A convoy of army vehicles patrol the streets of Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb 3, 2021. (PHOTO / AP)
YANGON – Myanmar's military blocked Facebook and other messaging services on Thursday, as state-run media reported that the State Administration Council held meetings with union ministers and officials from union-level organizations on Wednesday.
Led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in his capacity of the chair of the State Administration Council, the meeting was attended by members of the council and newly appointed ministers and officials in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw.
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Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed that the military would not change policies of the country in the sectors of foreign affairs, administration and economy as well as the ongoing political roadmap during the period of the state of emergency
Speaking at the meeting, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services said that the move to declare a state of emergency on Monday came after the failed request of the military to solve possible voter list fraud in the general election held in November last year despite the military's expectation for correct voter lists in accordance with the law.
Min Aung Hlaing explained that the recent appointment of union ministers and officials to the union-level organizations was made on the basis of their experiences and qualifications for further implementation of work during the state of emergency.
The State Administration Council added five more members late Wednesday. The newly-formed council also announced appointments of new union ministers for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Transport and Communications, Commence and Ethnic Affairs.
New ministers were appointed for 11 ministries on Monday while 24 deputy ministers were removed from their posts.
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Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed that the military would not change policies of the country in the sectors of foreign affairs, administration and economy as well as the ongoing political roadmap during the period of the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Information said Facebook, used by half of Myanmar’s 53 million people, would be blocked until Feb 7.
“Currently the people who are troubling the country’s stability … are spreading fake news and misinformation and causing misunderstanding among people by using Facebook,” the ministry said in a letter.
A spokesman for the United Nations said Wednesday the UN was watching the situation in Myanmar "very closely and with concern".
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Myanmar held multi-party general elections on Nov 8 last year and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) won the majority of seats in both Houses of the Union Parliament.
The electoral processes were carried out in line with the law, according to the Union Election Commission.
Myanmar declared a one-year state of emergency and the legislative, executive and judicial powers were handed over to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on Monday.
With Reuters' inputs