AT the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will soon pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. During the visit, the Senior General will attend the Eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Programme (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Lao PDR-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit to be held in Kunming, the People’s Republic of China, on 6 and 7 November. Moreover, the Senior General will hold talks with officials of the government of the People’s Republic of China to focus on friendly relations between the government and the people of both countries and the promotion of cooperation in economic and other sectors.
AT the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will soon pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. During the visit, the Senior General will attend the Eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Programme (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Lao PDR-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit to be held in Kunming, the People’s Republic of China, on 6 and 7 November. Moreover, the Senior General will hold talks with officials of the government of the People’s Republic of China to focus on friendly relations between the government and the people of both countries and the promotion of cooperation in economic and other sectors.
The 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was celebrated only in Russia. In reality, this patriotic war is not something that concerns only Russia. In the past, the world faced extreme ideologies like fascism and Nazism. This war was about resisting and fighting against those isms. With regard to resisting fascism and Nazism, you all know it’s something we in Myanmar also experienced. We suffered under the brutal consequences of fascist rule. The people of Myanmar were also oppressed. Likewise, many neighbouring countries suffered from the impacts of fascism too. For example, if you want to understand the horrors of fascism in Myanmar, there is a novel called Ngba. Read it. This is based on true events written with reference to real incidents and historical context. Likewise, even in our neighbouring country, China, there have been massacres like the Nanning Massacre. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, Russia was one of the countries that fought against the Nazi regime with great emphasis. Around 26 million of their people lost their lives. Even by today’s population standards, that number — 26 million — is a huge loss of life. That’s why they celebrate it as a victory. That was history from the past. Looking at present-day history, what we often talk about now is the rise of neocolonialism. In modern times, there is economic domination. Major powers constantly have the desire to dominate smaller nations. We need to unite and resist these things. I want to say that we must join forces and stand against them.
In this regard, the Myanmar Tatmadaw also participated in this 80th anniversary ceremony for the first time. We organized events, held military parades, and participated in commemorative marches. Through this, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has demonstrated that, in line with international armed forces, we are a military capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with others. First, it shows that the Myanmar Tatmadaw are a competent and capable force on par with international standards. Second, it clearly proves that our Tatmadaw can perform tasks at the same level as other international militaries. In our country, it has long been said that “a strong Tatmadaw makes a strong nation.” Some people, who wish to diminish the role of the Tatmadaw, have spoken against this idea. But look at the present era — for a country to have firm sovereignty and to uphold its national dignity and prestige, a strong defence capability is essential. A strong Tatmadaw is necessary. To firmly uphold our sovereignty, we must have a respectable and capable defence force. This is something that all citizens across the nation must understand, recognize, and take pride in. We must strive to realize these goals. And I want to say that we have had the opportunity to do so.
When meeting with the President of China, I wanted to express just three key points on behalf of Myanmar. First, China stands firmly and supportively with Myanmar as a good neighbour when it comes to Myanmar’s sovereignty and national development. Second, regarding Myanmar’s internal peace process, China continues to uphold and practise its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Moreover, both our countries adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which promote living together peacefully and respectfully. Since China is a neighbouring country and also serves as a western gateway for Myanmar, it views Myanmar’s internal peace process from a positive perspective. It hopes for a peaceful outcome and is actively supporting efforts toward achieving peace in Myanmar. We have received assurances that China will continue to support these efforts going forward.
Third, it is about our election. Regarding the election, the Prime Minister has already spoken about Myanmar’s multiparty democratic general election, saying that it will be held at the end of this year. From China’s side, we have seen support in relations to the preparations for the election. What I want to share as good news is that the multiparty democratic general election, which the people of Myanmar have long yearned for, will be held. The multiparty democratic system is something we have had thanks to the efforts of the Tatmadaw since the past. Due to election fraud, the Tatmadaw assumed state responsibility. Now, I would like to share the good news that we will continue to implement the multiparty democratic system that the people of Myanmar desire. The first main point I want to talk about is the political parties. In the area of political parties, there is a need to make preparations in advance. Then, it is necessary to educate and inform the public. I want to say clearly that, from my point of view, this is the number one priority we must continue to work on. The second point is about the public. Regarding the public’s role, we have already stated that we want a multiparty democratic election system. If we truly want a multiparty democracy, then holding peaceful and fair elections is a fundamental requirement. In order to conduct these elections peacefully, I urge the entire public to cooperate and support the process. I also want to clearly say that we must firmly stand against terrorism, which is the opposite of democracy.
As for the relationship between Russia and Myanmar, it has been long-standing. It is a strong and stable relationship. The initial relationship started with military-to-military cooperation. It began during the time of the previous Tatmadaw government, under the State Peace and Development Council and continued under the State Administration Council. At present, the relationship between Russia and Myanmar has developed not only in the Tatmadaw sphere but also in various other sectors. It is continuing to grow. So, when we arrive in Russia — or when we are in Russia — we can see this clearly. I’m not just talking about government-to-government or military-to-military ties. I mean people-to-people relations as well. The perception of the Myanmar people toward the Russian people, and vice versa, has improved and become stronger. I believe this is something we both desire, and I feel proud of it. During the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia, it coincided with Russia’s 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory. Many national leaders attended that event. While many leaders were present, our Prime Minister, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had the opportunity to meet and speak with them. Through these meetings, he was able to help them better understand the situation in Myanmar. He was able to share the true events happening in Myanmar. To put it simply, he succeeded in making the international community understand Myanmar more clearly.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
The 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was celebrated only in Russia. In reality, this patriotic war is not something that concerns only Russia. In the past, the world faced extreme ideologies like fascism and Nazism. This war was about resisting and fighting against those isms. With regard to resisting fascism and Nazism, you all know it’s something we in Myanmar also experienced. We suffered under the brutal consequences of fascist rule. The people of Myanmar were also oppressed. Likewise, many neighbouring countries suffered from the impacts of fascism too. For example, if you want to understand the horrors of fascism in Myanmar, there is a novel called Ngba. Read it. This is based on true events written with reference to real incidents and historical context. Likewise, even in our neighbouring country, China, there have been massacres like the Nanning Massacre. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, Russia was one of the countries that fought against the Nazi regime with great emphasis. Around 26 million of their people lost their lives. Even by today’s population standards, that number — 26 million — is a huge loss of life. That’s why they celebrate it as a victory. That was history from the past. Looking at present-day history, what we often talk about now is the rise of neocolonialism. In modern times, there is economic domination. Major powers constantly have the desire to dominate smaller nations. We need to unite and resist these things. I want to say that we must join forces and stand against them.
In this regard, the Myanmar Tatmadaw also participated in this 80th anniversary ceremony for the first time. We organized events, held military parades, and participated in commemorative marches. Through this, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has demonstrated that, in line with international armed forces, we are a military capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with others. First, it shows that the Myanmar Tatmadaw are a competent and capable force on par with international standards. Second, it clearly proves that our Tatmadaw can perform tasks at the same level as other international militaries. In our country, it has long been said that “a strong Tatmadaw makes a strong nation.” Some people, who wish to diminish the role of the Tatmadaw, have spoken against this idea. But look at the present era — for a country to have firm sovereignty and to uphold its national dignity and prestige, a strong defence capability is essential. A strong Tatmadaw is necessary. To firmly uphold our sovereignty, we must have a respectable and capable defence force. This is something that all citizens across the nation must understand, recognize, and take pride in. We must strive to realize these goals. And I want to say that we have had the opportunity to do so.
When meeting with the President of China, I wanted to express just three key points on behalf of Myanmar. First, China stands firmly and supportively with Myanmar as a good neighbour when it comes to Myanmar’s sovereignty and national development. Second, regarding Myanmar’s internal peace process, China continues to uphold and practise its policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Moreover, both our countries adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which promote living together peacefully and respectfully. Since China is a neighbouring country and also serves as a western gateway for Myanmar, it views Myanmar’s internal peace process from a positive perspective. It hopes for a peaceful outcome and is actively supporting efforts toward achieving peace in Myanmar. We have received assurances that China will continue to support these efforts going forward.
Third, it is about our election. Regarding the election, the Prime Minister has already spoken about Myanmar’s multiparty democratic general election, saying that it will be held at the end of this year. From China’s side, we have seen support in relations to the preparations for the election. What I want to share as good news is that the multiparty democratic general election, which the people of Myanmar have long yearned for, will be held. The multiparty democratic system is something we have had thanks to the efforts of the Tatmadaw since the past. Due to election fraud, the Tatmadaw assumed state responsibility. Now, I would like to share the good news that we will continue to implement the multiparty democratic system that the people of Myanmar desire. The first main point I want to talk about is the political parties. In the area of political parties, there is a need to make preparations in advance. Then, it is necessary to educate and inform the public. I want to say clearly that, from my point of view, this is the number one priority we must continue to work on. The second point is about the public. Regarding the public’s role, we have already stated that we want a multiparty democratic election system. If we truly want a multiparty democracy, then holding peaceful and fair elections is a fundamental requirement. In order to conduct these elections peacefully, I urge the entire public to cooperate and support the process. I also want to clearly say that we must firmly stand against terrorism, which is the opposite of democracy.
As for the relationship between Russia and Myanmar, it has been long-standing. It is a strong and stable relationship. The initial relationship started with military-to-military cooperation. It began during the time of the previous Tatmadaw government, under the State Peace and Development Council and continued under the State Administration Council. At present, the relationship between Russia and Myanmar has developed not only in the Tatmadaw sphere but also in various other sectors. It is continuing to grow. So, when we arrive in Russia — or when we are in Russia — we can see this clearly. I’m not just talking about government-to-government or military-to-military ties. I mean people-to-people relations as well. The perception of the Myanmar people toward the Russian people, and vice versa, has improved and become stronger. I believe this is something we both desire, and I feel proud of it. During the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia, it coincided with Russia’s 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic Victory. Many national leaders attended that event. While many leaders were present, our Prime Minister, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had the opportunity to meet and speak with them. Through these meetings, he was able to help them better understand the situation in Myanmar. He was able to share the true events happening in Myanmar. To put it simply, he succeeded in making the international community understand Myanmar more clearly.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Q: It is understood that over 52 per cent of the population cast their votes during Phase I of the election. I would like to know what kind of security measures were implemented to ensure the participation of the public in the voting process.
A: Primarily, during Phase I of the election, we saw the public coming out to vote. Watching the citizens cast their ballots was truly encouraging. As I have said before, this is not the government’s victory; it is the people’s victory. It is a victory for the citizens who desire democracy and peace.
Now, in Phase II, we are seeing the same thing. We can observe it together. Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who is currently in Yangon, personally visited the polling stations today. During his visit, you would have seen people voting very actively. For instance, the Senior General himself met with the public and asked them questions. You would have witnessed him personally inquiring with voters about the voting machines—asking if the paper slip produced matched the button they pressed. The answer was ‘yes,’ which demonstrates the transparency of the process.
Furthermore, some people woke up as early as 4 am to cast their votes. Once the voter lists are finalized this evening for Phase II, the results will emerge. I believe it will be a success, just as I believe Phase III will be a success. Looking back at history, when the Parliamentary Democracy election was held in 1952, it was conducted in three phases and took about five months. Each phase lasted about seven to 10 days. Back then, out of eight million eligible voters, only 1.5 million participated, which was roughly 20 per cent.
Currently, there are some discussions and even campaigns being held in our country urging people not to vote; there is opposition. However, regardless of what is said, establishing a democratic system must be achieved through the electoral process. What I want to say today is that I am grateful to all the citizens who came to vote with such interest, as well as everyone supervising the polling stations, including security personnel and volunteers, for ensuring the public could vote with peace of mind.
Q: Once the election is concluded and a multiparty democratic system emerges, to what extent do you have expectations for building international relations, including with neighbouring countries?
A: Regarding international relations, there are currently certain sanctions in place. These sanctions exist because the current administration is not an elected government. However, there are still countries we maintain relations with; we have many friendly nations. For example, our relations with neighbouring countries remain intact, and we engage with one another like true close friends. Once this election is concluded, I believe international relations will become more open and transparent as the aforementioned restrictions diminish. I also expect that more foreign investment will flow into Myanmar. Along with this, I foresee that those economic opportunities will open up significantly for all our citizens.
Q: Once the election is over, the Hluttaw will be convened, a government will be formed, and the transfer of power to the newly emerged government will take place. Around which month is this schedule expected to occur? Ordinarily, such handovers take place in April. Are you able to explain the situation regarding this?
A: The Hluttaw will be convened in March. Following that, the new government will assume its duties in April. We will proceed according to the same standard schedules as were followed in the past.
Q: It is known that political parties have submitted requests and proposals regarding advance voting to the Senior General. Regarding this matter, how will the issues be handled further?
A: This is a matter for the Commission (Union Election Commission), the Commission will handle it. Most of the discussions have indeed centred around advance voting. When advance votes are counted, all candidates are invited to observe. You have seen this for yourselves. As far as I know, some representatives do not show up, yet they voice complaints despite their absence.
For example, take Mayangon Township, which was completed during Phase I. You likely heard about it – the independent candidate, Dr Khin Khin Kyawt. Her conduct was quite respectable. Although she lost, she went to observe the counting of advance votes herself. Upon seeing it, she noted how transparent the process was. We cannot do these things in secret; they must be done transparently.
However, I have noticed some shortcomings. The issue is that when candidates are invited to the vote counting, some fail to attend. They don’t show up, but they continue to make criticisms. I am stating this based on what I have personally witnessed; I am not speaking from a one-sided perspective. That said, there might be actual flaws. If there are, they can be clarified with the Commission. You can speak with the Commission. They will handle everything with full transparency.
Q: What is the international perspective regarding this election?
A: Regarding the international perspective, during Phase I of the election, international observation teams visited. These teams conducted thorough observations and have already shared their findings, releasing them transparently. To summarize their feedback: first, they did not expect that Myanmar would be able to conduct an election this successfully. Nor did they expect such a high voter turnout. When they went to observe, they saw people lining up at polling stations to vote, which surprised them.
Secondly, regarding the voting machines, they studied them personally. They described the machines as transparent and ‘tamper-proof’, impossible to cheat. Furthermore, they openly praised the Myanmar people’s love for democracy. For this second phase of the election, embassies based in Myanmar have sent over 100 observation representatives. Most are concentrated in major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, and elsewhere, such as Mawlamyine, Taunggyi, and Sagaing. These observation groups will share their findings when the time is appropriate. I would like to thank everyone.
gnlm
Q: It is understood that over 52 per cent of the population cast their votes during Phase I of the election. I would like to know what kind of security measures were implemented to ensure the participation of the public in the voting process.
A: Primarily, during Phase I of the election, we saw the public coming out to vote. Watching the citizens cast their ballots was truly encouraging. As I have said before, this is not the government’s victory; it is the people’s victory. It is a victory for the citizens who desire democracy and peace.
Now, in Phase II, we are seeing the same thing. We can observe it together. Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who is currently in Yangon, personally visited the polling stations today. During his visit, you would have seen people voting very actively. For instance, the Senior General himself met with the public and asked them questions. You would have witnessed him personally inquiring with voters about the voting machines—asking if the paper slip produced matched the button they pressed. The answer was ‘yes,’ which demonstrates the transparency of the process.
Furthermore, some people woke up as early as 4 am to cast their votes. Once the voter lists are finalized this evening for Phase II, the results will emerge. I believe it will be a success, just as I believe Phase III will be a success. Looking back at history, when the Parliamentary Democracy election was held in 1952, it was conducted in three phases and took about five months. Each phase lasted about seven to 10 days. Back then, out of eight million eligible voters, only 1.5 million participated, which was roughly 20 per cent.
Currently, there are some discussions and even campaigns being held in our country urging people not to vote; there is opposition. However, regardless of what is said, establishing a democratic system must be achieved through the electoral process. What I want to say today is that I am grateful to all the citizens who came to vote with such interest, as well as everyone supervising the polling stations, including security personnel and volunteers, for ensuring the public could vote with peace of mind.
Q: Once the election is concluded and a multiparty democratic system emerges, to what extent do you have expectations for building international relations, including with neighbouring countries?
A: Regarding international relations, there are currently certain sanctions in place. These sanctions exist because the current administration is not an elected government. However, there are still countries we maintain relations with; we have many friendly nations. For example, our relations with neighbouring countries remain intact, and we engage with one another like true close friends. Once this election is concluded, I believe international relations will become more open and transparent as the aforementioned restrictions diminish. I also expect that more foreign investment will flow into Myanmar. Along with this, I foresee that those economic opportunities will open up significantly for all our citizens.
Q: Once the election is over, the Hluttaw will be convened, a government will be formed, and the transfer of power to the newly emerged government will take place. Around which month is this schedule expected to occur? Ordinarily, such handovers take place in April. Are you able to explain the situation regarding this?
A: The Hluttaw will be convened in March. Following that, the new government will assume its duties in April. We will proceed according to the same standard schedules as were followed in the past.
Q: It is known that political parties have submitted requests and proposals regarding advance voting to the Senior General. Regarding this matter, how will the issues be handled further?
A: This is a matter for the Commission (Union Election Commission), the Commission will handle it. Most of the discussions have indeed centred around advance voting. When advance votes are counted, all candidates are invited to observe. You have seen this for yourselves. As far as I know, some representatives do not show up, yet they voice complaints despite their absence.
For example, take Mayangon Township, which was completed during Phase I. You likely heard about it – the independent candidate, Dr Khin Khin Kyawt. Her conduct was quite respectable. Although she lost, she went to observe the counting of advance votes herself. Upon seeing it, she noted how transparent the process was. We cannot do these things in secret; they must be done transparently.
However, I have noticed some shortcomings. The issue is that when candidates are invited to the vote counting, some fail to attend. They don’t show up, but they continue to make criticisms. I am stating this based on what I have personally witnessed; I am not speaking from a one-sided perspective. That said, there might be actual flaws. If there are, they can be clarified with the Commission. You can speak with the Commission. They will handle everything with full transparency.
Q: What is the international perspective regarding this election?
A: Regarding the international perspective, during Phase I of the election, international observation teams visited. These teams conducted thorough observations and have already shared their findings, releasing them transparently. To summarize their feedback: first, they did not expect that Myanmar would be able to conduct an election this successfully. Nor did they expect such a high voter turnout. When they went to observe, they saw people lining up at polling stations to vote, which surprised them.
Secondly, regarding the voting machines, they studied them personally. They described the machines as transparent and ‘tamper-proof’, impossible to cheat. Furthermore, they openly praised the Myanmar people’s love for democracy. For this second phase of the election, embassies based in Myanmar have sent over 100 observation representatives. Most are concentrated in major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, and elsewhere, such as Mawlamyine, Taunggyi, and Sagaing. These observation groups will share their findings when the time is appropriate. I would like to thank everyone.
gnlm