• Burmese
Sunday, June 22, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °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

‘Who is Ruling the Country?’: Military Representative

Htet Naing Zaw by Htet Naing Zaw
June 12, 2018
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Military representatives arrive at Parliament in Naypyitaw on Monday. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Military representatives arrive at Parliament in Naypyitaw on Monday. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

6.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

NAYPYITAW — Showing disapproval of the government’s decision to include a foreign expert on a new commission that will investigate widespread allegations of human rights abuses in Rakhine State, a military representative asked, “Who is ruling the country?” during a parliamentary session in Naypyitaw on Monday.

Military representatives and lawmakers from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and Arakan National Party (ANP) objected to the government’s inclusion of a foreign expert in looking into issues in Rakhine State.

Military representative Colonel Myint Cho pointed out that prior investigations included both foreign and local committee members and questioned why the government had to rely on foreigners.

RelatedPosts

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

June 19, 2025
674
Tree-Planting Hides Logging Frenzy; Moving Mountains for Steel Production; and More

Tree-Planting Hides Logging Frenzy; Moving Mountains for Steel Production; and More

June 14, 2025
664
Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

June 13, 2025
1.8k

“The Kofi Annan-led [Rakhine State Advisory] commission and others were already formed with foreign experts. Does the government not trust those commissions? Or not trust its citizens? Will it only trust foreigners?” Colonel Myint Cho questioned during the parliamentary session.

Despite the opposition, the argument failed, as a majority of National League for Democracy lawmakers voted in favor of including a foreign expert.

All six of the military representatives who submitted arguments stated that they worried about the sovereignty of the country if there were foreign interference.

Following a President’s Office announcement at the end of May that the government would establish an independent commission to investigate human rights issues in Rakhine State, USDP lawmakers urged State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to lead the commission and include only locals.

Those in support of including foreigners stated that the investigation commission should not cause a fight between the military and the government and that both should work for the benefit of the country.

U Thiha Thwe, a columnist from Yangon, said the new commission should not be just for show, but that it should work hard to clear up any doubts held by the international community, or else the country’s image would continue to be affected.

“If you want to protect the military’s image, you have to accept whoever will help clear these negative allegations,” said U Thiha Thwe.

“The new committee is not like the UN fact-finding mission. There will be only one foreign expert. If the opposition uses this to attack the government, it could affect both the military and the country,” he added.

The opposition has said that foreign decisions on the acceptance of refugees and other issues facing Rakhine are unacceptable and that it is the military’s duty to uphold the Constitution and the country’s “three main national causes”—non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.

The vice minister of the State Counselor’s Office U Khin Maung Tin explained that the government had to review the situation wisely, so as to not face an ICC [International Criminal Court] referral. He added that there is a lack of trust from the international community regarding the commission formerly called to investigate, and the Myanmar government has refused to give a UN fact-finding mission access to the country.

 Translated from Burmese by Zarni Mann.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: MilitaryParliamentRakhine
Htet Naing Zaw

Htet Naing Zaw

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns
War Against the Junta

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns

by The Irrawaddy
December 18, 2024
25.3k

Ethnic army reportedly poised to capture regime’s last stronghold in Rakhine State.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion
Burma

Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion

by The Irrawaddy
February 5, 2024
24.4k

Naing Naing Oo elevated to Lieutenant-General and made chief of powerful Bureau of Special Operations No. 2, in a reshuffle...

Read moreDetails
Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front
Analysis

Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front

by Moe Sett Nyein Chan
January 23, 2024
22k

The military’s demoralized Western Command is feeling the heat as the Arakan Army closes in on towns in northern Rakhine,...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats
Burma

Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats

by The Irrawaddy
January 12, 2024
20.1k

Major-General Hla Moe is reportedly the latest junta commander to pay the price for sweeping gains made by resistance forces. 

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts
Analysis

Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts

by Hein Htoo Zan
September 20, 2024
16.7k

Three major operations to retake territory from ethnic armies and their allies are being hampered by troop shortages, experts say.

Read moreDetails
Junta Watch: Sinking Feeling as Myanmar Navy Faces Onslaught in Rakhine; and More
Junta Watch

Junta Watch: Sinking Feeling as Myanmar Navy Faces Onslaught in Rakhine; and More

by The Irrawaddy
January 27, 2024
14.3k

Also this week, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home to be sold, Karen mission fails, ultimate penalty for beaten generals,...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
The WhatsApp app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. / Reuters

WhatsApp the Media Platform of Choice for ARSA

Shipwrecked Rohingya refugees wait to be transported from Rathedaung Township to northern Maungdaw's Nga Khu Ya reception camp in Rakhine State on Monday. / Thein Win / Facebook 

More than 100 Rohingya Refugees Wash Ashore on Rathedaung Beach

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

3 days ago
929
The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

3 days ago
674

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Moves to Seize Sagaing Roads

    Myanmar Junta Moves to Seize Sagaing Roads

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Certifying a Chinese Security Invasion; Boosting Ties With Nuclear North Korea; and More

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Changes Election Law Ahead of Polls

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Residents of Myanmar Ruby Hub Speak Out as TNLA Mining Takes Toll

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

    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.