Briefing notes by Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar on the Current Situation in Myanmar
Briefing notes by H.E. U Wunna Maung Lwin,
Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar
to the Diplomatic Corps and UN Agencies
on the current developments in Myanmar
(4 June 2015)
Your Excellencies,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and UN Agencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good morning to you all and Mingalabar!
v I’ve invited you here today to brief you on the current developments in Myanmar. I hope this meeting will be made into a regular meeting between us to keep you inform of the current developments in Myanmar, to provide opportunity to ask questions, and to share views on matters of common interests and concerns.
Reforms in Three Waves
v As you all are fully aware, Myanmar is now in the midst of historic changes—undergoing expanded political and economic reforms which are occurring at a pace that was almost unimaginable 3 or 4 years ago.
v Since the first democratically elected Government took office in 2011, Myanmar has been stepping up its three waves of reform process.
v Following the introduction of a multiparty democratic system and transition from the old to a new system as the first wave, and placing emphasis on strategies for political, economic, administrative and private sector development as the second, the third wave of reforms is being carried out to consolidate firm foundation for democracy to promote higher living standard for the people.
v These are being carried out by building up good governance and clean government, effectively delivering government services, accountability, capacity building and establishing e-government services.
v The political, economic, administrative and private sector reforms are also being undertaken with visions not only to promote peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Myanmar but also to lay down lasting foundations for future as well.
Workshop on Draft Framework for Administrative Reforms
v In this regard, Myanmar has recently conducted a workshop on 23 May comprising of government and international experts to draft a comprehensive framework for top-to-bottom administrative reforms with aims to decentralization of power, including matters of distribution of budgets and management of resources, and to build capacity of civil servants at all levels.
Release of 2014 Main Census Results
v Another development is the “nationwide census” that Myanmar has not been able to undertake for the past 30 years.
v The 2014 national census results that were released on 29 May will enable planners from all sectors to utilize in various national development tasks such as policy formulations, implementations and assessing and monitoring of projects, programmes and provision of public services.
Political Dialogues, National Reconciliation and Peace Process
v On political and national reconciliation front, we are making obvious progresses. The all-inclusive political process that Government is striving to foster has become a reality in a new culture of political dialogue and dynamism where parliamentarians are playing active roles in the National Legislative Body (Parliament), where a good working relationship between different political parties is enabling them to share common views on key issues including the removal of economic sanctions.
v The 6-way talks which was held on 10 April, among other things, discussed and shared views on the political stability for “before”, “during” and “post” elections periods, constitutional reforms, decentralizing of power including sharing of natural resources and taxation.
v Another progress is the signing of the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement between the Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) (representing16 armed groups) on 30 March after several rounds of talks which started in the past years.
v The next positive steps would be meaningful political dialogues which will be followed by lasting peace, stability and economic cooperation to bring about balanced development for all.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
v The 2015 is an important year for Myanmar as we will be holding multi-party general elections at the end of October or early November. Holding general elections in a free and fair manner will demonstrate how far Myanmar has come in her democratization process.
v The President, the Union Government, the Parliaments, the Union Election Commission (UEC) and political parties are working hand in hand to ensure the successful holding of general elections in a free and fair manner.
v The President as well as the Union Election Commission is meeting with political parties to hear their concerns, comments, and views on the holding of the upcoming elections.
v International observers and representatives from the political parties will be invited to witness the elections in progress. Based on the election rules and laws, the experience gained from the previous elections, the input from the political parties, the Union Election Commission is committed to work towards ensuring the successful holding of the free and fair 2015 election in timely organized manner.
Myanmar and ASEAN
v 2014 was a remarkable year for us as we had successfully assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship for the very first time since becoming a member of ASEAN in 1997.
v During Myanmar Chairmanship, ASEAN had been able to issue 6 statements responding to urgent crisis affecting ASEAN based on consensus. ASEAN also adopted 4 documents at the 24th ASEAN Summit, 6 documents at the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, 18 documents, declarations and statements at the 25thASEAN Summit, which all together adopted 34 documents, statements and declarations.
v ASEAN is now at an important cross-road as we are approaching to the realization of ASEAN Community by the end of this year. We are trying our best to fulfill our national commitments in realization of ASEAN Community’s Blueprints.
v We fully support Malaysia as current ASEAN Chair in realizing (8) priorities including formal establishment of ASEAN Community and development of the ASEAN Community’s Post 2015 Vision to be accomplished during its Chairmanship.
v In accordance with the “Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision”, the “High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Vision 2025” is drafting the ASEAN Community’s Vision 2025. We are actively participating in the process and will be hosting the 5th Meeting of the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Vision 2025 from 8 to 11 June in Yangon.
v With regard to the irregular movement of people in Andaman Sea, we support the Joint Statement of Ministerial Meeting on irregular movement of people in Southeast Asia at a meeting hosted by Malaysia in Putrajaya on 20 May 2015. We are committed to fully cooperating with countries in the region in addressing the issues of human trafficking and people smuggling.
v Malaysia as current Chair of ASEAN has recently proposed to convene an emergency meeting of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMM) to address the current crisis of the irregular migrants in Southeast Asia. We fully support the convening of such emergency meeting and Myanmar will actively participate and fully cooperate with other ASEAN member states at the meeting.
v The Government has taken measures to improve education, access to health care, improvement of living condition and greater livelihood. The condition on the ground has improved compared to the past year. Peace has been maintained. We were also able to resettle 2,000 IDP to their respective places. We will soon be able to resettle 4 or 5 thousand more.
v To apprise you on the issue in Rakhine State;-
- Rakhine is one of the Myanmar national races and has the longest ethnic root in Myanmar history.
- The current issues and challenges occurred in the Rakhine State were mainly based on the long historic background, that stretched back to the colonial era.
- Due to the delicate, complex and sensitive natures it is imperative to handle the situations through cooperation among the Government and people.
- To demonstrate Government’s commitment to the peace and stability of the Rakhine State, the Central Committee on Implementation of Peace, Stability and Development was established on 13 March 2013 with Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham as the Chair.
- At the same time, the Rakhine State Government is striving to create a peaceful coexistence between two communities in the region. The Government is also giving priority to create socio-economic developments of the people with the cooperation of international community including UN agencies.
- Despite the overall efforts, sufficient time is essential for a nation or a region to carry out peace, stability and development. Nothing can be built overnight.
- It is a true desire of the Union Government as well as the State Government and all responsible authorities to address the issue of the right to citizenship by a fair and acceptable approach in accordance with the existing laws.
- Although there are criticisms on the return of temporary registration cards, the process is running smoothly on the ground. Since 1995, more than seven hundred and fifty thousand temporary cards have been issued all over the country.
- As of 27 May 2015, a total of 418,470 temporary cards have been returned to the authority.
Boat People and Illegal Migration
v While we are trying to strike delicate balance in the Rakhine State, the issue of illegal migrants and boat people in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca arises.
v The issue of boat people in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca was escalated in Southeast Asia beginning mid May this year, which affected Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
v Myanmar shares no less concern than those of the international community on the suffering of boat people, who became victims of smuggling and human trafficking.
v Myanmar has supported the outcome of the meeting between Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand held in Kuala Lumpur on 20 May 2015.
v Myanmar also received delegations headed by Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia on 21 May and cordially exchanged of views on the prevention of human trafficking and illegal migration issues in regional and individual perspectives.
v For that reason, we strongly believe that the issue of human trafficking in the region must be urgently addressed in a comprehensive manner. It is in that spirit Myanmar dispatched a delegation to attend "Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean" held in Bangkok on 29 May 2015.
v As you all are fully aware, a summary record was issued at the end of the meeting with clear guidelines to tackle the heinous crime.
v Myanmar is determined to work cooperatively with the affected countries including countries in the region based on the well established mechanism called the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime.
v To demonstrate our sense of responsibility, Myanmar Navy and Air Force have intensified patrolling in its territorial water to search for those who are suffering in the sea.
v During the time of patrolling, on 21 May 2015, the Myanmar Navy rescued a total of 208 boat people who are adrift at sea. On humanitarian grounds, they are given temporally shelters at Taung Pyo (Let Wai), Rakhine State.
v Among them, 200 people are found to be from Bangladesh after verification process done by the Myanmar side. We have also immediately granted permission for a consular visit to a Bangladeshi team from their Consulate in Sittwe for further verification. During my meeting with the Ambassador of Bangladesh in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, the Ambassador informed me that they are taking the people back starting from coming Sunday.
v Also on 29 May, Myanmar Navy sighted a boat with 734 people on board with their life in danger. According to preliminary investigation, it was found that they were abandoned at sea by smugglers. Out of 734 persons, 611 are men, 72 are women and the remaining 51 are children.
v After careful consideration based on humanitarian grounds, they have now reached a safe ground for temporary shelters with the help of the Navy. After proving necessary needs such as healthcare, food and clothing, verification process will be carried out, beginning today.
v Myanmar is affected with this problem of boat people not as a destination country. Since Myanmar is a developing country with limited resources, we are making our utmost efforts in looking after this large number of people.
v Under these circumstances, Myanmar is not in a position to provide shelters to them on long-term basis. After the completion of verification process, we will coordinate with country of origin to take them back expeditiously.
v Myanmar is deeply concerned by the suffering and the life threatening fate of the innocent people as a consequence of human trafficking and illegal migration in the region.
v Myanmar has already provided humanitarian assistance to those found adrift in Myanmar’s territorial water. Myanmar feels that focus should be made on a more holistic and pragmatic approach such as scaling up cooperation by providing humanitarian and development assistances to the affected countries if we really want to resolve the issue.
v Finger pointing at each other is not a productive approach to solving a problem.
v With regard to boat people in other countries that were alleged to be Myanmar, Myanmar will make consular visits, collected data for verification and will take appropriate measures in accordance with the findings.
Conclusion
v In conclusion, today briefing is conducted with a view to share the first hand information on the current developments in Myanmar. I know that you also have chances to gather information from your visits and tours in Myanmar.
v I, therefore, sincerely hope that all these information that you have been provided will be reflected in your reports back to your respective capitals. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to share these information with you.
v I would now open the floor for your comments, views and questions that you may have that the officials who are here with me and I can clarify.
v We would very much welcome your constructive comments that could help Myanmar.
v Thank you.
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