Military leader says army will not back away politics, days before elected government set to take charge.
27 Mar 2016 aj
Senior general Min Aung Hlaing reasserted the military's belief that it is the country's sole unifying force [AP]
Myanmar's commander-in-chief of the armed forces has stressed that there is a "need" for the military to remain a political force, just days before an elected government is set to take power for the first time in 56 years.
Senior general Min Aung Hlaing, making an Armed Forces Day speech in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Sunday, reasserted the military's belief that it is the country's sole unifying force and protector of the constitution.
Though the military had "cooperated with the government and the people", to hold a historic general election in November, which was won by the party of former opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, it was not yet time to step away from the political arena, he said.
Tatmadaw's political role
"The Tatmadaw has to be present as the leading role in national politics with regards to the ways we stand along the history and the critical situations of the country," Min Aung Hlaing said, referring to the armed forces by their Myanmar name.
The military seized power in a 1962 coup and for decades suppressed all opposition.
But it stepped back in 2011, paving the way for a semi-civilian government to prepare for last November's election. However, it still retains important powers.
A quarter of the parliament seats are reserved for unelected military officers, giving them an effective veto over constitutional changes, and the commander-in-chief remains in control of three key main ministries.
More than 10,000 military personnel marched in a parade marking the day in 1945 when a young nationalist leader, General Aung San, and his followers in a fledgling army turned against Japanese forces occupying their country.
Hundreds of veterans, foreign defence attaches and politicians gathered before dawn on a big parade field to watch the ceremony.
But conspicuously absent was Aung San's daughter, National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Suu Kyi. She attended the ceremony in 2013 but has not since then.
Also absent was president-elect Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi's hand-picked leader who will take power on Friday.
Htin Kyaw, a loyal confidant of Suu Kyi, will take the role only because the Nobel laureate is barred from holding the position under a military-drafted constitution, which she has openly criticised.
Min Aung Hlaing defended the charter on Sunday, saying it was drafted by "coordinated efforts of intellectuals, experts from various fields and national races representatives and was ratified by a nationwide referendum", and paved the way for the November election.
1 comment:
Dear Compatriots,
The situation in Myanmar is completely different from Cambodia. Myanmar is an independent State while Cambodia is meticulously controlled by the evil Yuon.
The Yuon's agents are everywhere in the government branches especially in the military.
It is time for Khmer nationalists in the CPP to do something to break the evil Yuon's grip by joining force directly or indirectly with the CNRP.
Some Khmer people who have heavily condemned the CNRP's leaders after they joined the National Assembly should think carefully about the repercussion of their actions because so far their attacks on the CNRP have benefited only the CPP and Yuon.
I would like to bring up an hypothetical scenario if the CNRP refused to join the National Assembly: the evil Vietnam and Hun Sen killed Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy and broke up the CNRP party.
Will the CNRP and Khmer people be able to unite after this disastrous crush by the CPP and Vietnam?
Will the International community intervene ? The probability is extremely slim or Zero.
Fighting this evil Yuon requires exceptional perseverance from Khmer people.
They have to think positively: at least Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy are still stayed united firmly, and the CNRP is still stayed in one piece. We must continue working to win this next election.
Notice that in 2013, the CPP just declared itself as the winner of the election.
I believe this new NEC will not allow the CPP to do such thing again.
If Khmer people are united with the CNRP, it will come to this conclusion: the CNRP is the winner of this 2018 election and the CPP refuses to relinquish the power to the CNRP.
In this scenario, what should Khmer people do?
Remember that this time the CNRP IS THE WINNER. Therefore, we have a solid just cause to fight for and the International Community especially the United Nations has a good reason to intervene to enforce the CPP to abide by the result of the election.
In brief, to solve Cambodia problem, Khmer people must know how to make good judgment, and clearly understand the ramification of their actions.
Bun Thoeun
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