Elections must be conducted with utmost effort to enhance the State’s image and set its political course on the right path.

THE State Security and Peace Com­mission held its first meeting yes­terday morning, with an address by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Speaking at the meeting, the Sen­ior General said that the National De­fence and Security Council has formed and assigned the State Security and Peace Commission to provide necessary guidance and to ef­fectively coordinate efforts for national defence, security and peace, and for the successful holding of a multiparty demo­cratic general election.

He continued that it is to ensure the successful holding of a multiparty democratic general election and, after the election, to enable the govern­ment formed by the Hluttaw to take the responsibilities of the State.

The Senior General high­lighted that the election must be held without fail, and efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of voter lists, includ­ing the successful implemen­tation, to a certain extent, of the 2024 census, which is part of the preparations for the election.

He added that, to ensure the successful holding of the election, the Union Election Commission was reconstitut­ed, and activities were carried out to collect data by constit­uency as well as to gather se­curity-related information by region.

He underscored that hold­ing the election is important to convene and form the re­spective Hluttaws, and it is essential that the election be successful and under the law.

The Senior General em­phasized that, regarding the need to secure the required number of representatives for the Hluttaw session to be valid, Section 85 of the Constitution states that for the first Hluttaw session to convene, more than half of the representatives en­titled to attend must be pres­ent. If this requirement is not met, the second session shall be valid if at least one-third of the representatives entitled to attend are present. Therefore, in order to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Hluttaw repre­sentatives can attend when the Hluttaw convenes, efforts are being made to hold elections in all townships where elections can be conducted.

He underlined that all el­igible voters will be enabled to cast their votes, and ar­rangements will also be made for displaced voters affected by natural disasters to vote in advance. Measures will be taken to ensure that all eligible voters in safe locations do not lose their right to vote.

In foreign countries, he noted that there will be those that support and welcome the holding of a multiparty demo­cratic general election in My­anmar, as well as countries that may take a critical stance toward the election.

Therefore, the Senior Gen­eral stressed that the upcom­ing election must be conducted as a free and fair election, and it must be free from fraud.

He explained that neces­sary protections must be pro­vided to ensure that political party members and candidate representatives participating in the election can safely carry out their activities from the campaign period through to the voting period.

He pointed out that re­garding the allegations and killings labelling government staff and the public as “in­formants,” such incidents may increase during the election period, so effective prevention and protective measures need to be implemented.

In the education sector, the Senior General recounted that a review of the schedules for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years shows that all regions and states have ex­perienced insufficient student enrolment and weak grade promotion rates. Therefore, the relevant ministry needs to conduct research and seek solutions to address the weak­nesses in education.

He noted that suppressing and preventing illegal trade will help uphold the rule of law and reduce armed violence.

He said that armed ter­rorists in border areas use the profits from illegal trade to strengthen their forces, which undermines national stability and the rule of law. Looking back at the country’s history, it is evident that illegal trade routes have caused significant damage to the national econ­omy.

The Secretary of the Com­mission Joint Executive Chief discussed reviews on holding the election in portions in townships of relevant regions and states, use of Myanmar electronic voting machines; the Commission member Un­ion Minister for Home Affairs, comparison of security and rule of law activities in years, formation of people’s security and violence combat groups, and plans to raise security measures; the Commission member Chief of the Gener­al Staff (Army, Navy and Air), undertaking of military oper­ations and security measures in military command areas and regions, plans to beef up regional control measures to hold the election in townships; and the Commission member Union Minister for Foreign Af­fairs, casting advance votes, studies for casting vote pro­cess in global countries.

The Vice-Chairman of the Commission discussed activi­ties of anti-government organ­izations and EAOs in regions and states, achievements of Tatmadaw in military opera­tions, and collaborative efforts of Tatmadaw, People’s Security and Violence Combat Group and people’s militia in combat­ing drug and illegal trade and illegal businesses.

Commission members Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dwe, and Union Minister for Defence General Maung Maung Aye also participated in discussions on preparations to successfully hold the election, distribution of MEVM, working procedures in accord with the election rules, dissemination of techniques to use the MEVM to the people, and raising pub­lic awareness to cast votes to strengthen the multiparty democratic path.

In his additional guidance, the Senior General explained military and security meas­ures for increasing number of townships to hold the elec­tion, management for holding the election in portions, use of MEVMs, raising security measures for relevant individ­uals of political parties, their offices, and urban wards, pub­lic awareness for successfully holding the election through media, and enhancing support of the people with aspiration to experiencing democracy to hold the election successfully.

The Senior General em­phasized that groups and in­dividuals who do not desire national peace, stability, and development may attempt to sabotage the success of the election and carry out attacks. They may also engage in cov­ert attacks through means such as drugs and online gam­bling, potentially undermining national and regional security. While efforts to combat drug trafficking are already being emphasized, it is necessary to intensify and conduct these operations more effectively.

He stressed the need to carefully handle drug eradica­tion, combatting telecom fraud and illegal trade eradication.

Also present at the meet­ing were Vice-Chairman of the Commission Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Commission members Prime Minister U Nyo Saw and Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dwe, Commis­sion Secretary Joint Execu­tive Chief General Ye Win Oo, Commission members Gener­al Maung Maung Aye, Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Than Swe, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and General Kyaw Swa Lin. — MNA/TTA