6 A NATION LEFT BEHIND the NLD’s President Win Myint on 30 March, head of pandemic response. All military minis- one week after the first cases were confirmed. tries and offices present on the NDSC are also Headed by Vice President (1) Myint Swe – a represented in the COVID-19 committee. Un- military appointee, former general and an surprisingly, the mandate is more reflective of NDSC member – the committee includes min- concerns for security rather than health. It is isters of Defense, Home Affairs, and Border tasked with “investigating” cases of coronavi- Affairs and a representative from the Office of rus and the implementation of quarantine and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. community lockdown. It is also sanctioned with Despite it being a pandemic response commit- the ability to take legal action against “people tee, notably missing are any members from the who spread misinformation” that could create MoHS. It appears to have since taken the lead “a state of panic among the people.” In signing on COVID-19 response implementation, while off on such an establishment, the NLD likely purportedly being overseen by another nation- sidestepped pressure to convene the NDSC al committee headed by State Counsellor Daw during the pandemic – which could override its Aung San Suu Kyi created two weeks earlier.8 own decision-making – while also offering up a Of concern are the broad powers granted path through which the military could contin- to the COVID-19 emergency response com- ue its operations and further restrict rights and mittee, which puts the armed forces at the freedoms in the name of fighting the virus. 8 Phu Ei Ei Nwe. “COVID-19 prevention and containment committee set up and led by Myanmar State Counsellor.” Mizzima News. 14 March 2020. Available at: http://mizzima.com/article/covid-19-prevention-and-containmentcommittee-set-and-led-myanmar-state-counsellor