Military council leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in his message to the 51st Mon State Day ceremony, stated that building a democratic nation requires wisdom and knowledge, and that it is time to learn lessons from the destruction of people’s lives, properties and wellbeing. This statement comes despite his forces’ continued violence against civilians.
After seizing power by alleging fraud in the 2020 general election where the National League for Democracy won by a landslide, Min Aung Hlaing claimed that building a democratic nation requires unity, discipline, respect for law and order, and wisdom from all citizens. He further stated that the current situation lacks stability and development because they have to focus on defending against destructive forces rather than nation-building.
However, in reality, military council forces have been documented by the UN and international organizations carrying out airstrikes, artillery attacks, and military operations killing innocent civilians. They have been forcibly recruiting young people aged 18-35 for military service, bombing refugee camps and monasteries, burning villages, and looting civilian properties. These actions directly contradict Min Aung Hlaing’s statements about building democracy and protecting citizens.
While Min Aung Hlaing urged ethnic armed organizations and relevant groups to stop actions that cause suffering to the people, the military council’s own forces have been committing atrocities against civilians, targeting non-military locations, arbitrarily arresting and killing displaced persons, and committing other crimes as documented by domestic and international civil society organizations. The military council continues to oppress civilians while claiming to work toward democracy, showing a stark contrast between their words and actions on the ground.
