Min Asign (January 30, 2021)
On January 27th, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces delivered a speech by video conference to senior trainees attending the National Defense University.
General Min Aung Hlaing appeared to have suggested revoking the 2008 junta-scripted constitution could be “necessary” under certain circumstances.
An english translation of his comments stated that the “Tatmadaw is the armed force organization that is required to obey the Constitution. That’s why, as a member of the military, the 2008 Constitution and the existing laws, must be respected. The 2008 Constitution is the Mother Law and if there is no respect and obedience to the law it needs to be abolished.”
His comments — translated into English and published in the army-run Myawaddy newspaper — sent shockwaves through the nascent democracy, which is only a decade out of the grips of a 49-year military junta.
The Tatmadaw then promptly issued a denial of the statement, alluding to the media misinterpreting the speech, and emphasizing it would act in accordance with the law. The Executive Director of National League of Democracy (NLD), Monywa Aung Shin commented that the military’s denial was questionable, since the original statement had spread online via social media, so there is “strong evidence.”
