Military chief: there are no Rohingyas

Myanmar has no Rohingyas and will not accept the term, Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told a press conference held at his offices on May 13.

The Union Daily asked about unrest in Rakhine State in relation to the Rohingya issue and asked about the remarks about the Rohingya made by the US embassy.

Protesters marched on the US Embassy in Yangon last month after it used the word Rohingya in a statement of condolence for the deaths of at least 20 people whose boat capsized on April 19 off the Rakhine coast.

The commander-in-chief said there were no Rohingyas, only “Bengalis”, meaning people from Bangladesh. They were sent to Rakhine State after it was colonised by the British following the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824. “They are large in number and have been called ‘Bengalis’. They were called Rohingyas under former prime minister U Nu to win their votes. It was illegal. The term Rohingya does not exist and we will not accept it.”

Min Aung Hlaing said he used to be regional commander of the state and wanted to see it develop, adding that he was doing what he could for peace. Armed groups could not secure their aims with conflict. “We are working with great care but there cannot be a solution unless conflict is reduced,” he said.

The commander-in-chief was asked about the prospects for a new Panglong conference to unify the country’s many ethnic groups. “The army is ready to cooperate and we want it to succeed. It is a continuation of the union peace conference. We have to be united. It has to be a conference to show unity with good intentions with no attempt to gain political advantages,” the senior general said.

The Panglong Agreement was reached in Panglong, southern Shan State, between Aung San and the Shan, Kachin, and Chin peoples on February 12, 1947. The agreement accepted "full autonomy in internal administration for the frontier areas" and envisioned a federal union. It is celebrated in Myanmar as Union Day each February 12.

Min Aung Hlaing added: “The military will not make problems if the ethnic armed groups stay in the places assigned to them. The duty of the armed forces is to defend the state. The government needs the army to protect it. If the army is not deployed in a conflict area, the regional government will be in trouble. If people’s lives and the government are in danger, the army will fight anyone.”

He said he accepted civilian rule although the National League for Democracy would have to follow the Constitution.

The senior general said: “The army is following the guidance of the government. Although I am the military chief, the president is head of state. I am under the command of the president. I am not doing anything without his approval. The military is not in opposition and only pointed out the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi’s state counsellor role did not fit the rules and regulations. It is the duty of Parliament to decide it. It is important to hold discussions in line with democratic standards. We will support Parliament if it is good for country.”

Eleven Media