May 14, 2016

Min Aung Hlaing, Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Not Stepping Down

Burma’s commander-in-chief said he did not plan to leave office, despite having reached the official retirement age of 60 years old, at a press conference in Naypyidaw on Friday evening, vowing to maintain his position for four more years.

“I would consider retiring probably around 2020 if certain goals are reached by then,” said Min Aung Hlaing in a rare meeting with the press. “For example, if nationwide peace is achieved, [I would consider retirement].”

He pledged to try to make peace with all ethnic armed groups within five years.

The senior-general was also asked whether the military lawmakers, who control 25 percent of the seats in the Union Parliament in accordance with the Constitution, would relinquish their place in the legislature if peace were achieved with Burma’s ethnic armed organizations. “If everything goes well, there will be an answer [to the question of military MPs],” he said. “It might be in accordance with the wishes of the people.” (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)

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