Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Announcement of stance on EAOs related to election
(2nd Waning of Thadingyut, 1382 ME)
(2 November, 2020)
Successive governments including Tatmadaw government strived for restoring eternal peace after ceasing ethnics’ armed conflicts based on political, racial and religious affairs in the areas of Myanmar where national races reside. Ceasing of armed conflicts depends on endeavours of governments in successive eras as well as on keenness of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to secure peace. In the term of the government which initiated democracy in Myanmar, eight ethnic armed organizations signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and the Union Peace Conference could be convened. In the term of present government, two more ethnic armed organizations signed the NCA and the conference was held with the title of Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong. However, it can be seen that the conference could not bring remarkable success to the peace yet.
At the ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the NCA, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services pledged to trust the eternal peace to the people in 2020. But, only when, EAOs are keen to restore the eternal peace, will they secure the genuine peace. In the actual situation, it was found that some EAOs built their strengths as acts to delay the peace process. Their acts cause not only delay to the peace process but also loss of the freedom of voting rights which is a chance to the local people in the multiparty democracy general election to be held on 8 November 2020. Although nine townships could not hold the election in the past, the Union Election Commission announced that current election cannot be held in 15 townships and village-tracts of some townships. Disturbance and pressure of some armed organizations cause delay to the progress of peace process which plays a key role in democratization as well as loss of voting rights to ethnic people which are important for democracy in some areas.Moreover, political parties cannot hold canvassing with loss of democracy rights. As administrators cannot be appointed and relevant election sub-commissions cannot be formed in some townships and villages dominated by ethnic armed organizations, situations in these areas are difficult to hold the free and fair election. However, the Tatmadaw expects that by-elections might be held in the near future in secure and smooth process in the areas where the election could not be held on 8 November 2020 due to various reasons. To be able to do so, ethnic armed organizations need to avoid positioning and movements in the areas not related to them and to soonest leave these areas if they have been there for various reasons. As such, the Tatmadaw invited and urged the ethnic armed organizations not to threat local ethnic people and to perform their tasks in accord with the NCA route for holding the free and fair election, rights for political parties to canvass and carry out peace process.
Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services