Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing receives ICRC resident representative

The Senior General receives an ICRC delegation led by resident representative Mr. Jurg Montani at Bayintnaung villa.

Nay Pyi Taw, August 26

Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing praised the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) for its worldwide humanitarian efforts and said he recognized the ICRC's humanitarian works in Myanmar and the Tatmadaw is cooperating with ICRC in possible areas, as the military chief received an ICRC delegation led by resident representative Mr. Jurg Montani at Bayintnaung villa in Nay Pyi Taw at 10 am on Tuesday.

Also present on the occasion were Commander-in- Chief of Air Force General Khin Aung Myint, who is concurrently taking the position of Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), and senior military officers from Commander-in-Chief (Army) Office and responsible persons of ICRC.

Mr. Jurg Montani elaborated on ICRC’s rescue efforts in response to floods in Rakhine State, and relief and rehabilitation of locals and the injured in confl ict zones based on its experience over the past 150 years, mine clearing efforts on humanitarian ground, and its non-political assistance in election and peace process of Myanmar.

The Commander-in-Chief thanked the ICRC’s contribution to rescue and relief works in Rakhine State’s flooding. He said the Tatmadaw is under taking relief works in floodravaged areas in Rakhine and Chin states and Ayeyarwady and Sagaing regions. He said the Tatmadawmen are obliged to protect people from natural disasters, adding that it is the second nature of the Tatmadaw to protect and serve the interests of people.

He stressed the need for rehabilitation works in flood hit areas despite the fact that reliefs are being supplied to the flood victims. He urged the ICRC resident representative to cooperate with local departments in their rehabilitation efforts in flood-ravaged areas including Rakhine State if possible. 

Regarding the clashes in Kachin State and north-east of Shan State, he said that it was the consequence of the other side breaking the code of conduct adopted by both sides. He said he personally did not want to see clashes.

He said the Tatmadaw has already allowed the internally displaced persons (IDP) who are taking shelter at camps in those conflict areas to return to their homes, but IDPs are not leaving the camps as the other parties are putting pressure on them.

He denied the Tatmadaw bullying ethnicities. Some organizations, he said, mistook that the Tatmadaw is bullying ethnicities, but in fact it was formed of different races and is comprised of more than 3,000 ethnic officials and thousands of ethnic rank and fi le members and therefore, there is no reason problem should arise between the Tatmadaw and ethnicities.

He said there have been many ethnic Tatmadawmen who were awarded medals for their valor in the defence of the country and until now, all ethnic Tatmadawmen are discharging their duties with loyalty.

The two also held frank discussions on provision of training on humanitarian affairs, holding workshops, training on first aid to nonmilitary organizations and provision of humanitarian

assistance in cooperation with focal ministries in areas in need.

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