1 February
The Ministry of State Counsellor Office held a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
Director-General U Zaw Htay explained the ongoing situations in the country and answered the questions of media personnel during the press.
He talked about the meeting between State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the Chairperson of National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, and the leaders of New Mon State Party who reported the organizational reform of their party.
He also explained automobile import permits for civil service staff who near retirement, however, the Ministry of Commerce has been instructed to delay the plan for reviewing of senior government officials.
The Director-General also elaborated the final report of Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE) was sent to the President on 20 January, and the President has sent the full version of the report to the Union Attorney General and the Commander in Chief of Defence Services. The President Office has issued announcements on this issue on 21 January, and made instructions to the Office of Commander in Chief of Defence Services and the Office of Union Attorney General on 21 January.
The President’s Office has released a brief report, and the Office of Judge Advocate-General also announced it will conduct an investigation. The Office of Union Attorney-General made announcement to do investigation and legal actions. A team was formed on 24 January for investigations and legal actions based on the ICOE report.
The duties of this team is to take legal actions against members of ARSA who caused conflicts in Rakhine State and its culprits, to file lawsuits against members of police force who committed crimes in their duties, to investigate crimes of civilians in Rakhine conflicts, to find ways for legal solutions, including filing lawsuits of communities in northern Rakhine state for the locals, to arrange for the process of justice that meets the transition period of Myanmar and to implement additional tasks assigned by the President. The President’s Office released the developments on ICOE on 25 January.
Regarding coronavirus, China approved outbreak of this virus on 7 January. The Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar has been conducting screening tests at the international airports in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw and border gates. Among 19 Chinese citizens who were staying in a hotel in Botahtaung Township, Yangon, one who has visited Wuhan city was found ill. He was taken to Yangon General Hospital for treatment. He was diagnosed with normal fever. A resident of Lweje was reportedly coming from Wuhan on 11 January, and he was checked for medical services on 26 January and found well without any fever. He was restricted in the house for two weeks. On 27 January, a woman who entered Myanmar through Ruili-Muse border crossing was examined for high body temperature. He was found suffering from oridinary fever. Another incident was that a patient who was taking medical treatment at the Pubbhathiri Hospital after returning from Kyegaung. The patient was also found suffering ordinary fever.
While a resident in Pyinthar village was getting medical treatments at Meiktila Township Hospital after he returned from China on 1 January. He was placed in a special room as he was supported to be infected with coronavirus after the X-ray scan showed an injury on the lung. But he fled from the hospital by a motorcycle taxi, and he is being given medical treatment at ICU of the Meiktila hospital.
The government has formed a committee for prevention, control and treatment of pneumonia caused by the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on 30 January.
Discussions are underway to take back 63 Myanmar students from Wuhan city. The President’s Office has instructed to use a special flight for getting them back, and it has been instructed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
They will arrive back at Mandalay airport on 2 February, and they will be closely monitored at Kandawnadi Hospital in Mandalay under the management of regional government. The air plane will also be sanitized at the airport.
Media personnel raised questions about the interim decisions of ICJ, instructions on ICOE report, measures on coronavirus, possible meeting between the government and ethnic armed organizations, peace prospect of government in 2020, arrest of the absconding, suspension of automobile imports, efforts of government to release U Huwe Tin,
U Zaw Htay answered the questions, saying the official announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the provisional measures of ICJ, the measures did not include rights for legal action on Myanmar, ICJ made only four decisions on the six requests of the Gambia, the broadcast of discussion led by Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe, there is no genocide case in Myanmar, possibility of decision in this case, no comment on provisional measures, hiring international lawyers, the State Counsellor has insisted there is no case of genocide in Myanmar at the court hearing of ICJ, the court just announced Article 2 and 3 signed by Myanmar, these were provisions of convention, not the demands of the Gambia.
Instructions for ICOE has been mentioned on the President’s Office website, parade ceremony will be decided by the heads of State, the ethnic armed organizations have been informed to prevent transmissions of coronavirus, instructions have been made to arrest the absconding, the Ministry of Health and Sports is closing monitoring on prevention of coronavirus, the release of MP U Hwe Tin is being worked with the organizations which have influence on the AA.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
