Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing criticizes ASEAN peace plan

Nearly four months after taking office, Myanmar's junta chief turned president Min Aung Hlaing criticized the regional ASEAN bloc's peace plan on Friday and outlined his government's priorities for the conflict-torn Southeast Asian nation.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 2021, when the military ousted an elected government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup triggered widespread protests that later grew into a prolonged civil war, killing about 100,000 people and displacing millions.

At the start of this year, the military organized a widely criticized election won by an army-backed party, allowing Min Aung Hlaing to transition into a civilian leadership role.

In a speech to parliament, Min Aung Hlaing highlighted his administration's plans and addressed key issues facing the country.

He rejected ASEAN's peace initiative, known as the "Five-Point Consensus," saying the 11-member bloc had discriminated against Myanmar.

"We have been patient. We will respond to non-constructive actions on a case-by-case basis," Min Aung Hlaing said, without naming any specific ASEAN member.

He said the government would hold by-elections in 2027 across 172 constituencies that were unable to participate in the December-January polls because of ongoing unrest.

Min Aung Hlaing also said his administration would strengthen the capacity of the military and police while continuing to enforce the country's conscription law.

The government has invited rebel groups to join peace talks without preconditions and has so far met with 13 ethnic armed organizations, he said.

He added that authorities were working to curb money laundering and arms smuggling linked to ethnic armed organizations, while also cracking down on drug trafficking and online scam operations.

The government is prioritizing infrastructure projects, including the 1,400-kilometer (870-mile) India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the 410-kilometer (254-mile) Mandalay-Muse railway project, which will connect to the border with China.

"The goal is to export goods to international markets in a short time at low cost," Min Aung Hlaing said.

He said the government is also working on 10 power generation projects, including the controversial Myitsone dam, and is pursuing plans to develop a nuclear power plant.

For the education sector, Min Aung Hlaing said the government plans to allocate 10% of the national budget in the next fiscal year and increase it to 15% by the 2028-2029 fiscal year.

His administration is also focusing on tourism and agriculture, including efforts to increase domestic cotton production through loans and technical support for farmers.

Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged that many young people aged 18 to 34 have been leaving Myanmar, affecting economic development. Reuters has previously reported that the military's conscription law is among the factors driving the exodus.

"I will take two years to build momentum for constructing a new nation," Min Aung Hlaing said. "I will also take three years to execute this build-up at full speed." -Reporting Reuters staff, Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by David Stanway/Reuters