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The War Office in Napyidaw has issued a directive for state-controlled media not to describe the Burmese government as a “Tatmadaw government,” according to military sources.
Tatmadaw, in Burmese, means “military.”
A high ranking officer said that on April 26, state-owned media such as newspapers, radio, television run by the Defense Ministry and Information Ministry were given instructions not to use the term.
“This instruction is aimed at the government led by PM Thein Sein,” said the officer. “Many high-ranking army officer have already resigned from their army positions in order to set up a political party and to become candidates in the upcoming election. In that case, if you continue to use the term 'Tatmadaw government,' it won’t be relevant. So, the media must use the term 'government of the union of Burma.'”
The instruction was issued after the resignation of selected army officers who will join a state-backed political party to stand as candidates for seats in parliament, said the officer.
The term “Tatmadaw government” has been widely used in regime-controlled media after the military coup since 1988.
According to an army veteran, after April 26, there are no army officers in the structure of the current government and the military government has been transformed into a civilian government.
“If you use the term tatmadaw government, it won’t be relevant with the current government. So you are not allowed to use the term,” he said.
Under the current government, there are 38 ministries. In the cabinet, there are 39 ministers and 39 deputy ministers.
It was reported last week that Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein and other key members of the ruling junta have registered a political party to contest the upcoming general election.
Thein Sein and 26 other leaders had registered the party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), at the Union Election Commission in April.
The War Office in Napyidaw has issued a directive for state-controlled media not to describe the Burmese government as a “Tatmadaw government,” according to military sources.
Tatmadaw, in Burmese, means “military.”
A high ranking officer said that on April 26, state-owned media such as newspapers, radio, television run by the Defense Ministry and Information Ministry were given instructions not to use the term.
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| Burmese soldiers sit alert in a car escorting Snr-Gen Than Shwe from a military parade marking the country's 65th Armed Forces Day at a parade ground in Naypyidaw on March 27. (Photo: Getty Images) |
The instruction was issued after the resignation of selected army officers who will join a state-backed political party to stand as candidates for seats in parliament, said the officer.
The term “Tatmadaw government” has been widely used in regime-controlled media after the military coup since 1988.
According to an army veteran, after April 26, there are no army officers in the structure of the current government and the military government has been transformed into a civilian government.
“If you use the term tatmadaw government, it won’t be relevant with the current government. So you are not allowed to use the term,” he said.
Under the current government, there are 38 ministries. In the cabinet, there are 39 ministers and 39 deputy ministers.
It was reported last week that Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein and other key members of the ruling junta have registered a political party to contest the upcoming general election.
Thein Sein and 26 other leaders had registered the party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), at the Union Election Commission in April.
