DOCSLIB.ORG

Human Rights Council the Economic Interests of the Myanmar Military

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Human Rights Council the Economic Interests of the Myanmar Military A/HRC/42/CRP.3 5 August 2019 English only Human Rights Council Forty-second session 9–27 September 2019 Agenda item 4 Human Rights situations that require the Council’s attention The economic interests of the Myanmar military Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar An earlier version of this repot, released on 5 August 2019, misindentified details related to a number of companies and individuals. They have been corrected in this version of the report, and are outlined in “Update from the UN Independent International Fact- Finding Mission on Myanmar on its report on “The economic interests of Myanmar’s military”, available on the Mission’s website at https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/MyanmarFFM/Pages/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary.aspx GE. A/HRC/42/CRP.3 Contents Page I. Executive summary and key recommendations ............................................................................... 3 II. Mandate, methodology, international legal and policy framework .................................................. 6 A. Mandate ................................................................................................................................... 6 B. Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 7 C. International legal and policy framework ................................................................................ 8 III. Mapping Tatmadaw economic structures and interests .................................................................... 18 A. Tatmadaw holding companies MEHL and MEC ..................................................................... 18 B. MEHL and MEC subsidiaries .................................................................................................. 24 C. Tatmadaw role and interests in State-owned enterprises ......................................................... 27 D. Tatmadaw-linked private Myanmar companies and conglomerates ........................................ 28 IV. Tatmadaw and the extractive industry .............................................................................................. 29 A. Tatmadaw, MEHL and MEC involvement in jade and ruby mining in Kachin and Shan States 30 V. Other principal means of contributing to Tatmadaw operations and wealth .................................... 37 A. Donor companies ..................................................................................................................... 37 B. MEHL and MEC joint ventures and commercial partnerships with foreign companies and foreign State-owned enterprises ........................................................................................................... 51 C. Arms and military equipment suppliers ................................................................................... 53 VI. Conclusions and recommendations .................................................................................................. 62 Annexes I. Map of Myanmar .............................................................................................................................. 69 II. Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) .... 70 A. Governance structure of MEHL and MEC .............................................................................. 70 B. Alleged subsidiaries and affiliates of MEHL and MEC or MEC Ltd ...................................... 73 III. MEHL jade and ruby mining companies .......................................................................................... 80 A. Jade mining .............................................................................................................................. 80 B. Ruby mining ............................................................................................................................ 81 IV. List of donors and details of donations solicited by the Tatmadaw in September 2017 ................... 82 V. Foreign companies in commercial partnerships with MEHL and MEC .......................................... 96 A. Joint venture partners ............................................................................................................... 96 B. Foreign companies with contractual or commercial ties to MEHL or MEC ........................... 98 VI. Arms and military equipment suppliers to the Tatmadaw ................................................................ 106 A. Enterprises and States that transfer conventional arms and related items to the Tatmadaw .... 106 B. Private companies from which the Tatmadaw procured or sought to procure dual-use goods and technology used for military purposes ..................................................................................... 110 2 A/HRC/42/CRP.3 I. Executive summary and key recommendations 1. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (hereinafter “the Mission”) in its reports submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 39th session in September 2018 (hereinafter “2018 report”), established consistent patterns of serious human rights violations and abuses in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States, in addition to serious violations of international humanitarian law between 2011 and 2018.1 The Mission concluded that many of these violations amounted to crimes against humanity and included murder; imprisonment; enforced disappearance; torture; rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence; persecution and enslavement. In addition, in Rakhine State, the elements of the crimes against humanity of extermination and deportation were also found to be present. The violations were principally committed by the Myanmar security forces, particularly the military, or Tatmadaw. Many of the violations documented amount to the gravest crimes under international law. The Mission also concluded that “there is sufficient information to warrant the investigation and prosecution of senior officials in the Tatmadaw chain of command, so that a competent court can determine their liability for genocide in relation to the situation in Rakhine State”.2 2. The Mission found a pervasive culture of impunity at the domestic level. For that reason, it concluded that the impetus for accountability must come from the international community and it made concrete recommendations to that end. The Mission named senior generals of the Tatmadaw who should be investigated and prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Against the backdrop of the gravity of its findings, the Mission recommended that “no business enterprise active in Myanmar or trading with or investing in businesses in Myanmar should enter into an economic or financial relationship with the security forces of Myanmar, in particular the Tatmadaw, or any enterprise owned or controlled by them or their individual members, until and unless they are re-structured and transformed as recommended by the Mission”.3 The ability of the Tatmadaw to draw upon alternative sources of revenue, outside the official military budget, contributes towards it operating without civilian oversight. This recommendation from the Mission’s 2018 Report sought to ensure the Tatmadaw’s financial isolation, both to deter continued and future violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law and to promote accountability for those committed in the past, as documented by the Mission. The recommended economic isolation was also intended to encourage the transformation of the Tatmadaw that the Mission saw as essential for human rights compliance in Myanmar. 3. The Mission is issuing this report on the Tatmadaw’s economic interests to assist the Government of Myanmar, United Nations Security Council, Member States, relevant regional and international inter-governmental organizations, investors and businesses, international financial institutions, and the United Nations, its funds, programmes and agencies, in implementing these recommendations. 4. The outsize power of the Tatmadaw has affected Myanmar’s transition from full direct military dictatorship following the November 2010 and subsequent November 2015 elections. The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won the 2015 election and took over the civilian side of the Government in March 2016. However, as prescribed by the 2008 constitution, the Tatmadaw is an autonomous institution free from any civilian control or oversight. It controls the ministries of defence, home affairs and border affairs, whose ministers are serving military officers selected by the Commander-in-Chief.4 It retains 25 per cent of the seats in the legislature, giving it the power to veto any constitutional change.5 1 A/HRC/39/64, Report of the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar, 12 September 2018 and A/HRC/39/CRP.2, Report of the detailed findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, 17 September 2018. 2 A/HRC/39/64, paragraph 87. 3 A/HRC/39/CRP.2, paragraphs 1708, 1716, and 1717. 4 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008), Article 232(b)(ii), 232(j)(ii) 5 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008), Article 109(b), 436. 3 A/HRC/42/CRP.3 5. The Tatmadaw’s economic interests enable its conduct. The Mission investigated five areas of economic interest: (a) the Tatmadaw’s principal conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), the subsidiaries
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Crimes in Burma
    Crimes in Burma A Report By Table of Contents Preface iii Executive Summary 1 Methodology 5 I. History of Burma 7 A. Early History and Independence in 1948 7 B. Military Rule: 1962-1988 9 C. The 1988 Popular Uprising and Democratic Elections in 1990 11 D. Military Rule Since 1988 12 II. International Criminal Law Framework 21 A. Crimes Against Humanity: Chapeau or Common Elements 24 B. War Crimes: Chapeau or Common Elements 27 C. Enumerated or Prohibited Acts 30 III. Human Rights Violations in Burma 37 A. Forced Displacement 39 B. Sexual Violence 51 C. Extrajudicial Killings and Torture 64 D. Legal Evaluation 74 ii Preface IV. Precedents for Action 77 A. The Security Council’s Chapter VII Powers 78 B. The Former Yugoslavia 80 C. Rwanda 82 D. Darfur 84 E. Burma 86 Conclusion 91 Appendix 93 Acknowledgments 103 Preface For many years, the world has watched with horror as the human rights nightmare in Burma has unfolded under military rule. The struggle for democracy of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners since 1988 has captured the imagination of people around the world. The strength of Buddhist monks and their Saffron Revolution in 2007 brought Burma to the international community’s attention yet again. But a lesser known story—one just as appalling in terms of human rights—has been occurring in Burma over the past decade and a half: epidemic levels of forced labor in the 1990s, the recruitment of tens of thousands of child soldiers, widespread sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and torture, and more than a million displaced persons.
    [Show full text]
  • Q&A on Elections in BURMA
    Q&A ON ELECTIONS IN BURMA PHOTOGRapHS BY PLATON Q&A ON ELECTIONS IN BuRma INTRODUCTION PHOTOGRapHS BY PLATON Burma will hold multi-party elections on November 7, 2010, the first in 20 years. Some contend the elections could spark a gradual process of democratization and the opening of civil society space in Burma. Human Rights Watch believes that the elections must be seen in the context of the Burmese military government’s carefully manufactured electoral process over many years that is designed to ensure continued military rule, albeit with a civilian façade. The generals’ “Road Map to Disciplined Democracy” has been a path filled with human rights violations: the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in 2007, the doubling of the number of political prisoners in Burma since then to more than 2000, the marginalization of WIN MIN, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER ethnic minority communities in border areas, a rewritten constitution that A medical student at the time, Win undermines rights and guarantees continued military rule, and carefully Min became a leader of the 1988 constructed electoral laws that subtly bar the main opposition candidates. pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma. After years fighting in the jungle, Win Min has become one of the This political repression takes place in an environment that already sharply restricts most articulate intellectuals in exile. freedom of association, assembly, and expression. Burma’s media is tightly controlled Educated at Harvard University, he is by the authorities, and many media outlets trying to report on the elections have been now one of the driving forces behind an innovative collective called the Vahu (in reduced to reporting on official announcements’ and interviews with party leaders: no Burmese: Plural) Development Institute, public opinion or opposition is permitted.
    [Show full text]
  • Dutch Arms Export Policy in 2018
    Dutch Arms Export Policy in 2018 Report by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the export of military goods July 2019 Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 3 2. Profile of the Dutch defence industry ....................................................... 4 3. Procedures and principles ....................................................................... 6 3.1 Procedures .............................................................................................................................. 6 3.2 Changes in 2018 ..................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Principles ................................................................................................................................ 7 4. Transparency in Dutch arms export policy ................................................ 8 4.1 Trade in military goods ........................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Trade in dual-use goods ......................................................................................................... 9 4.3 Procedures .............................................................................................................................. 9 5. Dutch arms export in 2018 .................................................................... 11 6. Relevant developments
    [Show full text]
  • Śāntiniketan and Modern Southeast Asian
    Artl@s Bulletin Volume 5 Article 2 Issue 2 South - South Axes of Global Art 2016 Śāntiniketan and Modern Southeast Asian Art: From Rabindranath Tagore to Bagyi Aung Soe and Beyond YIN KER School of Art, Design & Media, Nanyang Technological University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/artlas Part of the Art Education Commons, Art Practice Commons, Asian Art and Architecture Commons, Modern Art and Architecture Commons, Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, and the South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies Commons Recommended Citation KER, YIN. "Śāntiniketan and Modern Southeast Asian Art: From Rabindranath Tagore to Bagyi Aung Soe and Beyond." Artl@s Bulletin 5, no. 2 (2016): Article 2. This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. This is an Open Access journal. This means that it uses a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access. Readers may freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles. This journal is covered under the CC BY-NC-ND license. South-South Śāntiniketan and Modern Southeast Asian Art: From Rabindranath Tagore to Bagyi Aung Soe and Beyond Yin Ker * Nanyang Technological University Abstract Through the example of Bagyi Aung Soe, Myanmar’s leader of modern art in the twentieth century, this essay examines the potential of Śāntiniketan’s pentatonic pedagogical program embodying Rabindranath Tagore’s universalist and humanist vision of an autonomous modernity in revitalizing the prevailing unilateral and nation- centric narrative of modern Southeast Asian art.
    [Show full text]
  • Military & Defense
    Power Air Cables Hoses MILITARY & DEFENSE ITW GSE Equipment and Accessories Reliable Technology for Military & Defense Applications THE SMART CHOICE ITW GSE leads the industry in ground support YOU CAN RELY ON US equipment for fighter aircraft. We provide ITW GSE’s manufacturing processes are equipment and accessories with the latest in streamlined to ensure homogeneous products technology and innovation including clean and based on quality components. Therefore, we can green battery powered units. offer highly reliable products and fast delivery ITW GSE has supported military and defense times. Prior to shipment, all units are fully tested applications worldwide for more than 50 years toand inspected to ensure you are receiving the include the most advanced fighter platforms suchoptimum quality. as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-16 Falcon, F-18 Hornet, F-15 Eagle, F-22A Raptor, the T-50 and C-130 and more. We also supply equipment for UAV and UAS. Our products are dependable, of high quality, easy to operate and maintain. MILITARY STANDARDS WITH As an ITW company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.), we MAXIMUM PERSONAL SAFETY have a unique way of doing business, and financial Our units meet and exceed MIL-STD-704E and they strength you can depend on. At our core is the can operate under harsh climatic conditions - from talent and dedication of our people. We focus on the very cold surroundings in Alaska till the hot what we do best, and we strive to do it better than conditions of the Middle East. They can be equipped anyone else. We share knowledge, and we learn with military interlock and other features as well.
    [Show full text]
  • Business Conglomerates in the Context of Myanmar's Economic
    Chapter 6 Business Conglomerates in the Context of Myanmar’s Economic Reform Aung Min and Toshihiro Kudo Abstract The purpose of this paper is to identify the role of conglomerates in the context of Myanmar’s economic reform process. The paper addresses the research question of the role of business conglomerates and the Myanmar economy, such as are they growth engines or just political cronies? We select some of the top conglomerates in Myanmar and assess their profile, performance, and strategies and examine the sources of growth and limitations for future growth and prospects. The top groups chosen for this paper are Htoo, Kanbawza, Max, Asia World, IGE, Shwe Taung, Serge Pun Associates (SPA)/First Myanmar Investment Group of Companies (FMI), Loi Hein, IBTC, Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), and Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (UMEHL). There are other local conglomerates that this paper does not address and they include Shwe Than Lwin Group, Eden Group, Capital and Dagon International etc., which are suggested for further research about Myanmar’s conglomerates in the future. Sources of growth and key success factors of the top business groups are their connection with government, contact with foreign partners, and their competency in the past and present. In the context of the economic reform, previously favored business people appear to recognize that the risks of challenging economic reform could outweigh the likely benefits. In addition, some of the founders and top management of the conglomerates are still subject to US sanctions. Market openness, media monitoring, competition by local and foreign players, sanctions, and the changing trends of policy and the economy limit the growth of conglomerates.
    [Show full text]
  • China-Myanmar Relations: [email protected] New Challenges Unfolding (Wednesday Seminar, ICS, New Delhi, April 19, 2017) Objectives
    Sampa Kundu Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses New Delhi China-Myanmar Relations: [email protected] New Challenges Unfolding (Wednesday Seminar, ICS, New Delhi, April 19, 2017) Objectives the challenging factors of Sino-Myanmar bilateral relations; especially the recent ones as Understanding they are unfolding through the controversial Chinese projects in Myanmar the role of the emerging domestic socio-ethno-political scenario in Myanmar in deciding the Explaining trajectory of Sino-Myanmar bilateral relations. Offering a Myanmar-centric perspective to understand the Sino-Myanmar bilateral relations Situating Myanmar in Chinese Global dream projects • From 1988, in the wake of Myanmar’s isolation from rest of the world, China and Myanmar came closer to each other • Myanmar became heavily dependant on Pauk Phaw between Chinese money and China became its friend and mentor; defence and security China and Myanmar partnership too enhanced to a large extent • Myanmar never shied away from saying that irrespective of the forms of government, Myanmar and China will continue to be each other’s Pauk Phaw. Flows of FDI into Myanmar (values in Region/Economy 2001 2005 2010 2012 USD Million) World 19 6,066 19,999 1,419 East Asia 10 1 16,744 526 China 3 1 8,269 407 Southeast Asia 3 6,034 2,449 584 India - 31 - 12 Source: UNCTAD Market Trade (USD Million) % Share in Total Myanmar’s Top Five Export Trade Export Partners, 2010 Thailand 3,177 41.67 Hong Kong 1,612 21.14 India 958 12.56 China 476 6.25 Singapore 276 3.62 Source: World Integrated
    [Show full text]
  • Military Brotherhood Between Thailand and Myanmar: from Ruling to Governing the Borderlands
    1 Military Brotherhood between Thailand and Myanmar: From Ruling to Governing the Borderlands Naruemon Thabchumphon, Carl Middleton, Zaw Aung, Surada Chundasutathanakul, and Fransiskus Adrian Tarmedi1, 2 Paper presented at the 4th Conference of the Asian Borderlands Research Network conference “Activated Borders: Re-openings, Ruptures and Relationships”, 8-10 December 2014 Southeast Asia Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong 1. Introduction Signaling a new phase of cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar, on 9 October 2014, Thailand’s new Prime Minister, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha took a two-day trip to Myanmar where he met with high-ranked officials in the capital Nay Pi Taw, including President Thein Sein. That this was Prime Minister Prayuth’s first overseas visit since becoming Prime Minister underscored the significance of Thailand’s relationship with Myanmar. During their meeting, Prime Minister Prayuth and President Thein Sein agreed to better regulate border areas and deepen their cooperation on border related issues, including on illicit drugs, formal and illegal migrant labor, including how to more efficiently regulate labor and make Myanmar migrant registration processes more efficient in Thailand, human trafficking, and plans to develop economic zones along border areas – for example, in Mae 3 Sot district of Tak province - to boost trade, investment and create jobs in the areas . With a stated goal of facilitating border trade, 3 pairs of adjacent provinces were named as “sister provinces” under Memorandums of Understanding between Myanmar and Thailand signed by the respective Provincial governors during the trip.4 Sharing more than 2000 kilometer of border, both leaders reportedly understood these issues as “partnership matters for security and development” (Bangkok Post, 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Literature for the SECU Desk Review Dear Paul, Anne and the SECU
    Literature for the SECU Desk Review Dear Paul, Anne and the SECU team, We are writing to you to provide you with what we consider to be important documents in your investigation into community complaints of the Ridge to Reef Project. The following documents provide background to the affected community and the political situation in Tanintharyi Region, on the history and design of the project, on the grievances and concerns of the local community with respect to the project, and aspirations and efforts of indigenous communities who are working towards an alternative vision of conservation in Tanintharyi Region. The documents mentioned in this letter are enclosed in this email. All documents will be made public. Background to the affected community Tanintharyi Region is home to one of the widest expanses of contiguous low to mid elevation evergreen forest in South East Asia, home to a vast variety of vulnerable and endangered flora and fauna species. Indigenous Karen communities have lived within this landscape for generations, managing land and forests under customary tenure systems that have ensured the sustainable use of resources and the protection of key biodiversity, alongside forest based livelihoods. The region has a long history of armed conflict. The area initially became engulfed in armed conflict in December 1948 when Burmese military forces attacked Karen Defence Organization outposts and set fire to several villages in Palaw Township. Conflict became particularly bad in 1991 and 1997, when heavy attacks were launched by the Burmese military against KNU outposts, displacing around 80,000 people.1 Throughout the conflict communities experienced many serious human rights abuses, many villages were burnt down, and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee to the Thai border, the forest or to government controlled zones.2 Armed conflict came to a halt in 2012 following a bi-lateral ceasefire agreement between the KNU and the Myanmar government, which was subsequently followed by KNU signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA, IRVINE The
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE The Intersection of Economic Development, Land, and Human Rights Law in Political Transitions: The Case of Burma THESIS submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Social Ecology by Lauren Gruber Thesis Committee: Professor Scott Bollens, Chair Associate Professor Victoria Basolo Professor David Smith 2014 © Lauren Gruber 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF MAPS iv LIST OF TABLES v ACNKOWLEDGEMENTS vi ABSTRACT OF THESIS vii INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1: Historical Background 1 Late 20th Century and Early 21st Century Political Transition 3 Scope 12 CHAPTER 2: Research Question 13 CHAPTER 3: Methods 13 Primary Sources 14 March 2013 International Justice Clinic Trip to Burma 14 Civil Society 17 Lawyers 17 Academics and Politicians 18 Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations 19 Transitional Justice 21 Basic Needs 22 Themes 23 Other Primary Sources 23 Secondary Sources 24 Limitations 24 CHAPTER 4: Literature Review Political Transitions 27 Land and Property Law and Policy 31 Burmese Legal Framework 35 The 2008 Constitution 35 Domestic Law 36 International Law 38 Private Property Rights 40 Foreign Investment: Sino-Burmese Relations 43 CHAPTER 5: Case Studies: The Letpadaung Copper Mine and the Myitsone Dam -- Balancing Economic Development with Human ii Rights and Property and Land Laws 47 November 29, 2012: The Letpadaung Copper Mine State Violence 47 The Myitsone Dam 53 CHAPTER 6: Legal Analysis of Land Rights in Burma 57 Land Rights Provided by the Constitution 57
    [Show full text]
  • Myanmar Asia Pacific Regional Outlook June 2020
    Myanmar Asia Pacific Regional Outlook June 2020 Myanmar Risk: Very High/Ongoing The risks of atrocities remain very high in Myanmar amidst the continuing global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite calls by the UN Secretary General for cessation of hostilities around the world, hostilities between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups in northern Rakhine continue. Over 250 civilians have been killed and injured 570 others in Rakhine between December 2018 and May this year. Most deaths were due to stray bullets, artillery fire, or killed while in military custody as fierce battle between the Arakan Army and military forces escalated in 2018 and 2019. More than 250 civilian homes were burned in May alone, which injured many civilians even as the Tatmadaw conducted air strikes and used heavy weapons against insurgents.1 Although the Myanmar military declared unilateral ceasefire vis-à-vis other ethnic armed groups, it rejected ceasefire proposals from Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies composed of the Arakan Army (AA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).2 In April, outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Yang-hee Lee called for investigation of Myanmar’s military for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Rakhine, even as she accused the Tatmadaw of disappearing, killing, and torturing AA suspects as well as blocking aid and stopping injured civilians from reaching hospitals.3 Meanwhile, with the onset of the monsoon season and the threat of pandemic, a number of Rohingya refugees took to the sea by boat and attempted to reach Indonesia and Malaysia.
    [Show full text]
  • Tatmadaw Has Been Steadfastly Leading Establishment and Development Tasks of the State, Fulfilling the Needs of the Country: Senior General
    PRACTITIONERS’ RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES PAGE-8 (OPINION) NATIONAL NATIONAL MoTC Union Minister discusses to MoEA, MoE discuss appointment of resume entire train services ethnic language teachers with more salary PAGE-7 PAGE-11 Vol. VII, No. 344, 14th Waxing of Tabaung 1382 ME www.gnlm.com.mm Friday, 26 March 2021 Tatmadaw has been steadfastly leading establishment and development tasks of the State, fulfilling the needs of the country: Senior General ceremony to unveil statues of sev- the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command en commanders-in-chief and com- and officials. A manders-in-chief of defence ser- In his address, the Senior General said vices (retired) who served at the Myanma perpetuation of a country’s independence Tatmadaw in successive eras took place at and sovereignty absolutely depends on its the booth of the head of the Defence Services armed forces. Long term existence and Museum in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday after- strength of armed forces also rely on con- noon, attended by Chairman of the State Ad- stant maintenance of the fine traditions of ministration Council Commander-in-Chief the Tatmadaw. In looking back more than of Defence Services Senior General Min 1,000 years old Myanmar history, whenev- Aung Hlaing. er the Tatmadaw strengthened, the coun- Also present at the ceremony were try was powerful. The histories distinctly Vice-Chairman of the Council Deputy mentioned that whenever the Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services was weak with disunity, the country was Commander-in-Chief (Army), Vice-Senior in disarray. For Myanmar, anyone cannot General Soe Win, Council member Gen- deny the fact that “only when the Tatmadaw eral Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, strengthens will the nation be powerful”.
    [Show full text]