(CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY) Humanitarian assistance from ASEAN and other countries

Within the framework of ASEAN humanitarian assistance, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, European Union (EU) and New Zealand pledged to provide USD700,000, AUD 5 million and 370,000-euro worth of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. The Cambodian government sent the COVID-19-related equipment and supplies in three special flights to Myanmar on 19 August. Moreover, Myanmar received $100,000 donated via ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and $200,000 from the Cambodian government. On 20 August, the Indian government donated 40 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies for the second time.

Rejection of false allegations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on 9 August strongly condemning the statement of the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations issued on 8 August. The press release stated that the remarks of the US Permanent Representative had violated the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by making unfounded accusations against another UN Member State. U Kyaw Moe Tun had been dismissed as a civil servant under the prevailing laws and regulations of Myanmar and is currently under warrant of arrest for committing high treason and following the instructions of unlawful and terrorist organizations, the so-called Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the so-called National Unity Government (NUG). The USA had not complied yet with Myanmar’s request for the extradition of U Kyaw Moe Tun. Myanmar strongly condemns the US support for U Kyaw Moe Tun, which contravenes the ethics among the UN Member States. Moreover, Myanmar urged the US to follow the basic principles of non-interference and mutual respect stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.

 Myanmar strongly rejected the briefing and suggestions on Myanmar given by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Ms Christine Schraner Burgener to journalists through videoconferencing on 10 August 2021 in New York. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Ms Burgener’s remarks were based on unverified sources and inaccurate information and that she had ignored the acts of sabotage committed by terrorist groups and ignored the government’s official information on the situation periodically released by the authorities. The Ministry further rejected her suggestion to establish an international observer group on Myanmar. Although Myanmar had rejected the United Nations resolution to appoint a special envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Myanmar had nonetheless cooperated constructively with the Special Envoy on Myanmar since 2018 as a gesture of constructive cooperation with the United Nations. The Ministry pointed out that the Provisional Government of Myanmar had explicitly announced its full commitment to hold free and fair multiparty democratic elections and hand over state duties to the winner of the elections. It was regrettable that Ms Schraner Burgener had turned a blind eye to the attacks instigated by the terrorist organizations of CRPH and NUG to intentionally disturb the COVID-19 vaccination programmes by launching attacks on pandemic control checkpoints and vaccination stations. Myanmar urged the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar to conduct her work in an impartial, objective and constructive manner while upholding her mandate. Myanmar also rejected the remarks of the Special Envoy that violated the Code of Conduct of the United Nations and the basic principles stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.

The social and security sectors

The government extended the closure of the schools and other public places until 31 August, to effectively prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. Government banks, including the Central Bank of Myanmar, and private banks were allowed to operate during the period.

Relevant Military Commands and the people are working together in providing relief work in Kayin and Mon States, which are facing natural disasters such as landslides and floods due to the rainy season. In addition, the Disaster Management Department has prepared relief supplies to provide assistance in the event of a natural disaster.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is coordinating efforts to pass the draft law on the prevention of violence against women as soon as possible. The Ministry’s work to assist people with disabilities is continuing. At present, they are provided with K30,000 each, and plans are underway to make the vaccine available, raise funds and address the needs of people with disabilities. On 9 August, the Ministry that 57 cyclone shelters and warehouses had been established to provide emergency relief to people affected by disasters in Rakhine State. The Union Minister for Information met with artists from the Music Association on 13 August and urged them to raise awareness and entertain people during the COVID-19 period with non-political art.

The Union Minister also met with film artists in the second week of August, to provide new impetus to the artists who will serve the nation.

The Ministry of Immigration and Population is accelerating the Pann Khinn Project nationwide, which is aiming to achieve universal registration of all those eligible for Myanmar citizenship. Efforts are being made to raise awareness of the project more widely through media so that the people know and cooperate for citizenship registration, and to provide citizenship identity cards in all border areas.

The Internal Revenue Department announced on 18 August that seventy per cent of the lottery ticket sales would be added to the lottery prize amounts and that they would make it easier for the public to claim their lottery wins.

Following the directives of the Head of State, officials are working to implement safe, orderly and systematic repatriation of returnees from abroad. The returnees are warmly welcomed and placed systematically under quarantine, with arrangements made to send healthy returnees back to their homes.

The State Administration Council issued an order on 11 August on the dismissal of pending cases under the law and on lenient prosecution of long-term detainees under the law, which would help to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Except for specific cases, criminal cases that were pending trial before 1 February 2021 would be dismissed. However, if the aggrieved party did not want to close the case, the case will continue to be pursued.

 The Anti-Terrorism Central Committee launched a request to the public to cooperate in fighting against terrorism. The law-abiding public was urged to inform the relevant authorities on any terrorist and attempts on social media to instigate terrorist acts. Rewards would be given, the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential, and if needed, informants would be provided with security.

The government has invited people who had fled their homes for various reasons to come back to their homes, promising leniency except for those directly involved in the acts of violence across the country and those leading the civil disobedience movement. Between 4 and 12 August, a total of 227 people from various backgrounds contacted relevant authorities in their respective regions and states. A total of 150 cases have been closed and the rest of the cases are being examined with a view to closing these down.

The economic sectors

During the COVID-19 crisis, activities to promote the agriculture and livestock sector were accelerated in regions and states. The Chief Ministers, Commanders of respective regions and states and officials have prioritized efforts to increase productivity from private and public agriculture and livestock businesses, meet farmers’ requirements and expand agricultural research.

 On 9 August, negotiations started on the export of a specified tonnage of pulses to India, as the first step in the implementation of the MoU on trading in pulses between the two countries. The Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development is working to strengthen rural development and implementing model village projects.

Although government offices, markets and schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inshore fishing and fishery exports continued unabated, with a total of 1,472 fishing trawlers licensed. The Kawthoung-Ranong border trade hour was extended on 13 August. Originally it was from 6 am to 1 pm, and now it has been extended from 6 am to 6 pm daily.

Coordination of the 22 working committees involved in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)-2025 Action Plan was undertaken on 13 August. In the second week of August, relevant ministries held coordination meetings to provide necessary assistance for increased investments in agricultural economic zones and food production businesses. They are also working together to find solutions for the success of projects, such as in land allocation, services, packaging, and transportation.

Private factories and workplaces were allowed to reopen after a systematic inspection as per COVID-19 rules and regulations. A tripartite meeting of government, employers and employees was held on 3 August. The meeting focused on difficulties faced by the employees. As part of a relief programme, a six-month deferral period for social security contributions and a waiver period were announced on 6 August. Social welfare general clinics for insured workers were opened in Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township on 27 August. In addition, a total of 893,772 insured workers were vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease within the month of August.

Licensed banks, foreign exchange regulators and officials from the Central Bank of Myanmar have been meeting in efforts to address the impacts on the economy from the rising US dollar.

 On 25 August, the Action Plan to Revive Myanmar’s Economy, developed by the Working Committee for Remedial Works on Economic Impacts of COVID-19, was finalized. The Action Plan included 10 projects, 27 objectives and 407 processes. Committee members have already discussed the draft plan and are working towards its approval.

Resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Ministry of Health has been releasing public notifications on COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities continually, including information on its COVID-19 vaccination programme for the people, conducted free of charge. The Ministry has called attention to the sale of counterfeit vaccines on the market by unscrupulous parties. The Ministry has called for the public to use only vaccines that are officially endorsed by the Ministry. The true prices of medicines are being published in daily newspapers to prevent price gouging. The authorities will track down and act against the sale of counterfeit vaccines. The Ministry of Health has already taken action against the companies engaged in profit-making from the storage of medical and health products and their subsequent resale. The restrictions on international commercial flights have been extended.

During the period when lock-down measures were declared, border trade points continued unabated to carry out regular import and export operations. Applications for import licences were regularly made online so that imports of medical supplies and equipment related to the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 were facilitated.

Members of the township/ district/region/state COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment committees provided basic food and medical supplies, and cash assistance to monasteries, nunneries, religious associations, medical workers and civil society organizations to enable them to continue their good work during the third wave of the COVID-19. Public hospitals, Tatmadaw hospitals, clinics, COVID-19 centres in respective regions and states received large amounts of medical supplies, including oxygen cylinders. Quarantine centres and COVID-19 treatment centres were prepared in Tatmadaw hospitals, military training schools, military interrogation and accommodation camps, to ensure a high degree of readiness.

It was gratifying to see the increase in donations from the Myanmar public for COVID-19 vaccines in August. In the same month, the statements from the Fund Management Sub-Committee showed that donations and procurement of vaccines had been made more transparent.

xygen plants are being set up at public and Tatmadaw hospitals in various regions and states to meet the additional need for oxygen among COVID-19 patients, and many new plants were completed in August. Also, military aircraft and helicopters as well as vehicles are transporting COVID-19 vaccines for the designated people in respective regions and states.

 Myanmar received one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines purchased from the People’s Republic of China on 8 August. On 22 August, vaccines and medical supplies donated by the People’s Liberation Army and by the Myanmar Embassy and Myanmar Military Attaché’s office in Beijing arrived. Another two million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines purchased from China arrived in Yangon on 28 August.

To carry out COVID-19 prevention and control activities more effectively, the Ministry of Health designated Myingyan, Bilin, Kengtung, Tatkon, Dawei, Myeik, Mohnyin, Waingmaw, Loikaw, Kyunhla, and Chaungzon townships as Stay-at-Home townships in August.

The media

Members of the Myanmar Press Council were elected, and the council was reformed to promote the media sector.

The Information Team of the State Administration Council received inquiries from local and foreign media outlets in August and is responding in a timely manner with accurate information. On 11 August, the Information Team revealed that its name had been used in a false report to disseminate fake news. The Information Team held its eighth press conference (8/2021) on 27 August, following procedures stipulated by the Ministry of Health COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Head of the SAC Information Team Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun explained the Government’s political and socio-economic development activities, COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities, future plans, implementations of activities to ensure national stability, peace and security, backed up by video testimonies from terrorists who had been caught. A member of the Union Election Commission explained the findings on the election, the announcement on the cancellation of the 2020 general election results and the ongoing work of the commission, including setting the base for the new elections.

Efforts are ongoing to improve stability and peace, to address crises and rectify past mistakes. The trust and cooperation between the government and the people have contributed to the reduced impact of the third wave of COVID-19 in August. The people, the government and the Tatmadaw will need to continue working together for a better future, building national unity and writing a new democratic chapter in the history of the nation.

 The Global New Light Of Myanmar