20 January
Director-General U Zaw Htay, spokesperson for the Office of the President, hosted a tea party for reporters yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.
Speaking at the meeting at the Presidential Palace, U Zaw Htay said the government has a responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people and defend the sovereignty of the country. He noted that recent attacks by AA insurgents on border guard police outposts have very much harmed the national reconciliation and peacemaking efforts being strenuously conducted by the Union Government.
The Myanmar Police Force has a responsibility for ensuring community peace and the rule of law, while the Tatmadaw has a responsibility for combatting insurgencies, he added.
The Union Government has ordered the Tatmadaw to effectively carry out counter insurgency operations against AA insurgents, as the insurgents have harmed the lives, houses and properties of the people, and peace in the community, said U Zaw Htay. As a government, it will carry out effective counter-insurgency operations as part of efforts for cracking down on all activities which harm the community peace, the rule of law and safety of the people. Asked how the government would comment on a statement by a military officer at the Friday press conference by the Tatmadaw during which a reference had been made regarding instructions given by the State Counsellor at the coordination meeting on 7 January 2019 held at the Presidential Palace, U Zaw Htay replied that it was privileged information and he did not wish to give further comments.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)
