPP/KNDF insurgents in Kayah State to some extent. At a time when the country is being built with de­mocracy and federalism, unfaithful EAOs committing more conflicts and deteriora­tion to the State are very dangerous for the country.

 

KNU insurgents, due to political changes in 2021, trained PDFs and dis­turbed small military posts in Myawady and Kawkareik. On 24 November 2023, KNU attacked a Tatmadaw camp with excessive strength. On 27 November 2023, the Chaunghnakhwa bridge in Kyaik­maraw Township was blown up. KNU insurgents and PDF terrorists attacked eight places in Kawkareik at 3 am on 1 December 2023, and Tatmadaw launched counterattacks on them. Based on dif­ferent political attitudes, firm evidences showed that KNU commits regional ter­rorism by all means and online scams and gambling near Myawady of the Thai-My­anmar border. So, Myanmar will cooperate with neighbouring countries in combating these acts to forge the rule of law. KNU’s attacks harm the socioeconomic progress of local ethnic people in Kayin State, so Tatmadaw strives to ensure peace and stability in the region.

 

PDF terrorists committed terrorism across the nation within the six months from 1 August 2023 to 29 January 2024, killing three members of the Sangha, 438 innocent civilians and 79 State service personnel, totalling 520. They destroyed 11 electric/telecom towers, 97 bridges, roads and tollgate buildings, six health buildings, 13 schools and educational buildings, public houses and other build­ings. PDF terrorists killed 77 members of the Sangha, two nuns, 5,677 innocent people and 1,124 State service personnel, totalling 6,880 from 1 February 2021 to 29 January 2024. They destroyed 559 telecom/ electric towers, 53 health buildings, 670 schools and educational buildings, and public houses. They rudely threatened the education staff 413 times. At 5.50 pm on 13 November 2023, KNPP insurgents and PDF terrorists intentionally attacked Loikaw University and abducted educa­tional staff and students.

 

Insurgents and terrorists taking advantage of instability in the country produce narcotic drugs and commit drug trafficking to earn income. Drug produc­tion contributes to money laundering, arms smuggling and terrorism, causing a challenge to the peace and stability of the State. As no chemicals and related ac­cessories exist in the country, insurgents take these materials from other countries in various ways.

 

Concerning seizures of narcotic drugs, during the six months from 1 Au­gust 2023 to 29 January 2024, more than 1.1 tonnes of heroin, more than 117 million stimulant tablets, and more than 14.665 tonnes of Ice were seized in 3,272 cases worth K781.02 billion. In these cases, 4,373 males and females were arrested. During the period from 1 February 2021 to 29 Jan­uary 2024, authorities seized 6.05 tonnes of heroin, more than 629 million stimulant tablets, more than 53 tonnes of Ice, and drug-related accessories in 21,098 cases worth more than K3,354 billion. A total of 29,486 males and females were arrested in these cases. According to the information related to the trafficking of AA insurgents, from 3 to 9 December 2023, more than two tonnes of Ice (methamphetamine) and 800 kilogrammes of restricted chemical Caffeine were seized together with a drug gang of AA insurgents.

 

Drug productions were based on the areas with poor transport facilities and the remote regions from administrative mechanisms in successive eras. Due to the Kuomintang invasion of Shan State and poppy cultivation and drug production by BCP and other insurgents, Shan State was notorious for being the largest opium producing area in the world.

 

UNODC mentioned in its annual re­port in 2023 that narcotic drugs from Shan State were smuggled to other countries via land borders and water courses. As UNODC and CCDCC of Myanmar coop­erated in measuring poppy cultivation and production, production gradually declined from 2012. The annual report of UNODC in 2023 mentioned that 40,100 hectares of poppy were cultivated in Myanmar in 2022, compared with 30,200 hectares in 2021, increasing 33 per cent of poppy cultivation in 2022. So, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and other international organizations will effectively cooperate in the investigation, measuring and destruction of poppy and narcotic drugs.

 

Myanmar is eradicating narcotic drugs as a national duty. It cooperates with the United Nations, neighbouring countries, ASEAN countries, Mekong re­gion countries, BIMSTEC countries and international drug control organizations in eradicating narcotic drugs. Only when all countries strive for the eradication of narcotic drugs in all aspects as a national duty will such a mission be achieved.

As terrorists attempt to deteriorate peace and stability in the nation, arrange­ments are being made to beef up the public defence and security system, including local people’s militia. Only when the coun­try is peaceful and stable can it march to­wards the goal with a firm democratic sys­tem. So, the State Administration Council is implementing the adopted objectives and roadmap. So, not only security forces but all people have to prevent terrorism for the peace and stability of the nation. With regard to the public security system, relevant regions are implementing such a system and striving to take security measures in cooperation with people. And then, the public defence system will be implemented. It is necessary to give in­formation about anti-government groups to the security troops. Those informants will be secretly kept. So, all ethnic people who are forging patriotic and national spir­it must cooperate with the government in these measures. As these terrorists insult religions and lineage in addition to disturbing the peace and stability of the State, the State Administration Council will apply various ways and means to forge peace and stability in the State.

 

In the education sector, 8,108,227 stu­dents enrolled at basic education schools across the nation in the 2023-24 academic year. Now, 6,767,763 students are attend­ing the schools, with 1,340,464 absentee students for various reasons, accounting for 16.53 per cent, mostly in some are­as of Kayin, Chin, Kayah, Rakhine and Shan State (North). It shows the results of clashes with a lack of peace. A total of 112,968 students attended the universities in 2023-24 AY; now, 86,687 students are attending the universities, with 26,281 absentees, accounting for 23.3 per cent. Loikaw University sees no students at 100 per cent, whereas a large number of absentees can be seen at universities in Chin, Rakhine and Shan State (North). Acts of terrorists directly harm the learn­ing of youths of new generations. As such, all people and international organizations need to oppose their acts.

 

As Myanmar exercises a multiparty democratic system, all should not be dif­ferent from political, racial, and religious attitudes, and they all have to strive to reach the democratic system and Hlut­taw’s path peacefully. On 15 October 2015, the government, the Hluttaw, Tatmadaw and ethnic armed organizations signed the NCA in the presence of international and local witnesses, including those from the United Nations. Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved the NCA as a Union Accord. So, such a historical pact never annuals.

 

The 8^th Anniversary of signing NCA was celebrated on 15 October 2023 with the attendance of stakeholders at home and abroad with essence.

 

The Senior General said he has been severally urged NCA signatory EAOs and non-signatory EAOs to demand their as­pirations at the Hluttaw via peace talks not to derail from the democratic system if they require their aspiration by holding arms. Some groups from NCA signato­ry KNU and KIA, SSPP/SSA and KNPP, among other 11 non-signatory organiza­tions, supported PDF terrorists to commit terrorism across the nation.

 

Since its establishment, SAC has been implementing two political visions: strengthening a genuine, disciplined mul­tiparty democratic system and building a union based on democracy and federalism. To do so, all citizens have to participate in the implementation process. All must avoid the acts of derailing from the dem­ocratic system and abide by existing laws under the Constitution. It is necessary to choose the appropriate system related to the democratic system and federalism in building the Union based on democracy and federalism the entire people aspire to. No region or state is resided by a sin­gle ethnic in Myanmar. All ethnics are scattered in all regions and states. So, the political system is being implemented as a multiparty democratic system, and the administrative system will be based on the Union system rooted in democracy and federalism. The 2008 constitution allows Union level, region/state, and self-admin­istered division and zones for the federal authorities.

Tatmadaw often agreed to amend necessary points of the Constitution (2008). Many provisions could be amend­ed in previous terms of government, but some amended provisions have not been approved yet due to referendums.

 

Chapter XII of the Constitution men­tions the provisions for amendment, so it is necessary to amend things under the Con­stitution through the Hluttaw process. So, the government needs to hold a multiparty democratic general election in line with the roadmap and amend some points in­appropriate with the current eras through Hluttaw. NCA signatory EAOs have to contribute to the election to strengthen the nation’s democratic system.

 

Only when an election is free and fair will it show off the genuine aspiration of the people and implement the demo­cratic system. As the NLD carried out undisciplined acts in the 2020 multiparty democratic general election, such an act cannot be removed from history. So, it is necessary to learn from past events not to cause similar occurrences and to strengthen a genuine, disciplined multi­party democratic system.

 

The Union Election Commission held meetings with political parties four times, and they agreed to exercise the Closed- List PR system instead of the First Past The Post-FPTP system in the elections. So, coordinations are being made to issue the election law and bylaws for relevant Hluttaws in conformity with the PR sys­tem. New political party registration law and bylaw were issued to ensure political parties were strong so as to take State responsibilities. So far, 50 parties have reapplied for registration as political parties under the law and bylaw, and 15 more parties have applied to establish new political parties, totalling 65. A total of 40 parties did not reapply for their registra­tion under the law, and these have been automatically annulled under Section 25 of the Political Parties Registration Law. The UEC allowed registration for 47 of 65 po­litical parties that submitted applications for re-registration and establishment of new ones. The registration of two political parties was cancelled. As such, a total of 45 parties are in operation.

 

The Senior General continued that the matters related to the political chang­es, widespread terrorist attacks launched by the PDF terrorists, efforts to promote the State economy and social sector and plans to hold elections were clarified while meeting the Chairpersons and Vice-chairs of the registered political parties on 6 January. They also reported their per­spectives on the current political situa­tion and difficulties. Moreover, the Law Amending the Political Parties Registra­tion Law was issued. Section 429 of the Constitution (2008) states, “The National Defence and Security Council shall hold the general election in accord with the provisions of the Constitution within a duration of six months commencing from the day on which the ordinance is annulled under Section 426”. Therefore, the SAC will spare effort to hold the multiparty general election as per the No 5 of the Five-point Roadmap.

 

He noted that the ultimatum vision of the SAC is to hold a free and fair multiparty democratic general election. Therefore, the SAC will make concerted efforts to safeguard the rights of the public to cast votes and ensure a systematic general election despite the challenges.

 

The Hluttaw is the highest platform in political trends in democracy, and more ethnic representatives must join the political platform in the Hluttaw so as to demand the rights of their regions under the law. Selecting the designated representatives to attend the meeting is mandatory to make it a dignified Hluttaw meeting. Participation of parties from dif­ferent regions and states in Hluttaw can represent the large community and give them a chance to speak out on matters that the people aspire to. About 28 per cent of the country’s population reside in the city, and approximately 72 per cent live in rural areas. The gap between some states and regions is more significant than that digit. Therefore, it should consider the rights of rural people to cast votes, not only focus on the wishes of people living in cities.

 

Moreover, preparations are being made for the election, emphasizing the regional tranquillity in Sagaing Region, Kayah, Chin, and Rakhine states, where there is a lack of peace and stability to a certain extent. Places with no peace cannot be left while elections are being held. An election must be held to have the Hluttaw sessions, and so if such places are gone, democracy will cease to exist in these regions, and there might be dicta­torships and warlords that can affect the local ethnic people. Therefore, the political parties should participate in holding a free and fair election if they genuinely want a democratic system.