Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo said although two retired military personnel were questioned by police in connection with the assassination of U Ko Ni, the Tatmadaw was not involved in the crime.

He said this when asked if any organisation was behind the killing of the National League for Democracy legal adviser.

“Let us consider whether there is any controlling organisation behind the crime. It is natural. The police are investigating it. They are trying to expose the criminals. The Tatmadaw is helping them. However, we don’t have sound evidence for this crime,” said Gen Mya Tun Oo.

Former military men U Aung Zaw Win and U Lin Zaw Tun are among 73 suspects being investigated by police over the murder.

On U Lin Zaw Tun, who served in various positions in the military from advisor to colonel and who is now Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Mong Hpyak constituency, Gen Mya Tun Oo said, “We haven’t heard anything about him. If he is actually involved, he will have to be investigated.”

“Even if U Lin Zaw Tun is involved, the Tatmadaw is not involved in this crime. He has left the military,” he added.

“I would like to stress that there was no military involvement in this case,” he said.

The Tatmadaw is also providing technical assistance in the investigation and advice on addressing security weaknesses as well as the reinforcement of security forces, said Gen Mya Tun Oo.

On another matter, the military general said he hoped the peace process which is carried out by the present government led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be successful.

“The government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is pursuing peace through the Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong Conference. The train will keep going from station to station. So all will have to get involved.

“We hope that the peace process will be 100 percent successful and also hope that it will keep going,” he said.

Upon the transfer of power from the military regime to U Thein Sein’s government in 2011, peace talks were held among Myanmar’s armed ethnic groups and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed by eight of the 14 armed groups which participated in the talks. The present government is continuing the peace process.

“The train will keep going. Those who want peace will have to get on the train. The Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw [Senior General Min Aung Hlaing] is always open to peace. For this peace train to be all inclusive, it is the duty of all respective organisations to do their part,” he said.

– Translation by Zaw Nyunt and Zar Zar Soe