This photo shows the Senior General together with head of Yangon branch of the Asahi Shimbun of Japan Mr. Makoto Igarashi at Bayintnaung villa.
Q:The government is refusing to include some bands like Kokang group that ignited battles early this year. There is doubt that the nationwide ceasefire may be not effective in the entire country as there may be ongoing battles with such groups. Can we believe that this will really happen?
A:It depends on them, actually on their actions. MNDAA a Kokang group you have mentioned earlier started the fire. We didn’t start it. We even could not believe these groups would do such a thing. In 2009, I as the commander of that region had to comb the area as they were producing drugs and guns. We have no reason to acknowledge them. The first point is they attacked the self-administered zone government. They attacked the regional military headquarters. It meant they declared war on us. They were testing us. So they had become our enemy. They can be back in the peace process only if they unconditionally stop the war. They are not the groups that we acknowledge. There are also others who are supporting them. They are bands like TNLA, SSA and factions of KIA. However they deny, we have firm proof of their involvement. Concerning the signing of the agreement, their deeds are important. We do not launch any offensive operations against them. But there are instances in which we have to attack them when they tried to disturb military patrols and civilians in the area. We do not make any planned attacks or targeted attacks or their headquarters. The impact on the groups that do not sign the peace agreement depends on their own act.
Q:If they continue the battles?
A:If they continue we will have to continue. If they attack us we will attack them. We cannot stay idle, right? We will not tolerate any acts to harm the people, the government or the Tatmadaw. We will respond.
Q: I would like to ask about your future plan. We learn that you will turn 60 next year. Under the existing law, government staff have to retire at 60. As a leader who has been engaged in national politics, do you wish to enter (party) politics after 60?
A: Politics only is a narrow scope, I am afraid. I want to put it as State’s affairs. We are willing to take any part in State’s affairs. As a Tatmadawman, we need to perform our duties. I joined the service in 1974 and became a gazette officer in 1977. So, I have around 40 years of experience. I have considerable experience in administration, military and other affairs. Anyway, this experience is generally useful for the country. All of us, Tatmadawmen, have desire to serve the interests of the country. We, Tatmadawmen, have to perform any duty assigned to us. So as regards your question of if or not I will engage in politics, I would rather engage in national politics, that is State’s affairs. I will turn 60 next year and I will consider (if or not to bid for presidency) then depending on the situation. It is too early to say now. We don’t know what will happen, do we? We know nothing (about the future). Whatever it is, I can assure you that we’ll serve the interests of the country. There have been different speculations. They say that (I have) taken the leading position and wish (to assume presidency). It is their view. I would not do anything that would harm the interests (of the country). I would do the things that would serve the interests (of the country).
Q: If people wish your presidency, wouldn’t you consider for it under current circumstances?
A: I will consider only when (people) call for it. At present, I am not supposed to be day-dreaming about it, but I have to focus on my job properly. We have to handle wide-ranging works in military affairs. We have to handle comprehensively. We are trying to do these better. I will consider if it is appropriate or not (to run for presidency)depending on circumstances later.
Q: I would like to ask a question about the business activities of the Tatmadaw. We found that the Tatmadaw is not only engaged in politics but also in economy. For example, Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd and Myanma Economic Corporation are running big business. Some people view it as the Tatmadaw is having a grip on not only politics but also economy and some criticize that it is against the market economy. How long the Tatmadaw will continue to maintain its grip on economy and why does it run business?
A: It is not that such a practice exists only in our country. This exists in many other countries in different forms. I have visited foreign countries and I have asked (if the armies in those countries run business). They (those armies) are engaging in economy in their own way. There are different forms of militaryrun business in most of the countries I have visited. The only difference is that some are known and some not. By comparison with international countries, the Myanmar’s Tatmadaw has Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd and Myanma Economic Corporation. Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd has four objectives. I’ll explain briefly. The first (objective) is for the welfare of the Tatmadawmen and their families, the second is for the welfare of veterans and their families, the third is to contribute to the welfare of the people and the fourth is to contribute to the economy of the State. Myanma Economic Corporation (MEC) intends to facilitate economic development of the country, cover partly the expenses of the Tatmadaw, provide the Tatmadaw with required supplies and for the welfare of Tatmadawmen and their families and to fulfill some
other needs of the Tatmadaw. MEC produces non-weapon military objects such as cloth and shoes. In the past, we were favored. I don’t deny this. However, we had had to pay the necessary taxes. Now, we have to pay all the legal taxes. We have to pay a very large sum of tax as much as billion kyats. Therefore, it is not that the odds are stacked in our favor. Again, in a market economy, we have to compete according to its rule. In no area of economy, we are enjoying monopoly. Others (private businessmen) are also running the same businesses we are operating. And we have to pay the same amount of tax others are paying. Therefore, I would say we are not granted concession. In fact, (our businesses) contribute to economy of the State as well as the Tatmadaw. For example, when it costs around 100 kyats for private producers to produce a thing, it only costs 75-80 kyats for us. So, when the Tatmadaw buys that thing, it can save 20 kyats. It can save more depending on the amount it purchases. Since we are doing it firsthand, we know better that those (businesses) are beneficial to us. If someone is suspicious about our business, they can talk to me. We’ll explain. I’d say we are doing a really beneficial business (for our country). We are not granted concession and we pay all the taxes.
Q: I would like to ask a question about relations with China. In Kokang fighting, bombs dropped in China. Again, there are illegal logging and human trafficking across the border into China. Therefore, I think the border security with China is extremely important. What’s more, China is the biggest country in terms of population and its political and economic influence has grown significantly. So, I think the relationship between two countries is critically important. What is your view on this?
A: China shares an approximately 2000-kilometer long border with Myanmar and the two have historically good bilateral relations. It is natural that there are problems at the border areas. In the past, there were problems at India border as well as Thai border. Under our foreign policy, we maintain friendly relations with all countries, and especially we care more about our relations with neighbors. We also negotiate diplomatically (to settle the issue with China) and we also try to settle through military-to-military relationship. Again, concerned administrative authorities of two countries also address the issue through governmentto- government relationship. Mainly, it is important that administrative power is brought into force in border region, and we are trying to make sure it. That’s why we are struggling to achieve peace. We will be able to overcome all those challenges if we achieve peace. This is more important. I would say the situation is largely positive as we are restoring stability based on mutual understanding. Normally, there will be some problems on the ground. But then, if both sides can exercise restraint in the future, there won’t be problem. Previously, we, I myself, held talks with their (China’s) responsible authorities. And all of us want to make things better. They want to make things better and so do we.
Q: As you said, Myanmar is sandwiched between two very powerful countries, China and India. Would you say the Tatmadaw has to take the lead role in national politics until now because of this?
A: It is one of the reasons. Taking a look into the country’s history, we lost independence in 1886 and we had to struggle to regain independence and we only regained independence in 1948. We regained independence because thirty comrades from our country learnt (military skills) at your country (Japan) and established an army. Hundreds of thousands of people joined the Burma Independence Army (BIA) founded under the leadership of thirty comrades, and the army was built up as a modern army to fight back the colonialists. Then, finally we regained independence in 1948. According to this course of history, firstly our country needs to be able to defend. Again from 1948 to 2011 until the emergence of a democratic government, there were parliamentary democracy, Revolutionary Council, Socialist Programme Party and the Tatmadaw government. Taking a look into those periods, there were lots of tempests in terms of security and the politics was a little bit stormy. It is crucially important to stabilize these. Therefore, to resist these, the Tatmadaw has to a part to play. You have talked about the parliament. The Tatmadaw there presented what is proper. We just presented what should be done. We are not taking sides. Only when we say that it must be done, it is called bias. It is up to the parliament to make the final decision. Whatever we, the Tatmadaw, are doing, we are doing it for the sake of the country. We only intend to serve the country and have no other intention. Whatever it is, if it is good for the country, the Tatmadaw will be satisfied. But then, it is ultimately the Tatmadaw which has to settle most of the current issues, making sacrifices. Therefore, we don’t want to see unnecessary sacrifice for the country. It would be the more worthwhile cause for us to work for the defence of the country. Therefore, we are giving a helping hand for the security of the country.
Q: This question is about the reform process of President U Thein Sein. Now Myanmar has forged very good relationship with Japan, the US and the Europe. You yourself visited Japan last year. Do you have any plan to seek military and defence cooperation with those countries?
A: Yes. We have. Some military officers from our Tatmadaw have made study visits to Japan. And we are also receiving non-military training. This is part of the cooperation as a friend nation. When I was visiting Japan, I was explained much about the position of the armed forces of Japan. And we found that our positions have much in common. So, they (Japanese Armed Forces) provide recommendations as regards our actions and also give us support for improvement of our Tatmadaw’s capabilities. We are cooperating with Armed Forces of Japan. You have asked if we are cooperating with the US. Not only with the US, we are willing to cooperate militarily with any country in any area. We don’t know what they think, but we will cooperate with any country, any military which is willing to help us improve our Tatmadaw.
Q: This is the last question. Serious flooding in June and July has inflicted serious damages on the country. It is quite saddening. But it seems that the Tatmadaw is helping a lot the flood victims. From the point of view of a foreign country, there have been a lot of changes in the Tatmadaw’s responses to current floods and the Nargis storm which took place in the time of previous military government. And you yourself are visiting those flood-hit areas to help. Can we say you are leading those relief efforts?
A: That a military leader is taking part (in relief efforts) encourages all. But then, as a Tatmadawman, we are obliged to give a hand in State’s affairs. This is our concept. Again, from the legal point of view, we are legally required to give a helping hand in case of disaster. We have to abide by it. Again, as Tatmadawmen, we have pledged to sacrifice our lives for the country. Our Tatmadaw is born out of people. I am not talking big. We really feel that we were born out of people and we will protect and serve the interests of people. I have mentioned our three main responsibilities. The first is to defend, the second, to undergo training and the third, to serve the interests of people. The third is to serve the interest of people. This is our concept. So, all the Tatmadawmen in respective regions have joined relief efforts when the disaster happened. If needed, troops from other areas were asked to join local troops in their relief efforts. We have told them that they do not need to wait for instructions to help in case of disaster. We have told the troops stationed close to the disaster-hit areas to help immediately and present the requirements to us. There were floods last year and the year before the last year. The flooding is more severe and it rains more heavily this year. Coupled with storms, it rained quite heavily. This year is an intercalary year and according to our experiences, usually it rains more heavily in intercalary year. Therefore, we give greater attention to intercalary years. In flood-hit areas where there are cantonments, local cantonments helped (flood victims) immediately. Some cantonments were also flooded and in that case, we have formed flood relief forces with families of Tatmadawmen at the backline and they helped themselves while the Tatmadawmen were dispatched to help the civilian flood victims. When we visited the flood victims, they felt comforted. This is our view. We are prepared to help handle trouble in any part of the country. That’s why we did it (helping flood victims). Regarding the Nargis, we did help. Nargis left more serious damages than now floods have done. So, the task was massive. Now, we are only affected by floods. So, there are lots of differences. But we did the same in our relief efforts. During Nargis, we helped with the same choppers, planes and Tatmadawmen discharging duties that time and now with the Tatmadaw discharging duties at present.
Asahi Shimbun: Thank You!
The Myawady Daily, Page(18)
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