On the night of February 8, Chairmn of the State Adminstration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave a televised speech, first of its kind since the military take over.
The Senior General started off by assuring the public that it will follow through by implementing a "multiparty democracy system" as well as reiterating the reasons why the take over had happened, stating that "A series of controversies happened after the general elections".
"There were 84 political parties contested in the 2020 General Elections. A total of 217 letters of complaint were submitted. The UEC failed to take the complaints into consideration for many times. Political parties sought the assistance of the Tatmadaw, which is taking part in the leading role of national politics. The Tatmadaw then checked the voter lists and found 10,482,116 (over 10.4 million) fraud votes with overlapping in different townships, regions and states and some forms of possible irregularities. It was also found 11,943 ineligible voters under 18-year of age, 4,648,270 (over 4.6 million) voters without national scrutiny cards and18,356 centenarian voters. The voter lists of UEC were also inconsistent. Its announcement on 25 July 2020 mentioned the number of eligible voters was 37,572,521 (over 37.5 million), and 38,529,198 (over 38.5 million) on 2 October. After the elections, the reports of township election sub-commissions to township Immigration and Population offices have shown the 39,277,214 (over 39.2 million), eligible voters. The different figures were to be reconsidered. According to the population theory based on the actual number of people in the 2014 census, the number of persons with 18-year old and above on 1 October 2020 was estimated at 36,693,659 (over 36.9 million). However, the number of eligible voter lists announced by the UEC after the elections were more than 39.2 million. It was over 5.4 million persons more than the figures of immigration and population ministry in October 2020, and over 2.3 million persons more than the estimated figures from the population calculating technology."
He says that the Tatmadaw had wait until the very last moment in line with the law but had to step in as "authorities concerned failed to take their responsibility and accountability".
The Senior General also repeated the plan of the State Adminstration Council, dubbed the "five-point Road Map".
The first is to reform the Union Election Comission and carry out inspection of the lists. The second step is to continue the fight against COVID-19 and vaccination efforts. The third to rebuild the economy damaged COVID-19 swiftly and in many ways as possible. The fourth is to proceed on with the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreements and finally, to hand over the reigns of the country to a winning party after a free and fair multiparty democratic general election.
"There will be no change in the foreign policy, government policy and economic policy of the country during the periods we are temporarily taking the State responsibility. We shall carry the same path as before. Foreign policy is also keeping in line with the 2008 Constitution. We shall continue establishing friendly relations amongst world nations. I will repeat it. We shall continue establishing friendly relations with all countries. We invite foreign investments. In this regard, I like to reaffirm that there would be any possible effect as the foreign investments will be implemented under the existing laws. Business people are urged not to take opportunities in such an unlawful way. The 2008 Constitution was emerged out of constitutional conventions composed of over 700 representatives from eight stratum of life for many years to build a multiparty democratic system. We will unwaveringly defend the Constitution and multiparty democratic system. Pagodas and religious buildings have also been reopened nationwide today for the convenience of the public. I'm pleased to announce that all citizens should observe the COVID-19 rules and regulations. For students' education, we shall also reopen schools in the earliest possible times according to the COVID rules. Students, our future generation, can prepare to get back to schools. We will make our utmost efforts for smooth transportation and communication links if they are not contrary to the rule of law. We shall create employment opportunity within the country and reopen the factories and workplaces following the COVID-19 protocols. We will start repatriating our nationals stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue receiving the displaced persons in Bangladesh in accord with the bilateral agreement. Resettlement work for the internally displaced persons from IDP camps will also be implemented immediately."
The full excerpt of the speech can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/TatmadawInformationTeam/posts/245791560497813
