U Zaw Htay, Director-General of the State Counsellor’s Office, told a news conference on August 1, that the Government’s National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) provided financial support in the form of grant, for eight Ethnic Army Organizations related to COVID-19 support initiatives
U Zaw Htay said “We cannot [continue such] support at the moment, but will provide [as possible] due to the difficulty of the COVID-19. Based on the forces and people lists, we [reviewed] previous payments. We divided the number of forces and how they were given at that time. And we divided into large groups, medium groups and small groups and supported them with a grant equal to their strength during the period of COVID-19.”
This grant was for EAO’s who signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karen National Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were given one billion kyats each. The Chin National Front (CNF) and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) were given 75 million kyats each and the Rakhine State Liberation Party and the All Burma Student Democratic Front were given 50 million kyats each. The Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) received 25 million kyats. The grants were transferred on July 24 to the EAO’s respective banks.
However, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Reconstruction Council of Shan State (RCSS), which are signatories to the NCA, did not receive any grant support related to COVID-19.
“Eight groups submitted [a request] to the NRPC but the KNU and RCSS did not. The government grant provides for the basics for people who do not have a regular income and [is intended to] support farmers, It is not for the EAO’s. The [grant is for] the family of EAO’s and for other poor people who cannot work [due to COVID-19]. The EAO’s submitted this issue.” he added.