Strengthen national solidarity through the cultivation of patriotic spirit and Union Spirit Shape a peaceful, modern, developed, discipline-flourishing democratic nation

YANGON, 12 Feb—The following is a translation of the message sent by Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, on the occasion of the 58th Anniversary Union Day, 2005, of the Union of Myanmar:

On this auspicious occasion of the 58th Anniversary of Union Day, which gave birth to the Union of Myanmar, I would like to extend my sincere wish to all the national brethren residing in the Union to be in peace of mind and body.

A tribe that had been in existence for millions of years in the land now known as the Union of Myanmar diversified into over 100 national races such as the Kachin, the Kayah, the Kayin, the Chin, the Bamar, the Mon, the Rakhine, and the Shan. It is a national prestige to be proud of that these national races have amalgamated into a people called “Myanmar” and evolved throughout the consecutive periods of history.

Our national races have lived as a nuclear family, going through all the adversity and prosperity. With these fine traditions and high cultural standards, they consolidated themselves as a people in the simple and single term ‘Myanmar’.

Throughout the course of Myanma history, Union-born ethnic groups have stood in solidarity and crushed all the outside threats posed to the nation. The country thus came into being as a sovereign nation assuming the name “the Union of Myanmar”.

A glance at the long and firm historical course of Myanmar reveals clearly that nationalistic fervour, Union Spirit and anti-colonialist sentiment that does not allow alien intrusion whatsoever are the national strengths that safeguard our Union so that it will be able to stand tall and grand amid the international community.

It is necessary for the entire national people to remain vigilant with nationalistic awareness that the old and new colonialists alike bent on occupying or holding sway over our Union have hatched wicked schemes to weaken our national solidarity, which is the foundation of the Union, and attempted and are still attempting to dissolve the national strength.

It is an unforgettable lesson of history that Myanmar, which had lived under its own monarchs for years countable by the thousand, fell into servitude for over 100 years as a direct consequence of collapsed national unity triggered by unscrupulous colonialists.

The colonialists broke up the Union into pieces and imposed the divide-and-rule policy designed to drive a wedge among the national brethren, cause development gap between one region and the other, and plant the seeds of distrust and dissension. The spark of post-independence armed conflicts lasted over 40 years and there occurred three situations when the Union was pushed to the brink of collapse. The ill legacies left by the colonialists persist and, they are being addressed up to this day.

It was on 12 February that Panglong Conference and Panglong Agreement emerged in that the entire national people showed their unity, and they were unperturbed in facing the impact of discriminatory practices adopted by the colonialists. Therefore, the day is held in high esteem and designated as Union Day, for it is also the day on which the Union of Myanmar was conceived. The Union Day therefore is very profound and replete with nationalistic fervour. So significant as well as magnificent is the day that all the national brethren are responsible to refresh their memory.

Drawing lessons from history, the State Peace and Development Council laid down a national policy — non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty. In accordance with this policy, strenuous efforts are being made to transform the country into a peaceful, modern and developed nation and to ensure that the country exists as long as the world does.

Nowadays, national unity has been consolidated at the end of armed conflicts. Further, it is crystal clear that the stability and prosperity reigning across the country including border areas have marked a quantum leap in the development of political, economic and social infrastructures.

In line with the seven-point Road Map that will pave the way for the establishment of a peaceful, modern, developed, discipline-flourishing democratic nation as desired by the entire people, the National Convention, which is the most vital and the very first phase of the Road Map, has been in progress.

At the same time, the government and people in tandem have committed themselves unswervingly to the successful implementation of the State’s economic objectives aimed at enabling the Union of Myanmar to keep pace with the world nations in terms of modernization.

At such an opportune time, it is necessary to make efforts to further cement nationalistic fervour and Union Spirit, which are the foundation of the Union as well as national strength.

All the national people are to come together hand in hand to ward off their dissension, instigation and inducement, which are the deliberate attempts of the neo-colonialists who have every intention of disintegrating the Union by weakening it. The onus is therefore on the national people to ensure the perpetual existence of the country the same as that of the world and to enable the motherland to stand tall in the global society, while upholding the fine tradition of the significant day, Union Day.

All in all, the entire mass of national people are to make harmonious efforts in all seriousness to further strengthen the national solidarity through the cultivation of patriotic spirit and Union Spirit in themselves and to shape a peaceful, modern, developed, discipline-flourishing democratic nation by realizing successfully the 58th Anniversary Union Day Objectives, which are as follows:

— For all national races, to safeguard the national policy— non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty;

— To keep the Union Spirit ever alive and dynamic among the national people;

— For all national people, to defend and safeguard the Union for its perpetual existence;

— To prevent, through national solidarity, the danger of internal and external destructive elements undermining the peace and stability of the State, and national development; and

— For all national races, to make concerted efforts for successful implementation of the seven-point future policy programme.

ource: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Union Flag arrives in Kyimyindine Township from Thanlyin Township

YANGON, 11 Feb — The Union Flag that spent overnight at Thihadipa Sports Ground in Thanlyin was conveyed from Thanlyin Township of Yangon South District to Kyimyindine Township of Yangon West District this morning.

Chairman of Yangon West District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Kyaw Tint planted the Union Flag in the silver bowl on the dais in Salin Sports Ground in Kyimyindine Township at 8.45 am.

Before conveying the Union Flag from Thihadipa Sports Ground in Thanlyin, the people together with the Guard of Honour of Yangon Command saluted the Union Flag. The Military Band of Defence Services (Navy) played the national anthem.

Chairman of Yangon South District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aung Pyay took out the flag from the silver bowl and carried it flanked by Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and Police officers and national people. He handed over the flag to Chairman of Yangon West District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Kyaw Tint.

Lt-Col Kyaw Tint conveyed the flag and planted it in the silver bowl on board the Union Boat. He handed it over to flag relay teams at the archway on Nanattaw Road in Kamayut Township.

At the designated place at Salin Ground, Lt-Col Kyaw Tint carried the flag flanked by Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and Police officers and national people to the dais and planted the flag in the silver bowl. The people saluted the Union Flag together with the Guard of Honour of Yangon Command. The Military Band of Defence Services (Air) played the national anthem.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/

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