Esteemed people,
I would like to clarify the situations which happened in the country at present. I have explained some situations at the meeting of the National Defence and Security Council.
More than 11 million of voting frauds committed by NLD party in the 2020 election caused instabilities in the country. Hence, the Pro Tem President of the State called the meeting of the National Defence and Security Council with a decision to order Tatmadaw to take responsibilities of the State in accord with the Constitution. Tatmadaw formed the State Administration Council with military and civilian participants. Since its assumption, the State Administration Council clearly declared its aim as holding the election to the nation. At a time when State politics have changed, ordination protests gradually changed to riots and unrests. Under the leadership of some extreme members of NLD party, armed insurgencies were staged. Moreover, some youths were indoctrinated to take terrorism military training courses from some ethnic armed organizations which do not have correct stance on the State without willingness to forge peace. Then, they became so-called PDF terrorists. Both NCA non-signatory ethnic armed organizations and some NCA signatory EAOs encouraged and gave training to PDF terrorist groups. After taking terrorism courses from some EAOs, those PDF terrorists have been committing murd-ers, planting bombs, blowing up bombs and firing without reasons across the nation as part of raising panic to the people till today. Some armed groups taking advantages of instabilities nationwide attempted to expand their areas.
MNDAA, TNLA and AA insurgents refused the offer of peace invited by the government in April 2022 and launched attacks on security posts of Tatmadaw at border regions and Chinshwehaw in Shan State (North) with excessive strengths on 27 October 2023. To do so, they have been gathering man power and arms since 2022 and taking training on attacks with drones. They committed impacts of war on the whole peaceful and stable region. Insurgents started destruction of economic and social infrastructures including roads and bridges which are vital for regional development. With the aim of restoring stability of border region and regional peace and stability, the government agreed the bilateral ceasefire in January. But, MNDAA and TNLA groups showing various reasons launched attacks on Hsipaw, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme and Momeik in Shan State (North) and Mogok in Mandalay Region. On 3 July, they attacked Lashio. Everybody has known that they fired the developed rockets and bomb drops on public residences, hospitals, schools and religious buildings in towns and villages as targets hundred times. On 2 August, they dropped bombs on the Tatmadaw hospital in Lashio and raided it. They shot patients and health staff in a close range and abducted some patients including women, families and children. Tatmadaw hospitals are providing healthcare services not only to Tatmadaw members but to their families, members of the Sangha and ordinary civilians, and mobile healthcare teams of these hospitals are giving healthcare services to residents in relevant regions. With regard to their terror attacks, some percent of their ethnic people reside in these regions. For example, some 20 percent of Kokang people reside in Lashio Township, most of them live in villages, not in urban areas of Lashio. The urban of Lashio is residences of Shan, Bamar and Kachin ethnics. Likewise, some 15 percent of Palaung ethnic reside in Kyaukme and Hsipaw townships. Nawnghkio Township does not have even one percent of Palaung ethnic but most of people are Shan, Bamar and Danu ethnics. People can see that due to rootless terror attacks, residents left their residences to take shelter in other regions. Those insurgents robbed precious gold, silver and property of displaced people and committed burglar at the houses of displaced people to take precious objects. Moreover, they intimidated displaced people and residents as well as children to serve military service and forcibly order them to participate in fighting. They destroyed government infrastructures and racial and religious landmarks with the use of heavy machinery in their controlled regions. They know that if these regions were peaceful with full rule of law, they would miss chance to manipulate residents with threats showing arms and seek their interests. As such, they are committing naughty acts. MNDAA insurgents at present abduct Bamar ethnic in Laukkai and expel them from the town. But, statements of these insurgents accuse Myanmar Tatmadaw of attacking and destroying the town with racial discrimination. Laukkai is a town in Kokang Self-Administered Zone according to the 2008 Constitution. It is a region where entry and exist of foreigners must be done with official procedures and permission of the government. Those who illegal reside and their related persons committed online scams and gambling. The government has clearly carried out taking action against the illegal residents and their related persons, handover and oppressing them. Atpresent, I want to say that no foreigner under the official procedures is allowed to reside there. Currently insurgents are launching violent attacks on security outposts of Tatmadaw in Kyaukme and Nawnghkio regions with excessive strengths. Hence, it is important to correctly analyze their acts and statements and totally oppose them.
AA insurgents raided Donpaik police outpost, which is one of outposts of border guard police in Rakhine State on 13 November 2023 to start instabilities in Rakhine State. Then, they continued attacks on security camps and Tatmadaw posts which are taking regional security measures in northern Rakhine State and destroyed socio-economic life of residents, education and health sectors. So, residents fled to Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and other cities as displaced people. At present, they are violently attacking towns in both northern and southern parts of Rakhine State where residents wish to live with peace and stability. As 90 percent of Rakhine ethnics reside in Rakhine State, actions of AA leaders themselves are designed to destroy their ethnics. Tatmadaw will continue measures of peace and stability in these regions in cooperation with residents.
Likewise, KIA group has been equipping PDF terrorists with arms in upper Sagaing Region and providing terror military trainings since 2021 in order to destabilize the region. It was found that the destroying life and property of people, towns and villages in Sagaing Region and related areas by PDF terrorists were based on KIA group. Since March 2024, they have been deploying excessive strengths in attacking security posts and towns and villages in Kachin State. Moreover, CNF group cooperates with PDF terrorists and launches attacks in Chin State. So, ethnic people who are stably and peacefully residing in Chin State for their livelihoods lost socio-economic lives. It can be seen that towns and villages including Falam, Matupi, Lailinpi, Mindat and Thantlang faced lose and damage.
Similarly, some leaders from KNU group violate agreements of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA despite signing it. They provided terrorism training courses and equipped arms to PDF terrorists. They attack security posts, towns and villages in Kayin State with excessive strengths. They att[1]acked Kawkareik on 1 December 2023, Thingan Nyinaung on 5 April and Myawady on 10 April. Due to terror attacks of KNU, residents suffered many losses and damage in their socio-economic life. Moreover, border trade routes on which Myanmar people rely were blocked, causing loss to the State. So, security forces and partner organizations are striving for ensuring peace and stability in the region as quickly as possible. At present, the information has been received that present KNU Chairman and the chief of staff are attempting to launch attacks on around Sittaung River through collaboration of Brigades 1, 3 and 5 of KNU.
KNPP/KNDF insurgents deployed their strengths in attacking Loikaw in Kayah State on 11 November 2023. Due to information given by the residents who do not wish terror acts of KNPP/KNDF group, those KNPP/KNDF insurgents could be assaulted. As Tatmadaw and security force members made sacrifice in their counterattacks, all situations of the town could be controlled. As KNPP/KNDF insurgents failedtheir mission over Loikaw, they penetrated Hsihseng, adjacent to Shan State. As Hsihsent region is under control of Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, Pa-O people’s militia and residents did not totally accept them and bravely drove them out. At present, rehabilitation tasks are being initiated in Loikaw and Hsihseng regions. Efforts will be made for restoring peace and stability in the whole Kayah State like the past event. Insurgents committed destructive acts in their attacks, harming a large number of people and destroying towns and villages.
Some foreign countries wishing existence of armed conflicts and shaping the forms of Myanmar as they like are providing money, foods, medicines, arms and ammunition, technologies and logistic opportunities to armed insurgents and the terrorist organizations from the politically diverse persons, helping malacious media to raise psychological warfare.
In some EAO regions at China-Myanmar border, arms and ammunition factories have been established to produce arms, ammunition and explosive devices. It can be seen that arms and ammunitions produced from these factories are sold and provided to PDF terrorists and other EAOs. The majority of arms and ammunition seized by security forces are products from these factories. It is not an ordination situation to establish these factories. It needs to spend monetary and technological power. So, it is necessary to analyze the souces of monetary and technological power. The arms being used by armed groups in southern part of Myanmar were smuggled from the Thai-Myanmar border. Communication devices, drones and arms and ammunition being used by EAOS and PDF terrorists were obtained from these sources.
It was seen that bombs from drones and rockets being used by MNDAA and TNLA terrorists were developed by technologies. Their drones can be purchased at foreign market but they cooperate with foreign mercenary technologists developed these drones and improved them to be useful in the fighting.
Security forces follow the Rules of Engagement and rules for combatting terrorists as much as possible in attacking terrorists without harming civilians.
Myanmar is a country where all national races are residing in unison, and they are inseparable in natural environment as well as businesses. All Myanmar citizens have rights on freedom of travel and trade without any restrictions in the country. As insurgents control the regions, those people lose rights and freedom automatically. Without considering common racial characters and languages in addition to common histories, traditions and cultures, their bad racism and narrow-minded attitude which had never occurred in the history will not be acceptable. Shan State (North) sharing border with China is a hub of border trade of the entire nation. The region located on the trade route to other country brought development opportunities to residents. But, as terrorists launched attacks, socio-economic life, education of children, and future of youths will be extinct. As the warlordism of insurgent leaders resurges, residents will face unlawful bullying and killing like past incidents in the areas of warlords. Legal businesses can be dominated by narcotic drugs and gambling acts whereas maize and sugarcane will be substituted with poppy cultivation. Youths will see their lives with holding arms instead of books and ball-pens. They all will return to the darkness from the legal fold. I firmly believe that people will not reach such situations. Myanmar Tatmadaw will not allow these situations for the people.
In this regard, I would like to talk about the economic sector. Only when a country has economic power will remainng powers be strong. Hence, economic sanctions and spreading rumours were committed against Myanmar in various ways and means in order to decline State economy and defence power. The government solved these problems in order to improve State economy. As it is necessary to manufacture a large volume of products for booming the State economy, efforts must be made to continuously increae production and export volume. Hence, I would like to point out to leverage up productivity based on agriculture and livestock sectors.
With regard to situations of Shan State (North), security forces withdrew their positions by considering security of current areas and safety of people. MNDAA and TNLA insurgents and their stooges at home and abroad carry out propagation to the tune of their masterminded countries in order to cause downheartedness among the people. We, as a polite society, cannot totally accept the act of solving the armed conflicts in terror attacks but not using political ways. So, those insurgents must be designated a common enemy, and the government will continuely strive to ensure peace and stability not only in Shan State (North) but the entire nation. Members of Myanmar Tatmadaw, members of Myanmar Police Force, people’s militia and patriotic people will always be heroes of Myanmar in successive eras for their sacrifice of life, blood and sweat to forge peace and stability of Myanmar. They must always be recognized with respect. Correct spirit, perseverence and diligence of members of Myanmar Tatmadaw will be a drive to cease armed terrorism in the country and to develop education, health and socioeconomic life of the people with peace and stability under rule of law.
Our Myanmar Tatmadaw was born of the people to fight for independence of Myanmar, and it is a Tatmadaw established with patriotic youths with national spirit and sacrifice. Such Tatmadaw took independence of the whole nation with support of entire people amid various difficulties. At present, it can be seen that patriotic public organizations and ministries provide foodstuffs, supplies and letters of encouragement to members of Tatmadaw in discharging defence duties of the State with bravery and sacrifice on the frontlines. Likewise, political parties and public organizations wishing peace and stability object and condemn terror acts whereas volunteers and organizations support Tatmadaw and the State based on patriotic spirit and national spirit. I want to say that the government and Tatmadaw specially thank them for their encouragements which boost strengths. Tatmadaw has been safeguarding independence and defending the Union and people for their existence in successive eras till roday. Currently, it is regrettable that members of Tatmadaw and MPF, people’s militia members, wives of Tatmadaw members and family members were dead and wounded in addition to missing while discharging defence duties of the State to ensure existence, peace and stability of the State. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. The government and Tatmadaw will honour them and provide deserved opportunities and aid. So, I want to say that all members of Myanmar Tatmadaw are valuable people’s sons like soldiers who sacrificed lives and limbs in independence struggles. Our people have been fighting against external invadors and various internal insurgents by joining hands with Tatmadaw in successive eras. Tatmadaw and people cooperate with each other in overcoming internal and external dangers and they are capable of overcoming these dangers. Our people have to notice that as global affairs are deeply complicated, we have to unite among all for ensuring existence of Myanmar as long as the world. Only then, will the united strength overcome these challenges. Hence, all our people have to support and contribute to Myanmar Tatmadaw with sacrifice of life, blood and sweat in successive eras and patriotic people with trust to have victories in their righteous fighting. Whenever Tatmadaw and patriotic people exist, the entire country must be distinct and strengthened. We will perform existence and strengthening of the nation. Let’s safeguard mother land through united strength.
Thank you all
