Mistakes found in the voters lists of the 2020 general election after scrutiny will be displayed to international diplomats and representatives with evidence, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, State Administration Council Chairman and Prime Minister.

He disclosed the information during the meeting (13/2021) of the SAC held in Nay Pyi Taw on August 7.

The newly formed Union Election Commission was assigned the duty to scrutinize the voter lists in the 2020 general election in the regions and states.  Its final findings were announced on July 26. It scrutinized the discrepancies between the number of eligible voters, voter lists and ballot papers. As thousands of mistakes in the voter lists and ballot papers were found, it is impossible to say that the election was free and fair, the Senior General pointed out. 

The general election is a process by which presidential candidates are elected. The president will form a cabinet and appoint judges. As they are responsible for administration, judiciary and legislation, being elected under incorrect voter lists is unfair. Although requests were made to solve the voter list issues, there was no response. Voter lists issued will be displayed to international diplomats and representatives with evidence, he added.

“Although we tried to engage in dialogue over voter list issues in December and January, they rejected the requests and later started to oppose the state. We even invited EAOs through the NCA and political parties through the UEC. Action is taken against responsible officials from the former government not because of political motivation but because of the violation of the law,” said the Senior General.

When it comes to the ASEAN, the Senior General said he had explained the situation of Myanmar on ASEAN Summit on April 24 and five common agreements were issued. Myanmar promised to work under the ASEAN framework depending on the stability of the state. Former foreign ministers from Indonesia and Malaysia and a former deputy foreign minister were nominated as ASEAN special envoy. Although the Thai deputy foreign minister was preferred, the country agreed on the appointment of the Brunei foreign minister as the ASEAN envoy, he added.

The Senior General reiterated the country will work within the ASEAN framework and take the correct path in international relations based on five principles of peaceful coexistence by adopting independent and active foreign policy and the policy of friendly relations with all countries. Myanmar will never change its stand and work within the framework, he said.