“The President is our Head of State. So we are ready to obey his order if he gives his order in accordance with the law,” Brig. Gen. Aung Kyaw Hoe said.

At a press conference on the achievements of government over a 2-year period, a reporter raised the question if the Tatmadaw would comply with the order given by the government as the previous government had once instructed the Tatmadaw to halt offensives against rebels in conflict zones to smoothen the ongoing peace talks.

Brig. Gen. Aung Kyaw Hoe said, “They attacked our battalion headquarters and units working in administrative work in areas that they are not supposed to be operating in. Moreover, they collected protection money on our National Highways, murdered people, launched offensives and attacked our troops. We have to respond accordingly if they attack government machinery otherwise this machinery will be badly paralysed and damaged.”

Brig. Gen. Aung Kyaw Hoe added that Tatmadaw opened the path for the NCA (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement) so that there was no reason for not achieving peace if they follow this path.

“They (rebels) don’t want to renounce the opportunities and rights given by armed insurrection. As long as they maintain these opportunities and rights by clinging to arms, there will be no chance of achieving peace in the country.”