Myanmar army chief vows to uphold democratic transition

Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of the Myanmar armed forces, salutes during a ceremony to mark the 71st Armed Forces Day in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw on March 27, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / AUNG HTET

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Myanmar’s powerful army chief vowed Sunday to keep the nation “on the path to democracy”, days before Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government takes office after decades of army rule.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made the remarks at an annual display of military might by Myanmar’s armed forces, a body that long crushed democratic aspirations with an iron fist but has since stewarded the country through a remarkable transition.