Myanmar’s president outlines policy road map, criticises ASEAN peace plan

The head of Myanmar’s military-backed Government on Friday marked his Government’s first 100 days in office with a speech defending his record and outlining a five-year road map for his administration, which faces ongoing conflict and international criticism.

President Min Aung Hlaing, the former army chief who had originally seized power in 2021 from a civilian Government, was sworn in as president in April following an election that critics said was designed to entrench the military’s grip on power.

Addressing more than 900 lawmakers, officials and military representatives at Parliament in the Capital, Naypyitaw, he said his Government had laid “important foundations” since taking office by pursuing two priorities - restoring peace and stability and promoting national development.

Min Aung Hlaing said he would spend two years accelerating efforts to build a modern and developed nation based on democracy and a federal system, followed by another three years carrying out build-up at full speed. He also said special elections would be held in 2027 in constituencies across 102 townships that were unable to vote during the three-phase election held late last year because of armed conflict.

He said the Government would continue implementing the military’s conscription law while strengthening the armed forces and police as they fight pro-democracy activists and ethnic minority rebels throughout much of the country. He noted that his administration had invited armed groups fighting the military to lay down their weapons and had held talks with 13 ethnic armed groups.