As Delivered:
The Myanmar Perspective
Major General Aye Myint, Deputy Minister of Defence, Myanmar
Chairman, Excellencies, and distinguished participants; let me thank the Chairman for giving me the floor, and I have the honour of participating in this dialogue for the second time, and I find it very useful for an exchange of views on the security issues is the Asia-Pacific region. I choose this time to share my country’s experience in counter-insurgency and military consolidation efforts. I would also like to take this opportunity to explain the current situation in Myanmar.
The world has already witnessed the successful end of a longstanding insurgency in Sri Lanka, but people have forgotten about insurgency in Myanmar, because no more major fighting has erupted in Myanmar in recent years. However, that does not mean Myanmar has completely brought its internal insurgency to an end; we have realised that hard power alone is not fully effective in winning counter-insurgency campaigns. Therefore, we are painstakingly and patiently solving the problem of insurgency.
As you are aware, Myanmar is a nation comprising over 100 nationalities, and has experienced internal armed insurgencies for nearly half a century, since it regained independence. Therefore, non-disintegration of the union and the national unity is vital for our country. The people of Myanmar highly cherish our independence and national sovereignty, and place a high value on self-determination and have grave concerns over foreign interference. Myanmar always gives a high priority to the non-disintegration of the union and the stability of the state.
In order to consolidate national unity, our government invited armed insurgence groups to exchange arms for peace. Currently, 17 out of 18 armed insurgent groups have returned to the legal fold. We have made no exceptions to the remaining group, the Karen National Union (KNU). In addition to the DKBO, more than 300 members from TNU, led by the chairman of the Peace Council of the TNU, returned to the legal fold in February 2007. Very recently, in March 2009, 116 of TNU, led by the son of the late Chairman of the TNU, also returned to the legal fold. Therefore, almost all armed insurgent groups have returned to the legal fold in Myanmar, and peace is now prevailing throughout the country.
Our government has been able to do away with internal insurgency problems, which could not have been solved by successive governments. Now we can say that we have established confidence between the government and the armed insurgent groups. With the return of peace and civility, the government of the Union of Myanmar has been implementing special development projects to focus on the political, economic and social development of the country in order to minimise the development gaps, particularly in the far flung border areas, which lag behind the heartland to some extent.
Better communication and transportation has brought better understanding; due to the counter-insurgency campaigns and confidence-building between the government and insurgent groups, people in the border areas are now able to enjoy better healthcare, education, and social services. Our government has also implemented infrastructure projects, such as building roads and bridges, dams, universities and colleges, and hospitals; emphasis is also being placed on human resource development.
Development projects have been conducted to lay down the necessary fundamentals for the future elected governments, by utilising domestic resources, which is a significant result of winning counter-insurgency campaigns, by means of establishing confidence-building between the government and the armed insurgent groups in Myanmar. As part of the domestic political process, the government of the Union of Myanmar, in accordance with the assistance of the people, has been implementing the seven step roadmap towards a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation.
The national convention, the first step of the roadmap, was successfully convened five times between 2004 and 2007, and adopted basic principles for the state constitution. More than 1,000 representatives from all quarters of life: political parties, national groups, and the organisations which have returned to the legal fold, participated in the national convention. The genuine dialogue, with the participation of all national groups, has already taken place at the national convention.
The state constitution drafting commission carried out the drafting of the constitution, which is the first step of the roadmap, enshrining the basic principles and detailed principles adopted by the national convention. The first step of the roadmap was completed in May 2008, whereby a new constitution was formally approved by 92.48% of the voters. Now, preparations are well underway to enact the election law, and the law on registration of political parties. These draft laws have been carefully and thoroughly scrutinised in order not to have flaws and weaknesses.
Political parties will be allowed to be registered, and organised systematically in accordance with the election law, to be adopted in the very near future. This means that the present government has exerted relentless efforts to figure out the political, economic, social and administrative mechanisation for the future elected government. The Myanmar government is strongly dedicated to continue implementing the remaining three steps of the roadmap, and the international could best assist the transformation of Myanmar to democracy by encouraging the political parties to join in the process.
Chairman, Excellencies and distinguished participants, I would like to share the latest developments in Myanmar. The government of the Union of Myanmar, in order to maintain stability of the state in the interests of the people, has issued a restriction order to place Aung San Suu Kyi under restriction at her house, in accordance with the law to safeguard the state against the danger of those trying to cause subversive acts. The restriction order was in effect in May 2009, and an intruder, Mr John William Yettaw, who is a US citizen, secretly entered the house of Aung San Suu Kyi and stayed for two days. She permitted him to stay; she communicated, and provided him with food and shelter. Her security personnel found Mr Yettaw floating in the Inya Lake in the early morning of 6 May 2009. In this regard, the police authority has put up a case against Aung San Suu Kyi in connection with the foreigner, and there is no doubt that Aung San Suu Kyi has committed a cover-up of the truth by her failure to report an illegal immigrant to the authorities concerned. Thus, there was no option but to open legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
The police filed a law suit against Aung San Suu Kyi under Section 22 of the law to safeguard the state against the dangers of those desiring to cause subversive acts. It is the universal legal principle that no one is above the law, only when this legal principle is upheld, put into practice, and encouraged will there be a rule of law in a country. If offenders against the law are not taken action against, anarchy will prevail, and there will be a breach of peace and security. It is known that there are some internal problems in countries that can be solved only through their own proceedings in accordance with their law; solving internal affairs through its legal system, with legal proceedings, in accordance with the law does not amount to a threat to peace or a breach of security of the region. Countries should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar that will affect the peace and security of the region.
The legal action against Aung San Suu Kyi is an internal affair of Myanmar, taking action through its legal system in accordance with domestic law. If any country interferes in the internal affairs of another country, that particular act may possibly affect their mutual understandings, and the friendly relationship between countries.
Myanmar firmly accepts the affirmation by the members of the Security Council of their sovereignty and territory of Myanmar, and that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its peoples. The government will therefore hold multi-party general elections, the fifth step of the roadmap, in 2010 as declared, and the government is also determined to continue, hand-in-hand with the people, to implement the seven step roadmap in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar. Thank you for your attention.
