[MM] Reconstruction

[Moira]

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In 1991, almost thirty years after General Ne Win overthrew the federalist Union of Burma and set the country on the path to socialism, a new constitution for the fledgling People's Republic of the Union of Myanmar was written. Enshrined in this new constitution was a Chinese-style legislature, protection of ethnic minority groups such as the Rohingya, and the establishment of a secular state. It has been four years since the ratification of the new constitution and the young people's republic has taken a bold new stance to throw off the vestiges of military rule. Today Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced a policy of reform and plans to initiate a purge of senior military officers who would not pledge to be governed by the People's Assembly.

A similar reform is underway among the rank-and-file of the Tatmadaw. With the formal dismantlement of the military's political power in 1991, many members of the military have expressed support for the opposition National Unity Bloc (NU). Although still a minority in the legislature, tensions remain high between the Social Democratic NLD and the Nationalist NU. Retraining of the whole armed forces in underway to instill discipline in the Tatmadaw and ensure that its soldiers will follow the orders of its officers - all of whom are now sworn to serve the nation at the behest of the People's Assembly. For now, Hlaing's reforms hold the peace.