Myanmar’s commander-in-chief has said the military will not stand in the way of whichever party succeeds in the November elections, providing they win “fairly”.
Asked by the BBC, in a rare and wide-ranging interview, Min Aung Hlaing said: “I believe the election will be free and fair. That is our true wish. We are committed to helping make that happen anyway we can. When the election commission announces the result we have to respect it. Because it will have been democratically done.”
Many in the country fear a repeat of the 1990s elections where the opposition National League for Democracy swept the polls but were denied power.
Nonetheless, Min Aung Hlaing made it clear the military does not intend to loosen its grip on political power – the army retains a quarter of seats in parliament – until a national peace agreement is secured.
“It could be five years or 10 years – I couldn’t say,” he said.
The 59-year-old strongman, a hardliner who the BBC described as “charismatic” with a “ready smile” has been tipped as a potential presidential candidate.
He didn’t say as much in the interview but, from the sounds of it, he’s up for the job.
“The duty of the soldier is to serve the country in whatever role,” he said, citing his 40 years of experience.
PHOTO: Myanmar’s commander-in-chief poses in a helicopter. Facebook / Min Aung Hlaing
