Tatmadaw doing its best while giving priority to national progress, and will render cooperation in UNICEF activities as much as it can

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Mr. Robert Justin Alexander Forsyth pose for documentary photo together with members.

Nay Pyi Taw April 7

The Tatmadaw always keeps the sense of sympathy in implementing security alongside development. It is doing its best while giving priority to national progress. It will render cooperation in the UNICEF activities as much as it can, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at his meeting with DeputyExecutive Director of UNICEF Mr. Robert Justin Alexander Forsyth at Bayintnaung Parlour here at 4 pm yesterday.

Also present at the meeting together with the Senior General were Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo and senior military officers of the Office of the Commanderin- Chief (Army). The Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF was accompanied by UNICEF Representative in Myanmar Mr. Bertrant Bainvel.

First, the Senior General said UNICEF is a significant UN organization, much beneficial to the Third World countries, especially for health, education and development of children. The future of the country depends on the children. Since 2011, the Tatmadaw has been directly cooperating with the UNICEF to end the issue of child soldiers. The Tatmadaw is satisfied with its performances. It welcomes the UNICEF’s extended efforts in bringing better opportunities.

Mr. Robert Justin Alexander Forsyth said UNICEF has been cooperating with the Myanmar government for 65 years, being able to save lives of many children. Now, it is continuing cooperation with the government in the areas of health, education, nutrition development and protection of children. He expressed thanks to the Myanmar Tatmadaw for earnest cooperation in the elimination of recruiting child soldiers. And there will be closer cooperation. He then asked about opinions on child soldiers in ethnic armed organizations and humanitarian and citizenship issues in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states.

The Senior General on his part said the Union Peace Conference will be held for the second time. So far, eight ethnic armed groups have signed the NCA. He said he believes five more from the remaining armed groups will be able to sign the NCA and the plan is being carried out under the leadership of NRPC. After the NCA signing, DDR and SSR will follow on the agenda of the peace process. Then, armed confl ict will end and the issue of child soldiers will stop as well. Then, as child soldier processes cause loss to social economy and concern with Tatmadaw’s prestige, Tatmadaw is making the best to solve that issue. The issue will be completed in a short time except some cases. The Tatmadaw is tackling the child soldier cases clearly.

Then, the Senior General explained that efforts are being made through various ways and means for ensuring peace and stability with regard to northern part of Rakhine State. Especially, it needs to receive correct accounts and data. He understood to give humanitarian aid to them. As strenuous efforts are made for carrying out facts and figures in line with the law, plans are underway to give legal rights to them. Afterwards, the Senior General said Tatmadaw is trying its best to develop the nation. Security measures are taken in some tasks. On the other hand, Tatmadaw emphasizes development of the region and social development.

After the meeting, the Senior General and the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF posed for documentary photo together with members.

The Myawady Daily

Myanmar diplomat protests against UNHCR official

Nay Pyi Taw November 27

A Myanmar diplomat yesterday protested allegations by a senior UN official of ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State.

The claims of John McKissick, a member of UNHCR staff based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, were allegedly made in a BBC news report aired on 24 November.

U Htin Lin, the Myanmar permanent representative and ambassador in Geneva, described the allegations of McKissick as baseless and in breach of the code of conduct of United Nations staff. U Htin Lin lodged a complaint to Assistant High Commissioner Mr Volker Turk of the UNHCR yesterday, according to the Information Committee of the State Counsellor’s Office.

Under the instruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Htin Lin requested to meet with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning John McKissick’s “one-sided and baseless” allegations in a BBC news report, which the ambassador reiterated were contrary to the code of conduct of a UN staff member and damaged the cooperation and trust in the operations of the UNHCR. The Myanmar ambassador met with Assistant High Commissioner (Protection) Mr Volker Turk of the UNHCR at its headquarters and lodged a complaint. The high commissioner was abroad and the deputy high commissioner was said to be too busy to meet with the Myanmar ambassador.

The Myanmar ambassador urged the assistant high commissioner to verify whether John McKissick actually made the statements to the BBC, and to refute and protest the allegations if he made the statements. The ambassador also pointed out that those statements breach the code of conduct of the UN, damage the image of the UNHCR and Myanmar and the government, before requesting the assistant high commissioner to verify the statements and Myanmar may lodge a complaint if necessary.

The assistant high commissioner told the ambassador that he was surprised to learn the statements of Mr McKissick after he had returned from abroad the day before. Mr Volk said that McKissick made the statements in his capacity as an individual and that they do not represent the position of the UNHCR. The assistant high commissioner also promised to find ways to take further action and to inform the ambassador in accordance with the request of the ambassador, saying that the UNHCR is desirous of continued cooperation of the Myanmar government and its people and will continue to provide assistance.

The press release of the information committee also said that the UNHCR is responsible for the “verification and clarification of the unethical and fabricated statements of Mr John Mckissick, because a UN staff member should observe ethics and the code of conduct of the organisation as the UNHCR is a UN agency and it is not acceptable that the media spread fake news under the name of the UN”.

The Myawady Daily

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