Government Statements and Activities

Government Domestic Announcements

The main messages that come out clearly in the government's speeches are that people should:

be assured that elections will be held this year in accordance to the constitution
be warned against foreign stooges, foreign meddling and any attempts to sabotage the elections
vote responsibly
all rally in support of the elections

Date	Statements and Announcement
2 Nov 2010	State newspapers said the military government would have no choice by to remain in power if the people abstain from voting in Sunday's long-awaited elections and blamed foreign media for trying to derail the polls. The military said 13 foreign news organisations had colluded with opposition movements to discourage people from voting.
31 Oct 2010	Myanmar's state media today warned that citizens must vote "without fail" in the upcoming election and accused those advocating a boycott of misleading the people.
22 Aug 2010	Prime Minister Thein Sein urged people to prevent any destructive acts against the elections and to choose good, smart, patriotic persons who want to serve the national interest and uphold the policy of nondisintegration of the Union.
4 Aug 2010	Burma's state-run press warned "subversives" that anyone who disrupts the country's first elections in two decades could face up to 20 years in prison.
20 Jul 2010	The Education Ministry urged students to vote for junta-backed parties in this year’s elections, amid threats of “bloodshed”, a military coup and “disintegration of the union”, during a speech at a university in Rangoon
2 May 2010	Ministry of Defence officials urged residents of Falam township, Chin State at a town hall meeting, to co-operate with the military for a “successful general election”.
1 May 2010	The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper published General Than Shwe's May Day address in which he urged everyone to "ward off attempts of saboteurs and aliens to interfere and to sow seeds of mistrust" in the country and conspiring to derail the elections this year.
30 Apr 2010	Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein urged the public to “choose good people's representatives with consideration and farsightedness” at the 19th Annual General Meeting of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), held at Naypyidaw City Hall
6 Apr 2010	Burma's second top leader Vice Senior-General Maung Aye said that the government will see to the coming multi-party general elections this year in accordance with the new constitution when he addressed the Graduation Parade of the 113th Intake of Defence Services (Army) Officers Training School. He also told officers to "to keep your eyes and ears to potential dangers that may be posed with foreign aids"
5 Apr 2010	Vice-Senior General Maung Aye said "the government, the people and the Tatmadaw will see to the elections. So, you all have to keep your eyes and ears to potential dangers that may be posed with foreign aids" when he addressed the Graduation Parade of the 113th Intake of Defence Services (Army) Officers Training School.
27 Mar 2010	Addressing 13,000 troops at the country's annual Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyidaw, Senior General Than Shwe said Burma should oversee its own elections and urged patience and fair play. He warned against foreign meddling in upcoming elections and said "divisive acts" could spark anarchy and derail the transition to democracy
10 Mar 2010	Vice-Senior General Maung Aye meets departmental officials from Ayeyawady Division and urged them to choose people's representatives correctly
9 Mar 2010	The Prime Minister Thein Sein on a tour of Shan State (North) said to support the forthcoming election and that "the State’s seven-step Road Map is being realized step by step for building a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation which is the national goal, necessary laws are enacted to hold free and fair elections as the fifth step." In Lashio he said "Myanmar citizens must be for Myanmar and not be a stooge of any alien Government, people and Tatmadaw have to harmoniously strive with added momentum for regional peace and stability and progress"
2 Mar 2010	Senior General Than Shwe reminded peasants to "elect representatives capable of building peaceful, modern, developed nation and exercising democracy correctly" on the occasion of the Peasants Day (2010)
23 Feb 2010	Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein said that no Burmese citizen could be “a sycophant of any alien nation or a stooge of a foreign country in disguise of a Myanmar [Burmese]."
12 Feb 2010	Than Shwe pledged to hold a free and fair poll soon in accordance with the junta’s “roadmap” for democracy at the 63rd anniversary of Burma's Union Day.
3 Feb 2010	Prime Minister General Thein Sein on a visit to Chin state confirmed that the general elections in Burma will be held by the end of this year; but he did not mention the date.
21 Jan 2010	Burmese Home Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo told a meeting of local officials in central Burma’s Kyaukpadaung town that Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi would be released in November when her house arrest period is over
4 Jan 2010	Than Shwe Independence day speech published in the New Light of Myanmar reminded people to "remain vigilant at all times against dangers posed by neocolonialists" and "plans are under way to hold elections in a systematic way this year. In that regard, the entire people have to make correct choices".
23-28 Nov 2009	At a tri-annual military commanders' meeting in Naypyidaw, Sr. Gen. Than Shwe said that Burma is ready for a new government in line with his vision of a “disciplined democracy,” and addressed numerous economic developments and projects for the future.
9 Oct 2009	Than Shwe said in an address to the Myanmar War Veterans Organization in Naypyidaw that he would not yield to demands from domestic and international critics who say that the country’s military-sponsored Constitution should be revised ahead of next year’s election
18 Sept 2009	A report in the New Light of Myanmar, stressed that there shall be a single Tatmadaw (armed forces) in the country to stand in accordance with the new state constitution approved in May 2008.
15 Sept 2009	A news article in the New Light of Myanmar urged ethnic peace groups in the country to adhere to the approved new state constitution in light of the upcoming general election next year and form political parties.
15 Sept 2009	In the New Light of Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein has warned against any disturbances that may arise in the country, stressing the need for the administrative bodies at various levels to constantly know about the state policies and objectives
13 Sept 2009	New Light of Myanmar Report 'They will choose the correct way' stressed the need to start a transition period in accordance with the new state constitution in anticipation of 2010 multi-party general election.
28 Apr 2009	Government orders all Ethnic ceasefire groups to transform into Border Guard Forces under the control of the Burmese Army
27 Mar 2009	Snr-Gen Than Shwe, laid some ground rules on the election in an Armed Forces Day speech and clearly indicated there will be no review, saying the "constitution (was) adopted by the people."

Government Announcements at International Forums

Date	Statements and Announcement
27 Oct 2010	Foreign Minister U Nyan Win responded to journalists' question after a preliminary meeting for Asean summit by saying “The election is people decision. There is nothing to be unjust..."
28 Sept 2010	Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win assured the United Nations general assembly that the November general elections will be free and fair.
12 May 2010	Burma's military leaders rejected international poll monitors for the country's first elections in 20 years but asked for unspecified cooperation from the United States in supporting the vote. Head of the Election Commission, Thein Soe, said "The nation has a lot of experience with elections. We do not need election watchdogs to come here." He also told Campbell "Arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair election"
2 Feb 2010	Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Aung San Suu Kyi may be freed during the national elections in Burma. He also said that "the elections most probably will be in the second half of the year" and cautioned against sanctions as a way to put pressure on the junta.
14 Jan 2010	Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told Reuters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Nyan Win that "60 to 70 percent" of the electoral and political party laws had been completed.
13 Jan 2010	Foreign Minister Nyan Win told Southeast Asian counterparts that the promised elections would be held this year and would be fair. Even though no date has been set yet, everything is on course.
8 Nov 2009	Before attending the US-Asean summit, Min Lwin, a senior Burmese diplomat, told AP that there was a plan to release Suu Kyi soon in order for her to organize her party.
25 Oct 2009	Thailand said Burma's Prime Minister told Asian leaders that the ruling junta sees a role for democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in fostering reconciliation ahead of elections in 2010. Thein Sein was also quoted by Japanese officials as saying that the conditions of Suu Kyi's detention could be relaxed if she “maintains a good attitude”.
24 Oct 2009	In a meeting with Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit earlier this year, Thein Sein said that the regime will allow UN officials and developing countries to observe the general election.
24 Oct 2009	Speaking to the Associated Press, Min Lwin, the director-general of Burma's foreign ministry, said the government intended to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to play a role in next year's general elections, although he did not specify what that may be.
23 Oct 2009	Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein told the Thai PM Abhisit that the government would soon announce an electoral law
22 Oct 2009	Foreign Minister Nyan Win assured his Asean counterparts that the coming election would meet the standards demanded by the international community
3 Oct 2009	Foreign Minister Nyan Win told reporters after a meeting with counterparts in Cambodia "In my country free and fair elections will be held. We have already announced it," Foreign Minister Nyan Win also told Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada that Suu Kyi would be released before her current 18-month house arrest term expires depending on her actions.
13 Jul 2009	Burmese UN Ambassador Than Swe told the UN Security Council that the SPDC is preparing to give amnesty to political prisoners before the 2010 election
1 Mar 2009	Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein reportedly said he would allow United Nations officials and developed countries to monitor the military-sponsored 2010 election during a meeting with his counterpart Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Asean Summit in Thailand

The military junta wards off international pressures by repeatedly saying things that they believe the international community wants to hear; i.e. that elections will be free and fair, revealing the progress of preparations for elections and the release of political prisoners

Others statements

At international forums, the Burmese regime often has to defend itself against accusations or charges of human rights abuses. It often reiterates that the international community has no right to interfere with its internal affairs.

Date	Statements and Announcement
23 Sept 2010	The Burmese regime denied accusations at the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) summit that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons
22 Sept 2010	Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win told the 65th annual UN General Assembly that despite challenges the country has made progress towards achieving most of its millennium development goals (MDGs), especially in the areas of poverty alleviation, food security and promotion of health and education.
11 Jun 2010	State radio and television news reported the government's denial that it is developing a nuclear weapons program and links with North Korea, saying that anti-government groups in collusion with the media had launched the allegations with the goal of "hindering Myanmar's democratic process and to tarnish the political image of the government."
10 Jun 2010	Myanmar official media said that the country will closely cooperate with regional countries in the projects for regional development including environmental conservation. The editorial came out after the end of the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia in Ho Chi Minh city of Vietnam last weekend
6 Jun 2010	Burma's ambassador Win Myint to Singapore told Singapore-based news Web site AsiaOne that allegations in a recent media report that the country is developing a nuclear weapons program is false.
28 Sept 2009	Prime Minister Thein Sein demanded an end to U.S. and European Union sanctions against his government saying democracy can’t be “imposed”
13 July 2009	the U.N. Permanent Representative of Myanmar U Than Swe told the Security Council the country planned to grant amnesty to prisoners.
19 Jun 2009	Myanmar Human Rights Group issued a statement published in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, condemning five United Nations Independent Rights experts for issuing a statement that said the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi so far is not open and fair.
14 Jun 2009	A government statement in the New Light of Myanmar rejected a recent declaration of the European Union Presidency, saying that the declaration was made relying on inaccurate information originated from the insurgent groups and biased media reports.
5 Jun 2009	The military government has accused officials of the US and British embassies in Rangoon of allegedly dropping into the office of the Opposition party – the National League for Democracy – 25 times in May alone.
2 Jun 2009	State-run-newspapers reported that the Deputy Foreign Minister told delegations at the ASEAN-EU meeting in Phnom Penh that Burma did not recognize the appointment of the EU representative Piero Fassino as well as his activities.
31 May 2009	Deputy Defence Minister Aye Myint has told a regional security conference in Singapore Aung San Suu Kyi's case is an internal matter for Burma to resolve without foreign intervention.
28 May 2009	Speaking at a meeting of EU and South East Asian ministers in Cambodia, the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister insisted that Aung San Suu Kyi's trial was not a human rights issue.
26 May 2009	A top police official Brig-Gen Myint Thein said Burma considered releasing pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, but canceled the decision after an American stayed at her house in violation of the country's security law.
24 May 2009	Burmese government lodged a strong protest over a statement of the alternate chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over a lawsuit against detained political party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that the statement is an interference in the country's internal affairs.
22 May 2009	Burma's Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, has denied allegations that the regime has framed its case against Aung San Suu Kyi, arguing instead that it was the synchronized foul play of the opposition forces that has resulted in the current trial.
19 May 2009	The Burmese regime responded to the ASEAN Chair's proposal to help with national reconciliation and democracy efforts in Burma through The New Light of Myanmar, saying, “Alternate Asean Chairman Thailand’s statement [sic] which is not in conformity with Asean practice, [is] incorrect in facts, [and is] interfering in [Burmese] internal affairs.”
4 May 2009	Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win called for an end to sanctions on developing countries at a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Havana
17 Mar 2009	Wunna Maung Lwin, Burmese Ambassador to the UN denied a report by the UN special envoy on Human Rights Tomas Ojea Quintana that over 2,000 political prisoners continue to languish in prisons across Burma
5 Mar 2009	Burma’s military rulers rejected two recent US reports on Human Rights records and counter-narcotic efforts, claiming the reports were baseless and politically motivated.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 November 2010 19:23