Military MP urges govt to call NDSC meeting

Military MP urges govt to call NDSC meeting
Published 10 December 2019

The government should convene a National Defence and Security Council meeting and officially  declare the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army (AA) as terrorist, insurgent groups as their terror attacks amount to showing contempt for and insulting the law, said Brig-Gen Kyaw San Lwin, Lower House Defence Services Personnel Representative at parliament on December 9. 

The MPs discussed the joint scrutinizing committee’s report on the bill amending the Constitution for the second time yesterday, which is submitted by 145 Union parliament representatives including Upper House Mp Sai Than Naing from Kayin State Constituency-5.

Currently, the Shwenadi vessel case and the arrests of Upper House MP U Way Tin and Indian citizens occured consecutively. It is also found that the TNLA, the MNDAA and the AA have stepped up their joint terrorist attacks in northern Shan State in 2019, Brig-Gen Kyaw San Lin added

The government should implement again the abolished Overnight Guest Registration Law and remove security restrictions in order to expose insurgents and who are trying to enter cities and villages. The government has yet to take any measures though the Tatmadaw is making quick responses to every attack, he continued. 

Other MPs and state government officials will face similar arrests if the Rakhine affairs is assumed as the problem of a state instead of the affairs of the whole country. The government should take accountability and responsibility by calling the National Defence and Security Council meeting for the security affairs in Rakhine and Shan States. 

Armed insurgent groups are carrying out attacks when the country is declining in all sectors. It is found that attacks, killings and hostage-taking by the ARSA and the AA insurgent groups in northern Rakhine State aims to destroy the government’s administrative mechanism in an organized and synchronized manner, he said. 

Regarding Section 201 of the 2008 Constitution, the Section 201 of the Chapter-5 describes the formation of National Defence and Security Council and fails to disclose its functions and duties. So seven functions and duties of the council is added to the section. It aims to carry out check and balance of defence, security, rule of law, peace process, executive and legislative sectors.

Regarding Section 201 of the 2008 Constitution, the Tatmadaw government drafted the 2008 Constitution after taking lessons from the situations since the Independent struggle period. Experienced legal experts formed a council which can guide and lead the shaping of the future country correctly. This is the National Defence and Security Council. This council does not deal with the military affairs alone. It is needed for political, economic, social and other sectors. It will lead the works in solving future dangers and difficulties of the country. It is especially needed for our country which have many armed insurgent groups, he continued.