3 March

The Rakhine State General Administration Department held a press conference in Sittway yesterday to report on the resignation of 86 ward/village administrators, as well as efforts to increase security in the State.

At the press conference, Deputy Director U Htay Aung of Rakhine State General Administration Department said officials were meeting with the media to refute reports that governmental departments had not followed proper procedures regarding the resignation of 86 administrators from wards and villages in MraukU Township.

He further said that the government was making all efforts to focus on maintaining peace and stability in the state. He noted that incidents, including mine explosions, fatal shootings, cases in which civilians were abducted by unidentified armed men, and people displaced by armed conflicts, had occured in the state.

Regarding the resignation of 86 administrators from wards and villages in MraukU Township, he said security forces and officials had to gather information to prevent unnecessary incidents in areas they were assigned to.

All the people, including village administrators, must abide by the law, he said, adding that those people or organizations who were outside the framework of the law might face investigations. The ward and village administrators were elected by the local people and they have to work based upon existing rules, regulations and directives, he said. Also, the people elected officials who can play a role in the development of wards and villagers, and they are provided with salaries and assistance by the State in which they were elected.

They had to take on the duty of a ward/village administer and work based upon the ethics and rules of the administrators, and are prohibited from having relations with armed or illegal organizations.

He continued, noting that law enforcement bodies had to prevent, and take actions against activities, including having relations with armed organizations, since it broke the law.

Rakhine State DAD has instructed the district and township DADs to explain this issue to ward/village administrators and to outline measures to be taken by the authorities, according to the Rakhine State DAD.

He urged the media to report this situation, as he had outlined a true picture of the situation and measures taken, in accordance with existing rules. Following his statement, Deputy Police Col Maung Maung Soe of the Rakhine State Police Office reviewed the measures taken by the police force to ensure that there is security in the state. The press conference came to an end after a question and answer session.— Tin Tun, Han Lin Htet  (Translated by Kyaw Zin Lin)