Former military commander-in-chief and patron of the National League for Democracy, U Tin Oo, has criticised moves by the Obama administration for the US military to develop ties with the Tatmadaw.
Senior Obama administration officials are reported to have sought backing from Congress for non-lethal support for the Tatmadaw, such as training on human rights.
The move has faced strong bipartisan opposition in the Congress because of concerns over the Tatmadaw’s human rights record and its ties with North Korea, reports from Washington said.
U Tin Oo said on December 5 that he was opposed to the United States providing military support to the Tatmadaw.
“I oppose the military support but I welcome human rights training for the Tatmadaw and more humanitarian support to Myanmar,” he said.
Opposition from the US Congress to the move has been welcomed by the joint secretary of the New Kayin State Party, Colonel Saw Lwin.
“The American Congress was right,” he said.
