• Burmese
Sunday, July 13, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °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

Shwe Mann—Junta General to Staunch Democrat?

Charlie Campbell by Charlie Campbell
May 16, 2012
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Shwe Mann—Junta General to Staunch Democrat?

Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann during his visit to Norway. (Photo: Kristoffer Rønneberg)

3.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann visited Norway as part of a European fact-finding tour and emphasized that Burma requires both an economic and political transformation to achieve prosperity.

The 64-year-old told Kristoffer Rønneberg, a journalist for Norway’s largest newspaper Aftenposten, that democratization was not enough without a large-scale economic transformation.

The international community is in the process of re-engaging with military-dominated Burma, officially known as Myanmar, after a series of reforms including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi being elected to Parliament and the release of hundreds of political prisoners.

RelatedPosts

Chameleon Crony: How Myanmar’s ‘Baby’ Tycoon Thrived Across Four Eras

Chameleon Crony: How Myanmar’s ‘Baby’ Tycoon Thrived Across Four Eras

June 10, 2025
5.2k
The Hidden Costs of Relying on Chinese Military Hardware

The Hidden Costs of Relying on Chinese Military Hardware

May 30, 2025
1.7k
Naypyitaw Parliament Crumbles as Myanmar Junta’s Grand Ambitions Collapse 

Naypyitaw Parliament Crumbles as Myanmar Junta’s Grand Ambitions Collapse 

April 24, 2025
1.4k

“We need to reform the political system as well as the economic system,” said Shwe Mann. “We have also learnt that the role of women in Norway has supported your development in many ways.

“We have come to learn that Norway is a developed country today because of its democratic system. We have also come to learn that in order to have development in our country, we also need to have a democratic system.”

The former general met with the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and president of the National Assembly while in Oslo and praised the Norwegian people for taking a keen interest in Burma. Burmese MPs also visited the European Parliament in Luxembourg last week as part of the same trip.

“If you look at the countries of the world that enjoy peace and stability, you see that those are the countries that have a democratic system,” he added.

Shwe Mann said did not think that the Burmese military would act to prevent any alteration to the widely condemned 2008 Constitution which guarantees 25 percent of legislative seats for armed forces personnel.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won 43 out of 45 parliamentary seats during the April 1 by-elections campaigning on a platform of amending undemocratic articles in the document, but hardliners within the government are understood to be vehemently opposed to any such change.

“As you are well aware of, the Constitution came into existence during our previous government,” said Shwe Mann. “That’s why it is not wrong to say that I am actively taking the necessary measures for this system [democracy] to flourish in our country. Here, if you look at the soldiers, they also prefer democracy.”

But the ambitious politician refused to be drawn on speculation that he would soon be replacing Vice-President Tin Aung Myint Oo who as apparently just resigned due to serious health problems.

“I don’t have any intentions with regard to this matter,” he said with a chuckle. “I have no plans. I enjoy my responsibilities at the Parliament. As you know, the Parliament plays an important role in our democratic system. Without Parliament there would be no democracy. Our Parliament welcomes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as the NLD.”

Shwe Mann said that he did not see corruption in Burma as an insurmountable challenge and considers his role as a parliamentary speaker as instrumental in passing legislation that tackles graft effectively. The former junta number three has previously been critical of the slow pace of reform brought about by President Thein Sein’s administration.

“We must take necessary measures in order to eradicate corruption in our country,” he said. “Since we’re from the legislative body our intention is to make sure that legislation for fighting bribery should be enacted soon.”

And the Defense Services Academy Intake 11 graduate thinks that normalizing relations with Western nations is important, while playing down any brewing rift with China over Naypyidaw’s suspension of the controversial Myitsone hydropower dam project in northernmost Kachin State.

“I don’t think the Chinese will see us in a different way because of [international re-engagement],” he said. “We will also try to enhance our bilateral relations as well as trade relations with our neighbors. And now, we need to enhance our relations with Norway.”

Your Thoughts …
Tags: CorruptionParliament
Charlie Campbell

Charlie Campbell

The Associated Press

Similar Picks:

General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption
Burma

General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

by The Irrawaddy
September 14, 2023
28.7k

The arrest of ‘kickback king’ Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, once seen as a possible successor to Min Aung Hlaing, comes...

Read moreDetails
Post-Coup Myanmar is a Family Business: Min Aung Hlaing & Co
Burma

Post-Coup Myanmar is a Family Business: Min Aung Hlaing & Co

by David Aung
February 8, 2024
18k

Min Aung Hlaing is an opportunistic businessman in military uniform and his children are more mercenary than the offspring of...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Reportedly Set to Prosecute High-Profile Businessmen for Corruption
Junta Cronies

Myanmar Junta Reportedly Set to Prosecute High-Profile Businessmen for Corruption

by The Irrawaddy
October 18, 2023
15.9k

Regime cronies Thein Win Zaw and Mu Mu Shein are set to follow former lieutenant general Moe Myint Tun as...

Read moreDetails
Unholy Alliance: Myanmar’s Mercedes Monks and the Men in Green
Commentary

Unholy Alliance: Myanmar’s Mercedes Monks and the Men in Green

by Aung Zaw
June 7, 2024
12.9k

Myanmar’s monks once led the fight against colonialism and dictatorship. Today, many prefer to collect fancy cars in return for...

Read moreDetails
Planeload of Cronies Accompany Myanmar Junta Boss on Russia Trip
Business

Planeload of Cronies Accompany Myanmar Junta Boss on Russia Trip

by Hein Htoo Zan
March 7, 2025
11.4k

Regime-linked businessmen are set to cash in on deals flowing from the 10 agreements signed between Russia and the Myanmar...

Read moreDetails
By Almost Every Measure, Myanmar Junta Ranks Among World’s Worst Regimes
Analysis

By Almost Every Measure, Myanmar Junta Ranks Among World’s Worst Regimes

by Khin Nadi
February 2, 2024
10.8k

The Irrawaddy unpacks the regime’s three-year track record of violence and rights abuses, as assessed by leading global organizations and...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Indonesian President Urges N Korean Transparency on Missile Issue

Indonesian President Urges N Korean Transparency on Missile Issue

Burma Railway Set for Renaissance

Burma Railway Set for Renaissance

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

3 days ago
1.1k
Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

4 days ago
1.1k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Deploying Conscripts in Major Push to Reclaim Lost Territory

    Myanmar Junta Deploying Conscripts in Major Push to Reclaim Lost Territory

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Chief Thanks Trump for Shutting Down VOA and RFA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Kill 25 on Friday

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Parading Comedians and Machines for Election Circus; Rousing the Military Vote; and More

    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.