Myanmar's newly installed Cabinet begins work

Myanmar's newly installed State Administration Council, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, began governing the country on Wednesday－two days after a yearlong state of emergency was declared.

The new governing authority started work as some detained officials were allowed to return home.

The National League for Democracy and the military said State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were in good health. They were among those detained on Monday.

An NLD official said U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi will be detained until Feb 15, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The police have charged the president with an offense under the National Disaster Management Law and the state counselor has been charged under the Export and Import Law, Kyi Toe, a member of the NLD's information committee, said on his social media account.

The military and the police have yet to make any statements in response to the information from the NLD, according to Xinhua.

The officials who were allowed to go home included a number of regional and state chief ministers. The military indicated that more officials would be released from detention.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services announced the formation of the 11-member State Administration Council in line with Section 419 of Myanmar's Constitution, Xinhua said.

Chaired by Min Aung Hlaing as commander-in-chief of defense services, the council includes Vice-Senior General Soe Win, serving as deputy chairman.

The council also set up a six-member Union Election Committee, in line with the Constitution, to prepare for elections promised by the military for the end of the yearlong emergency period.

Unlike in previous military takeovers in Myanmar, most of those appointed to what will serve as the Cabinet are civil servants, said Min Zaw Oo, executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security.

In the first meeting of newly appointed ministers after a major Cabinet reshuffle, Min Aung Hlaing unveiled further plans to be implemented during the state of emergency. These include the reopening of religious buildings and pagodas that had been shut because of COVID-19. Domestic travel networks will reopen along with hotels, and curbs that have affected other industries will be relaxed.

Among the key tasks for the council are revitalizing the country's economy, providing job opportunities for the unemployed and repatriating Myanmar citizens who have been stuck overseas during the pandemic, Xinhua reported, citing a statement from Myanmar's Military True News Information Team.

At the Cabinet meeting, Min Aung Hlaing said it was inevitable that the Army had to take power, given the protests over alleged election fraud last year, according to the Myanmar Times. The electoral commission had dismissed such claims over the November election, the newspaper said.

Min Aung Hlaing said the military had carefully considered the effects of its actions and implemented them in line with the country's laws.

Min Zaw Oo said the situation could have been resolved through dialogue, but noted that tensions had escalated.

He said the most important issue facing the country will be the transition from military supervision to an elected government.

The country should aim for a scenario in which the council can eventually hold the elections and enable the operation of a new government, he said. "That should be the strategic objective for all domestic and international stakeholders," Min Zaw Oo said.

While the situation in the capital, Naypyitaw, remained calm, supporters of the military-backed parties were seen demonstrating in the streets. However, in Yangon, the country's largest city, hundreds of people blared car horns and lit candles on Tuesday evening in a show of support for Aung San Suu Kyi's party.

U Soe Min, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, had to dispel rumors that the authorities would revoke some bank note denominations. He told the Myanmar Times on Wednesday: "It is not true that K10,000 notes will be abolished. It is stated in the Constitution that all currency notes issued by the CBM will not be declared illegal."

Yangon International Airport's operations resumed on Tuesday after an earlier announcement regarding its closure until the end of April, China Central Television reported. Two flights were seen departing from the airport early on Wednesday morning.

Myanmar National Airlines said its domestic and international repatriation flights will resume on Thursday as scheduled.

Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com