On March 10 in Yangon, military leader Min Aung Hlaing made threatening statements regarding the multi-party democratic system and elections. These remarks were made during an interview with military-controlled media outlets aboard his return flight to Naypyidaw from Russia on March 9. Min Aung Hlaing reiterated his previous claims about holding multi-party democratic elections, while threatening that those who genuinely want a multi-party democratic system should not oppose the elections and must cooperate.
In his statement, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized that he had already announced plans to hold multi-party democratic elections and would firmly proceed with this plan. He stated that if people truly desire a multi-party democratic system, they should not create obstacles but rather cooperate with the process. Furthermore, during a press conference in Belarus, he disclosed that elections would be held either in December 2025 or early January 2026, marking five years since the military seized power.
These threatening statements demonstrate the military council’s insincere stance toward democracy and clearly show their lack of genuine intention to hold truly democratic elections. The military council continues to disregard the will of the people, focusing instead on maintaining their grip on power. Moreover, the military council persists in committing acts of violence against civilians, forcing people into military service, and violating human rights. Their approach to elections and democracy appears to be merely a facade to legitimize their continued control over the country, rather than a genuine commitment to democratic principles and the restoration of civilian rule.
