Ethnic armed groups should involve in discussions if they want peace and cannot deviate from the multi-party democracy process. It is important to do so democratically and are currently facing problems as they are not doing so, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services in an interview with Ryuta Sometaya, Yangon Head of Asahi Shinbun News at Bayintnaung Parlour in Nay Pyi Taw on February 14.
“You need to discuss if you want real peace. We cannot deviate from the multi-party democracy process. It was chosen by the people and it is important to do so democratically. They are facing problems because they are not doing so. What I mean is that we cannot conduct discussions if we are still having armed conflicts. We have to carry out the discussion peacefully and sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA),” said the military chief.
Some ethnic armed groups have said that they want to cease fighting. However, it is difficult to make discussion and if the fighting had stopped; they will come to peace talks. They are Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), which are the members of the northern alliance. There are other ethnic armed groups yet to sign the NCA and the army announced had ceasefires as the peace talk cannot continue amidst the fighting, he said.
“I want to urge them to lay down their weapons. There are parliaments to discuss in political way. It is associated with the amendment of the constitution in the first question. We cannot obtain peace by holding weapons in these days,” said the Senior General.
“We have no intention apart from making peace in unity with honesty. I want to say the county will improve only if it has peace and stability,” he continued.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he didn’t know in advance the National League for Democracy (NLD) had formed a parliamentary committee to amend the constitution and that it will be more effective if the amendment processes are in line with the enactment stated in Article 12 of the constitution.
He also commented that the appointments of regional and state chief ministers should consider the amendment of the constitution since it was being prepared during the former administration.
“If is is not enough, we can discuss their views. If the proposed amendments are good for the country, we have to amend it. In that case, we need to be careful as to not harm the core of the constitution,” said the Senior General.
