Myanmar’s powerful commander-in-chief has reiterated that the military will respect the outcome of the country’s Nov 8 election, seen as a crucial test of Myanmar’s reform process. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that the main concern of the armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, is that the vote is carried out fairly and that the result is respected by everyone – even if Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) wins a majority. “We wouldn’t mind even if the NLD won in the next general election, as long as it is free and fair,” he told members of the Myanmar’s Interim Press Council, a media support group, during a meeting on Monday.
“The Tatmadaw’s desire is to see the upcoming elections be held free and fair. We will approve and support the results announced by the Union Election Commission.”
Myanmar’s recent elections have been plagued by military interference.
In 1997, the NLD won in a landslide but the vote was not recognised by the military. The 2010 ballot was widely seen as rigged and boycotted by the NLD.
Full Article: Myanmar’s military chief says armed forces will respect vote, SE Asia News & Top Stories – The Straits Times.