• Burmese
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Burma Army Chief: Lack of ‘Obedience’ Could Create ‘Disorderly Democracy’

San Yamin Aung by San Yamin Aung
March 27, 2016
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Burma Army Chief: Lack of ‘Obedience’ Could Create ‘Disorderly Democracy’

Commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing rides on a vehicle during a parade to mark Armed Forces Day in Burma’s capital

6.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — In a parade held in Naypyidaw to mark Burma’s 71st Armed Forces Day on Sunday, military commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing highlighted the importance of the army’s role in the country’s political reforms and its continued collaboration with the incoming government.

“I would like to seriously say that we, the military, will cooperate to achieve success in working for the nation and the citizens’ interests,” he said in a speech ahead of the transfer of power to a largely civilian government by April 1.

Min Aung Hlaing said that the military would work with the incoming National League for Democracy (NLD) government, Parliament and the public in building “eternal peace” and advancing the country’s development.

RelatedPosts

Renowned Myanmar language teacher John Okell is still inspiring students, five decades on.

Love of the Lingo

August 5, 2020
10.2k
--

‘Secret Garden’ in Wa Special Region Leaves Much to the Imagination

February 27, 2020
8.5k
This Week in Parliament (August 8-12)

This Week in Parliament (August 8-12)

August 13, 2016
3.8k

“The military will protect the country, guard the public and assist in the government’s operations for the country’s development,” he said. “The country’s stability is important and we must also build national reconciliation and peace.”

Following a coup in 1962, a military junta ruled Burma for more than five decades, contributing to the country’s status as one of the most impoverished and underdeveloped in the region. Burma is home to one of the world’s longest running civil wars, with many ethnic nationalities engaged in armed struggle against the government, demanding greater self-determination and an end to the Burmese military’s abuses in their areas.

Political opposition was also long suppressed, with parties banned and NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest for a total of 15 years. She is still barred from the presidency.

Many in Burma are now placing their hopes for democratic change in the new NLD administration, which opposed the military dictatorship for more than two decades.

But critics remain concerned by a continued military presence in Burma’s political scene, as well as what they see as collaboration between the new government and the armed forces. Under the country’s military-drafted 2008 Constitution, 25 percent of parliamentary seats are reserved for army representatives, which allows them veto power over any constitutional amendments. The armed forces also have retained control over three important ministries: Home Affairs, Defense and Border Affairs.

Yet Min Aung Hlaing described the current Constitution as “guarding the country’s national interests” during his speech at the Armed Forces Day parade, and indicated that the army would continue to be at the forefront of Burma’s affairs.
“We, the military, play a leading role in national politics,” he said.

Min Aung Hlaing told attendees—which included active and retired soldiers—that he would not allow Burma to “totter backwards” into “a situation which could harm the stability, perpetuation of sovereignty and non-disintegration of the Union.” He also vowed to form a “professional army” which could compare favorably to others in the region.

“The two main obstructions in our country’s progress toward democracy are weakness in obeying rules, regulations and laws, and having armed insurgents. This could lead to disorderly democracy. If we can only fix these two [things], the country’s path to democracy will be smooth,” he said.

Armed Forces Day commemorates the day when Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, Aung San, took up arms against Japanese occupying forces in Burma on March 27, 1945, during World War II. Originally, the occasion was marked as “Anti-Fascist Resistance Day,” which the Burmese government changed to Armed Forces Day in 1955. The NLD continues to acknowledge the date as Resistance Day.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: A_Factiva
San Yamin Aung

San Yamin Aung

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Inspiring Women of Burma  
Burma

Inspiring Women of Burma  

by The Irrawaddy
March 18, 2016
33.5k

The contributions of some of Burma’s leading female figures are highlighted in the final part of a series that ran...

Read moreDetails
Australian-Karen Actress: ‘I Hope Karen People Will Have the Right to Self-Determination’
Asia

Australian-Karen Actress: ‘I Hope Karen People Will Have the Right to Self-Determination’

by Saw Yan Naing
January 18, 2016
13.7k

Tasneem Roc, an Australian actress who also has ethnic Karen roots, speaks with The Irrawaddy about her career and her...

Read moreDetails
Burma’s Media Landscape Through the Years
Burma

Burma’s Media Landscape Through the Years

by The Irrawaddy
May 4, 2016
13.5k

In the wake of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on Tuesday, The Irrawaddy revisits a history of Burmese media stretching...

Read moreDetails
Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film
Burma

Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

by Yu Mon Kyaw
January 28, 2016
8.2k

Entitled ‘Gemini,’ Nyo Min Lwin’s film about romance between two men explores ground seldom trod in Burma’s movie industry.

Read moreDetails
Lucky Numbers in the Quest for Peace
Commentary

Lucky Numbers in the Quest for Peace

by Nyein Nyein
September 10, 2015
8.7k

Burmese generals’ edicts have often been intimately tied to numerology and astrology. Is the peace process similarly tied to superstitious...

Read moreDetails
Chief Ministers of Arakan
Burma

Chief Ministers of Arakan, Karen States Resign to Join USDP

by Kyaw Phyo Tha
August 26, 2015
2k

The chief ministers of two states resign to contest Burma’s upcoming general election, set for Nov. 8, representing the ruling...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Taiwan’s Hung Makes Nationalist Party Comeback With Leadership Win

Taiwan’s Hung Makes Nationalist Party Comeback With Leadership Win

Rising China Risk Tarnishes Hong Kong Business Hub Luster

Rising China Risk Tarnishes Hong Kong Business Hub Luster

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

4 days ago
1.3k
China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

1 day ago
1k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China’s Bet on Myanmar Junta Risks Backfiring

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Updated Timeline: Key Events in the Life of Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Defusing the Thai-Cambodian Border Row

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.