Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing yesterday afternoon separately met officers, other ranks and families of Meiktila Station.
Present at the meeting together with the Senior General were members of the Council General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ko Ko Oo and officers, other ranks and families of Meiktila Station.
The country’s democracy is just nascent. Therefore, some powerful countries and organizations attempted to import democracy they wanted under various titles and in various styles.
In his speech, the Senior General said officials at all levels failed to address the seriously flawed voter list of the 2020 election that may be followed by election frauds, and instead, there were even attempts to convene the third Hluttaw and to take over the respective branches of State power by force. Hence, the Tatmadaw had to declare the state of emergency and temporarily shoulder the duties of the State transferred to it by the acting president. In every place he visited during the post-election period, the Senior General spoke of the need to choose the persons who can serve the interest of the country and people, who have goodwill, who have the legal knowledge and who are abiding by the law, and who will serve the regional interest to ensure a fair democratic election. There appeared the “No Vote” campaign, and if a person failed to vote, he would lose his right. So, all eligible voters were urged to cast votes and did the right thing. The person one voted would elect the leaders of the State on his behalf, in the respective Hluttaws. So, the elected person must be a true representative of the people. During the election, Tatmadaw members ardently cast votes in accord with the rules and under the systematic programmes arranged by the Tatmadaw.
Election is the essence of democracy. In Myanmar, 77 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls in the 2010 election and nearly 70 per cent in the 2015 election. The government that took office in 2010 achieved success to a certain extent but faced various difficulties. A government came to power after the 2015 election, and lots of criticisms emerged during its five-year term. Criticisms were levelled against the needs in various sectors such as political, economic and social sectors. There were also illegal acts. As the people got disheartened by the government’s actions, they also became reluctant to go to the polls when the next election was due. At that time, ‘no vote’ campaigns could be seen. There was only about 14 per cent of voters when the voting took place for the members of the Yangon City Development Committee in 2019.
When the 2020 election was held, 71 per cent of the eligible voters went to the polls, although they had to vote in accord with the social distancing rules due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Voter lists were announced many times with inaccuracies. A lot of differences were found when those voter lists were scrutinized, and the findings were announced as well. There were irregularities in over 10 million votes nationwide including over 29,000 votes in Meiktila Township. Efforts were made to address the issue of incorrect voter lists in accord with democratic norms. But it didn’t work out and they insistently tried to call the third parliament and form a government. Accordingly, a state of emergency was declared on 1 February 2021 as per the provision of the Constitution (2008). The Tatmadaw formed the State Administration Council. The Tatmadaw will strive to ensure genuine, firm and disciplined democracy.
Various countries are exercising democracy. There are different patterns of ruling and election. They usually practise democracy suitable to their own cultures, characters, faiths and existing conditions. The Tatmadaw shaped multiparty democracy in accord with the 2008 Constitution as the people wished. The country’s democracy is just nascent. Therefore, some powerful countries and organizations attempted to import democracy they wanted under various titles and in various styles.
Peace and stability prevailed in one week after the Tatmadaw’s takeover of the State duties. But since the start of the second week, protests emerged. They then turned into riots, violence and anarchy. After violating the laws, the protesters came to burn administrative buildings, police stations, judicial buildings, property of the people willing to live in peace, and factories and carried out lootings. Later, the rioters began to hold weapons and commit violent means. By exercising utmost restraints, security forces are handling the protests in accord with step-step procedures. In comparison with the incidents in the international community, measures being taken here are far less severe.
Currently, SAC is implementing the five future programmes and checking the voter list as the first priority. It is also announcing the results of the inspections and will issue the grand totals after finishing the entire job. Covid-19 pandemic prevention undertakings and the remedial measures will be taken to recover the economy hit by the virus. The peace process will be seriously carried out in accord with the accords of the NCA to the possible degree. After the task has been implemented in accord with the provisions of the emergency period, a free and fair election will be held in accord with the 2008 Constitution, and State power will be handed over to the winning party in accord with the democratic norms. Moreover, nine objectives have been implemented for further progress of the political, economic and social sectors.
The Tatmadaw is taking the multiparty democracy path firmly. The newly formed Union Election Commission is scrutinizing the details of voter’s lists for respective townships and has discovered more suspicious voter’s lists than the Tatmadaw had found. Emphasis will be placed on the correctness of the most fundamental household lists and national registration cards in the future free and fair elections.
The main task of the Tatmadaw is national defence, and the Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for defending the nation against foreign threats, but it has had to address the internal insurgency in the successive eras until now. Efforts must always be exerted to make the Tatmadaw into highly capable armed forces with high combat skills and for the success of unit-owned and manageable agriculture and livestock breeding farms to save unnecessary expenses for foodstuffs.
As educated human resources that are well-versed in knowledge and science are essential for the development of a country, the fundamental requirement is the acquisition of knowledge in classrooms. As schools have been closed for about a year, which has hurt the interest of the State, parents and students themselves, efforts are being exerted to reopen schools. Under favourable circumstances, permissions to organize Thingyan Festival in accordance with appropriate restrictions will be granted.
As educated human resources that are well-versed in knowledge and science are essential for the development of a country, the fundamental requirement is the acquisition of knowledge in classrooms.
As schools have been closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19, children should be encouraged to learn wisdom and knowledge from books and journals on knowledge and traditional culture while parents themselves are required to read books. As the Tatmadaw is a part of the people and the country which is born of the people, it will always serve the interest of the people and exert efforts to be armed forces that can be relied upon by the people and the country.
Will the capability of a team be high only when individual members of it are capable. It is necessary for all to fulfil ones’ duties honestly and responsibly. As the main task of the Tatmadaw is national defence, it is important for all to improve the image of the Tatmadaw, the country and the people by exerting efforts to nurture better individuals and better units based on fine individual conscientiousness.
After the meetings, the Senior General presented foodstuffs and household products manufactured by factories owned by the Tatmadaw to responsible officers.
Then, the Senior General and party cordially greeted officers, other ranks and families from respective stations.—MNA
