NAY PYI TAW, 31 May - The 8th Shangri-La Dialogue Meeting, organized by Singapore-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, was held in Singapore from 29 to 31 May, attended by the Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Minister for Defence Maj-Gen Aye Myint of the Union of Myanmar together with defence officials of other countries.

The meeting focused on defence and security sectors.

On 31 May evening, Deputy Minister for Defence Maj-Gen Aye Myint explained latest developments in Myanmar politics.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Minister Maj- Gen Aye Myint said:

I find it very useful exercise in exchange of views on the security issues in Asia and Pacific region. I choose this theme to share with my country experience in Counter-Insurgency and national reconciliation efforts. And I would also like to take this opportunity to explain current situations in Myanmar.

The world has recently witnessed the successful end of a long-standing insurgency in Sri Lanka. But, people have forgotten about insurgency in Myanmar. Why? Because there is no more major fighting erupted in Myanmar in recent days. But it does not mean Myanmar has completely brought to an end of its internal insurgency. We have realized that hard power alone is not fully effective in winning the counter-insurgency campaigns. Therefore, we are painstakingly, patiently and time-consumingly solving the problems of insurgency.

As you are aware, Myanmar is multi-ethnic nation, comprising over 100 nationalities. We suffered the internal armed insurgencies for nearly half a century since regaining independence. Therefore, non-disintegration of the Union and the national unity is vital for our country. The people of Myanmar highly cherish our independence and national sovereignty so much and place high value on self-determination and harbour great concern over foreign interference.

Myanmar always attaches high priority to nondisintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national unity and stability of the State. In order to consolidate national unity, our Government invited the armed insurgent groups to exchange arms for peace. For this moment, 17 out of 18 armed insurgent groups have returned to the legal fold. We made no exception to the remaining group of Karen National Union, KNU. In addition to DKBO, more than 300 members from KNU, led by Chairman of the Peace Council of the KNU/KNLA Maj. General Htein Maung returned to the legal fold in February 2007. Very recently in March 2009, 160 members from KNU, led by Captain Saw Nay Soe Mya, son of late chairman of the KNU/ KNLA Saw Bo Mya, also returned to the legal fold.

Therefore, almost all armed insurgent groups have returned to the legal fold in Myanmar. As such peace and stability is now prevailing throughout the country. Our Government has been able to do away with internal insurgency problems which could not have been solved by the successive governments. Now, we can say that we have established the confidence building between the Government and the armed insurgent groups.

With the return of peace and stability, the Government has been implementing Special Development Projects to focus on the political, economic and social development of the country in order to minimize the development gap, particularly in the far-flung borderareas, which lagged behind the heartland to some extent.

Better communication and transportation have brought better understanding among ethnic nationals. Due to the counter-insurgency campaigns and confidence building between the Government and the insurgent groups, people in the border areas are now able to enjoy better health care, education and social services. Our Government has also implemented infrastructure projects such as building roads and bridges, dams, universities, colleges and hospitals. Priority is also being placed on human resource development.

Such development projects have been conducted to lay down the necessary fundamentals for the future elected government by utilizing domestic resources. That is the significant result of winning counter-insurgency campaigns by means of establishing confidence building between the Government and the armed insurgent groups in Myanmar.

As the domestic political process, the Government of the Union of Myanmar, in accordance with the aspirations of the people, has been implementing the Seven-Step Road Map towards a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation.

The National Convention, the first step of the Road Map, was successfully convened five times between 2004 and 2007, and adopted basic principles and detailed basic principles for the State Constitution. More than 1,000 representatives from all strata of life, political parties, national groups and the organizations which have returned to the legal fold participated in the National Convention. Thus, the genuine dialogue with participation of all national groups had already taken place in the National Convention.

The State Constitution Drafting Commission carried out the drafting of the Constitution, the third step of the Seven-Step Road Map, enshrining the basic principles and detailed basic principles, adopted by the National Convention. The referendum, the fourth step of the Road Map, was held in May 2008 whereby a new Constitution was overwhelmingly approved by 92.48 per cent of the voters.

Now, preparations are well underway to enact the Election Law and the Law on Registration of Political Parties. These draft laws have been carefully and thoroughly scrutinized in order not to have flaws and weakness. After that the political parties will be allowed to be registered and organized systematically in accordance with the Election Law to be adopted in the near future.

It means that the present Government has exerted relentless efforts to figure out the political, economic, social, and administrative mechanisms for the future elected Government. Myanmar Government is strongly dedicated to continue implementing the remaining three steps of the Road Map and international community could best assist the transformation of Myanmar to democracy by encouraging the political parties to join in the process.

I would like to share the latest developments. As you have noticed that the Government of the Union of Myanmar, for ensuring stability of the State and in the interest of the people, had to issue restriction order and place Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under restriction at her house in accordance with the Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts.

Whilst the restriction order was in effect on May 2009, an intruder Mr. John William Yettaw who is a United States citizen secretly entered the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and stayed for two days. She permitted him to stay, communicated, provided him food and shelter. The security personnel found Mr Yettaw floating in Inya Lake in the early morning of 6 May 2009.

In this regard, the police authority has put up a case against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in connection with the foreigner and it is no doubt that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has committed a cover-up of the truth by her failure to report an illegal immigrant to the authorities concerned. Thus, there was no option but to open legal proceedings in accordance with the law.

The police filed a lawsuit against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under Section- 22 of the Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts.

It is the universal legal principle that no one is above the law (Nemo Est Supra Leges). Only when this legal principle is upheld, put into practice and encouraged will there be Rule of Law in a country. If offenders of law are not taken action, anarchy will prevail and there will be a breach of peace and security.

It is also known to all that there are some internal problems in countries that can be solved only on their own proceedings. In accordance with law, solving one's internal affairs through its legal system with legal proceedings in accordance with law does not amount to the threat of peace or breach of security of the region. Countries should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar that will affect the peace and security of the region.

Thus, the legal action against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is merely an internal affair of Myanmar taking action through its legal system in accordance with domestic law. Thus, if any country interferes in the internal affairs of another country, that particular act may possibly affect the mutual understanding and friendly relationship between countries.

Myanmar firmly accepts the affirmation by the members of the Security Council of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all its people. The Government will, therefore, hold multi-party general elections, fifth step of the Road Map, in 2010, as declared and the Government is also determined to continue hand-inhand with the people to implementing the Seven-Step Road Map in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar.

(Source: The New Light of Myanmar dated 1 June 2009)