Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers speech to officers, other ranks, families of Myitkyina Station
NAY PYI TAW December 13
Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, the wife of the Senior General, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Ko Ko Maung and responsible officers, delivered a speech to officers and other ranks and families of the Northern Command at the Balaminhtin Hall this morning.
Historical trends and political developments of the country
In his speech, the Senior General pointed out that it can be seen that reviewing the history, the country was annexed by the British, who adopted the divide-and-rule policy between the mainland and mountain states, and caused ignited ethnic conflicts. Since then, a concept that ethnic states were separate territories of the national races apart from the mainland, which has jeopardized the union until now. Although this year coincided with the diamond jubilee of the union and is heading to the diamond jubilee independence day in the upcoming year, it can be seen that armed conflicts are still erupting and peace cannot be restored fully.
Officers, other ranks and families are required to understand the history correctly. In retrospect to the history, it can be seen that the parliamentary democracy system was adopted after independence was regained in 1948. There was rivalry between socialism and capitalism and differences of opinion. The communist party took up armed struggle in March, 1948, followed by the emergence of ethnic armed organizations like the KNDO. In about 1950, as the Kummington invaded the country, the Tatmadaw had to ward off them. Moreover, there emerged ethnic conflicts caused by the divide-and-rule policy of the colonialists and internal party conflicts and Myanmar became a country with the highest number of armed organizations in the world. The Tatmadaw had to struggle for the non-disintegration of the union resided by all ethnic national races in the entire country.
Tatmadaw had to struggle for non-disintegration and stability of the union
Following the political issues, armed conflicts and internal party differences, the caretaker government took office in 1958. From 1962 to 1988, the country was ruled by the Burma Socialist Programme Party. The government founded the party by cooperating with politicians and the people who supported socialism and implemented the system until 1988. There were many advantages and disadvantages in socialism. Due to weaknesses of socialism and management, the economy of the country was in downturn, leading to the 1988 disturbances.
During the disturbances, the sovereignty of the country was almost lost and the functions of the then existing government came to a halt in September, 1988. As a result, the Tatmadaw had to intervene in the situation and assumed state power.
Since 1988, the Tatmadaw government paved the way for the mulit-party democracy in accordance with the will of the people. It was found that the people was desirous of the multiparty democracy systemdue to the dislike of the oneparty system and the economic downturn. Therefore, the Tatmadaw had to take measures to draft a constitution that was compatible with the multi-party democracy system. The national convention, which was made up of groups from all walks of life of the national race peoples, debated the provisions of the constitution contentiously, which was approved by the nationwide referendum in 2008.
After the first democratic election, the democratic government led by U Thein Sein took office and the Tatmadaw made concerted efforts with the government. After the second democratic elections in 2015, a new government that won the elections took office. It can be seen that the economy fell down due to management weaknesses of the new government. The nation’s economy declined more due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreaks. Politically dishonest acts were seen in political, economic and social sectors. Voter frauds were seen after the then ruling party acted in dishonest ways to win votes in the 2020 Multi-party Democracy General Election. Despite the Tatmadaw’s request to solve differences in ballots, there was not any act to respond to the request but an attempt to summon the Hluttaw. That is why the Tatmadaw took responsibilities of the State in accordance with the Constitution. The Tatmadaw has been acting to strengthen the nation’s path to a multi-party democracy system and will never go against that path. Therefore, measures for ensuring stability and peace of the nation are being taken in accordance with the law.
Boosting defence capabilities of the nation with integrated unity
Disintegration of solidarity of the nation has been witnessed upon such vote frauds. If people are divided over attitude, there will be less unity and disintegration. It is necessary to learn such a lesson. It will be seen if the citizens are divided ideologically and their solidarity is disintegrated, the nation’s strength will be less. It is needed to have unity even in a family so that the family could have strength of unity and could ensure security and improvement of socio-economic life. It is required for the officers, other ranks and their families to be united. As there is a lot of impact in the strength of unity, all need to stay united. To do so, it is necessary to have good, correct leadership and cohesive and fair administration as well. If a household head leads a family, there is no way to disintegrate the family. In the Tatmadaw, it is necessary to have cohesive and fair administration forms and to perform administration and give command with a sense of understanding man’s nature.
If the entire Tatmadaw is united at different levels, no one could encroach on the Tatmadaw.Only if the Tatmadaw is strong, will the nation be strong. Only if unity is built in the Tatmadaw unshakably, will the perpetuation of the nation be assured. The Tatmadaw has been safeguarding Our Three Main National Causes in successive eras hand in hand with the people. The Tatmadaw will always be the guardian to the nation in any era or any time of a government. Only if the Tatmadaw’s defence capabilities are high, will it be as a guardian to the nation. Therefore, individual capability of a serviceman and capability of weapons are being built to be higher. Strength of unity and integrated unity strength must be built as well. It is a similar way for the nation too. As there are divisions on the fronts of political and ethnic affairs, it is making efforts with two goals to ensure strength of unity and integration. The two goals are to strengthen the multi-party democracy system and build a Union based on democracy and federalism. Upon those goals, we have to endeavor to ensure the unity of the nation. As it is compulsory for the nation to have the correct strength of unity and integration, I have widely talked about the history of the situation the nation passed through to learn a necessary lesson.
Besides, as today is an age of technology, it should not be left behind. It is necessary for all to study for the improvement of one’s knowledge and to help promote his or her children’s education and knowledge. Only if knowledge is high will the democracy system and the nation’s future be assured. Foodstuff and cash bonus presented
Then, the Senior General presented foodstuff and cash bonus to the officers, other ranks and families through the command commander, wife of the Senior General cash bonus for the station’s maternal welfare and child welfare association through the wife of the command commander.
Later, the command commander briefed the Senior General and party on construction tasks of the Tamadaw in the command’s area and state of the measures being taken for security, domination of military jurisdictional area and rule of law.
The Senior General gave necessary instructions on stability and peace of the region, rule of law and unity in the command.