Washington, Mar. 29 (ANI): Myanmar's army chief marked Armed Forces Day by saying the military will continue to play a political role during the country's transition to democracy.
The traditional show by the military this year put forward more of its hardware on display than in the past, including helicopter demonstrations and flyovers by fighter jets in the capital, Naypyitaw, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told the assembled troops that while the country was moving towards modern democracy, the military plays a leading role in national politics.
He added that they will keep on marching to strengthen the democratic administrative path wished by the people.
According to the report, after decades of harsh military dictatorship, Myanmar's armed forces in 2011 handed power to a former general, President Thein Sein, who began a series of political reforms at the head of a nominally civilian government composed largely of former military men.
But the shift was profound, and has included the release of political prisoners and the easing of censorship.
Myanmar's military, however, still exerts extraordinary influence in the country, which is also known as Burma, and General Min Aung Hlaing's comments suggest the army does not intend to see that influence quickly whittled down, the report said.
According to the report, the country's constitution reserves 25 percent of the seats in Parliament for the military, effectively giving it a veto over constitutional changes, which require a three-quarters majority in the legislature.
Last week, the army also has had to deploy troops to help police suppress sectarian riots between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims in central Myanmar that have killed at least 40 people and left mosques and homes in ashes, the report added. (ANI)
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