By MPA

Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing called on the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) to lay down their arms and participate in party politics during a speech on Thursday marking the 80th anniversary of Anti-Fascist Revolution Day—renamed “Tatmadaw Day” by the military.

“The ethnic armed organizations and PDFs”—which he initially labeled as “terrorist PDFs”—“are invited to abandon armed violence and pursue political solutions through party politics and the electoral process,” he said.

He stressed that political problems must be resolved through dialogue, insisting the path to peace talks remains open. He also stated that power would be handed over to the winning party in the junta-organized election.

However, Min Aung Hlaing did not address war crimes committed by military forces. Instead, he accused revolutionary groups of destroying towns and villages.

He also repeated the military’s justification for the 2021 coup, once again alleging widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

“The election was not free and fair, leading to dishonest political actions that harmed the multi-party democratic system,” he claimed.

He went on to accuse the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the 2020 vote, of acting unlawfully by attempting to convene parliament—actions he said forced the military to declare a state of emergency and assume state power.

Translator – Z