President-Elect and State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing expressed deep respect and appreciation for the loyal and dutiful contributions of individuals who have served the State, the government, and the people.

President-elect and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing de­livered a speech at the ceremony to present honorary gifts at the Thabin Hall of the Office of the National Defence and Security Council Chairman yesterday morning.

In his speech, the Senior General noted that the individu­als attending this ceremony had faithfully and conscientiously carried out the duties entrust­ed to them throughout their full five-year term. Therefore, in the coming days, the State’s respon­sibilities will be handed over to a new government that will con­tinue to promote development under a democratic system, on a sound and appropriate foun­dation. The Senior General also expressed deep respect and recognition for their loyal and dutiful cooperation in serving the State, the government, and the people.

In accordance with the Con­stitution, the Senior General said that they assumed State respon­sibilities under a declared state of emergency, facing numerous challenges and difficulties. They initially had to confront the glob­al COVID-19 pandemic, and soon after, unrest and violent inci­dents spread across the country, driven by destructive elements rooted in misinformation and a lack of willingness to understand the truth, including certain eth­nic armed organizations with al­ready initiated armed conflicts. As a result, both the government and the people endured signifi­cant difficulties, hardship, and suffering.

He continued that the coun­try was repeatedly struck by nat­ural disasters, including Cyclone Mocha, Typhoon Yagi, and a powerful Mandalay earthquake. Due to these incidents of unrest and large-scale natural disas­ters, many people were killed or injured and suffered losses and damage. The momentum of development, which had just be­gun to build, was also brought to a halt, and much of the existing infrastructure was destroyed.

He stressed that as the State faced various challenges, the national economy also de­clined as a result of these dif­ficulties and crises. Therefore, they made strenuous efforts to establish the foundations for national stability and peace, the rule of law, rehabilitation, development, and economic recovery. In carrying out these efforts, many individuals made great sacrifices in serving the State and the people, remaining loyal and dutiful in their respon­sibilities. It is because of such contributions that the country has been able to return to a sit­uation of stability and the early stages of development.

As such, he honoured and expressed special gratitude to all those who cooperated with the State and courageously car­ried out their duties with dedi­cation, irrespective of the risks involved.

He said that he will always remember all those present here today – his colleagues who, during their time in office, faithfully believed in and worked tirelessly alongside him to im­plement the objectives, goals, and national responsibilities, with genuine goodwill and ded­ication. He expressed his deep respect, pride, recognition, and gratitude to all.

During the five-year period in which they carried out their responsibilities, it was regret­tably encountered that some senior officials and individuals in leadership positions failed in their duties to the country and the people, showing negligence, misconduct, and actions that did not conform to established pro­cedures. Therefore, in the pro­cess of building the nation amid difficulties, it became necessary to take careful and unavoidable measures to prevent inappro­priate actions, including, as is known to all, parting ways with certain individuals.

The Senior General ex­pressed that he respectfully and proudly placed on record his rec­ognition of all those present at this ceremony who have worked together with him over the past five years and have fulfilled their duties faithfully. They will contin­ue to cooperate and contribute from their respective roles for the future of the State. As this is a long-term undertaking for the nation, it is also nec­essary to continue nurturing and developing the younger generation so that they may gain experience for the future.

The President-Elect and State Security and Peace Com­mission Chairman Senior Gen­eral Min Aung Hlaing presented gifts of honour to Commission Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Commission member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Commission member U Aung Lin Dwe, Commission Sec­retary Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Ye Win Oo, Commission members, Union-level dignitaries and Un­ion ministers.

Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented gifts from the elected President to Union-level dignitaries.

Commission member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Commission member U Aung Lin Dwe, and Commission Sec­retary Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Ye Win Oo presented gifts of the elected President to Union-lev­el dignitaries, deputy ministers and same-level dignitaries.

After the ceremony, the Sen­ior General cordially greeted the attendees.

Also present at the ceremo­ny were the Nay Pyi Taw Coun­cil Chairman, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the com­mander of Nay Pyi Taw Com­mand, deputy ministers, and same-level dignitaries alongside chief ministers of regions and states via videoconferencing. — MNA/TTA

Salient points of the speech delivered by the Senior General in honouring the faithful individuals

1. It is also necessary to continue nurturing and developing the younger generation so that they may gain experience for the future.

2. The country has been able to return to a situation of stability and the early stages of development.

3. Some ethnic armed organizations with already misguided in­tentions further fuelled the unrest, encouraging and escalating violence and initiating armed conflicts.

4. Some senior officials and individuals in leadership positions failed in their duties to the country and the people, showing negligence, misconduct, and actions that did not conform to established procedures. Therefore, it became necessary to take careful and unavoidable measures to prevent inappropriate actions.