New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) The military regime in Myanmar has said it would not change the country's foreign policy and would maintain friendly relations with all.
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, in a televised address, said that during the one-year state of emergency there would be no change in foreign, executive and economic policies and Myanmar will continue its current political path.
He also sought foreign investment and said arrangements are being made to help the businesses which were affected by COVID-19.
The commander-in-chief statement came amid people took to the street to protest the ouster of the civilian government.
Reports from Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar's two biggest cities, on Tuesday said the protesters are demanding that power be restored to the deposed civilian government and the nation's elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other ruling party members be freed from detention.
Min Aung Hlaing, in his capacity as chairperson of the State Administration Council, reiterated a five-point roadmap to be implemented during the state of emergency.
Under the roadmap, the Union Election Commission, which was recently reformed, has been reviewing the electoral process of last year's general elections, he said.
"I will be implementing and protecting the multiparty democratic system. I can ensure that a government with a clean and good governance administrative system will emerge," Min Aung Hlaing said in his televised address.
The council's chairperson stressed plans to achieve eternal peace across the country in accordance with a nationwide ceasefire agreement and called for cooperation of the ethnic people and ethnic armed organisations to achieve the lasting peace.
The council will hold free and fair general elections and the power of the state will be handed over to the political party which wins the elections in line with democracy standards after tasks were accomplished under the state of emergency, he said.
The military took power and declared the state of emergency after detaining President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.
The military had demanded the postponement of new parliamentary sessions, citing massive voting fraud in the November 2020 elections, which saw the National League for Democracy win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.
Myanmar's Union Election Commission had dismissed the allegation.
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