Senior General Min Aung Hlaing receives US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, exchanges views

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing holds talks with Mr. Dennis Shea, Vice Chairman of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Nay Pyi Taw May 27

The Tatmadaw lives under discipline as it is its essentiality. The Tatmadaw has the codes of conduct in dealing with the people, and there are severe military acts. Apart from the said codes of conducts and acts,soldiers have to observe the civil laws, regional cultures, traditions and customs. Any wrong act of a soldier against public relations will meet with severe punishment as it is inexcusable, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at his meeting with a delegation led by Mr. Dennis Shea, Vice Chairman of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission at Bayintnaung Parlour here at 3 pm yesterday.

Also present at the meeting together with the Senior General were Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo and senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army). Mr. Dennis Shea was accompanied by the members of his commission.

First, Mr. Dennis Shea explained the commission’s survey of regional relations, prioritization of Southeast Asian affairs this year, and desire to give good recommendations to Myanmar after studying the country.The commission members raised questions about Myanmar.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing responded to their questions. As regards the political and security matters of Myanmar, the Senior General recounted the rivalry between the two main political ideologies of the world — capitalism and communism— during Myanmar’s independence struggle in the years before 1948, the practice of parliamentary democracy in Myanmar during the post-independence period from 1948 to 1962, the ethnic disagreements between the states and mainland Myanmar caused by the divide-andrule policy of the colonial era, the follow-up eruption of internal armed insurgency triggered by political disagreements when independence was restored, efforts for achieving peace to end the prolong armed conflicts that have existed since 1948 when independence was regained, the centralized rule of the Revolutionary Council, the Socialist Party and the Tatmadaw government for about 50 years from 1962 to 2010 under the then circumstances of the country, the pursuance of multi-party democracy path in just over six years of period from 2011 to 2017 and the necessity to ensure State peace and stability as well as political stability as the country has faced ethnic, ideological and administrative issues throughout history.

Answering the question about the Tatmadaw role in the country’s administration for next 10 years, the Senior General said the Union Peace Conference was ongoing with a view to achieving peace and stability that is essential for the State in terms of security. The ethnic armed groups were demanding that the timeframe of the conference should not be limited. The Tatmadaw itself was coordinating that matter. Thus, the Tatmadaw must consider depending on stability and the guarantees for the country.

Replying to the question about the view on China’s constructive attitude towards Myanmar’s peace process, the Senior General said Myanmar and China shared over 2,200 kilometres of border. China had got involved in Myanmar’s changes and developments. China was making lots of contributions to Myanmar’s peace process so as to ensure enduring multi-party democracy and its assistance had been constructive.

As to the question about being able to do freely in building military ties between the US and Myanmar without pressure from other countries,the Senior General said Myanmar was a sovereign nation and no country could interfere in its internal affairs. Myanmar forges relations with all countries as friends in improving State defence capacity the Tatmadaw. Myanmar Tatmadaw has been strengthening amicable relations with armed forces from international community in line with the foreign policies such as friendly relations and five principles of peaceful coexistence with all countries. He said he welcomes cooperation of the US armed forces.Myanmar has friends only, no enemy. Myanmar joins hands with friend countries for development of the nation and is not under their influence. The Senior General noted that mutual trust is of great importance for each other, and Myanmar has plans to cooperate with any country as friend.

With regard to the question about the attitude of the Tatmadaw over the human rights, the Senior General explained that the first point is culture of the country. The standard of Asia cannot be equal to the standard of the US. For the second point, being a Buddhist country, Myanmar’s human rights issues based on ethnic affairs, dogmatism and cultural affairs cannot be similar to those of the US. Myanmar can enjoy human rights in conformity with the culture, customs and traditions only. In some places, it cannot be in conformity with the standard of western countries. Moreover,Tatmadaw members have to practise disciplines and abide by the codes of conduct over the people, military act,civil laws and culture, customs and traditions of the respective regions.If they make mistakes related to the public relations, deterrent action is taken against them.

After the meeting, the Senior General presented the gift to the Vice Chairman of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

#Themyawadydaily