Nay Pyi Taw February 22
Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win held a telephone talk with Vice Chief of the Defence Force of Australia Vice Admiral David Johnston AO RAN this afternoon.
During the talks, the Vice-Senior General said the State Administration Council has temporarily taken over the three organs of the State power in accord with the 2008 Constitution for the emergence of a Union based on democracy and federal system. The Council has adopted the five future work programmes and is implementing them without making any modifications in policies of political, economic and foreign affairs and the peace process. The Myanmar Tatmadaw is the armed forces that embraces and values democracy like its Australian counterpart. The security forces are observing democracy which permits the rights to freedom of peaceful expression in accord with the law. Peaceful demonstrations were turned into riots and anarchic mobs in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Mawlamyine during the over three weeks of emergency period. But, the security forces deployed the least degree of force at the minimum level in restoring the situation in accord with the law, and except in those incidents, no excessive force was used in dealing with the peaceful protests. The security forces at all levels are doing their job in accord with the law.
The Australian Vice Chief of the Defence Force asked for more information. The Vice-Senior General replied to the queries.