Tatmadaw has no history of making concessions in response to violence, coercion:Senior General
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Phyo/ Thuta Kyaw (NP News) - March 31
The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stated on March 27 during the 80th Anniversary Armed Forces Day ceremony that in Myanmar's history, there has been no tradition of the Tatmadaw making concessions in every case where violence was used and coercion was demanded.
The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stated, "When the Tatmadaw formed the State Administration Council and assumed national responsibility, there were only riots and protests in the early days, but at that time, some parliamentary candidates, not wanting to resolve the political problems according to the law, used public sentiment to incite violence without any reason. From there, terrorist groups called NUG, CRPH, and PDF were formed and widespread violence was spread throughout the country. Along with these, the destructive media, which did not want the interests of the state, also obtained various forms of support to further aggravate the ongoing political crisis and spread false news and propaganda."
He also stated, "Efforts were made to prevent government machinery from operating and to incite civil personnel to abandon their loyalty to the state and the people, on the other hand, individuals with differing opinions and those who did not support the movement were targeted and executed with brutality, intended to instill widespread fear among the public. In other words, they have tried, with foreign support, to achieve political goals through armed violence."
"Additionally, some ethnic armed organizations took advantage of the political issues arising within the country and collaborated with PDF militants, aiming to disrupt national security and stability using various methods. They escalated acts of violence, such as torturing and executing innocent civilians, attacking villages that refused to cooperate with them, committing arson, and destroying government property, roads, bridges, vehicles, and electrical infrastructure by planting mines. In particular, those who resorted to armed militant methods preferred a permanent state of conflict and, alongside the ethnic armed groups, sought to follow a path of military dictatorship, rather than joining the inclusive, multi-party democratic process for peace. As a result, this situation posed risks to ethnic unity and caused considerable harm," SAC Chair continued.
He said that the fighting by the terrorist insurgents who are trying to gain power in their respective regions has caused the loss of innocent lives, property, and the destruction of towns and villages, and all the people are deeply disgusted.
"Therefore, we cannot accept the violent attacks on innocent people, and we cannot accept the armed violence that violates our three responsibilities. Therefore, the Tatmadaw will continue to wage a just war with the participation of the entire people. In Myanmar's history, the Tatmadaw has never accepted any cases where violence was used and coercion was demanded. Therefore, in order to protect the lives and property of the people and maintain our three responsibilities, I would like to emphasize that comrades should fully carry out their duties of national defense with a spirit of sacrifice, not putting their lives first," he said.