The 55th Anniversary Independence Day message of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe
 

Yangon, 4 Jan - The following is the message sent by State Peace and Development Council Chairman Defence Services Commander-in-Chief Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the 55th Anniversary of the Independence Day.

On this auspicious 55th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I greet all the national people of the State with love and respect. This year, the independence and sovereignty of the Union of Myanmar, restored after sacrificing many lives, blood and sweat of the national people has ushered in the 55th anniversary.

The anti-colonialist struggles and the national independence struggles the people had daringly launched in unity at the risk of their lives and with courage and firm Union Spirit and patriotism have always been prominent. The ever shining victories of the heroes of Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine, Shan and other national races of the Union have already been recorded in the Myanmar history. So also in our time, the Tatmadaw members, who are the good sons of the national people, and all the people of the Union including service personnel have safeguarded the independence at the risk of their lives. They should be honoured and documented for their oneness, discharge of duties based on the strength of unity and dutifulness. The Union of Myanmar is a nation that has existed as an independent and sovereign one under her own monarch and culture and sovereignty for a long period countable by years in the thousand. As Myanmar is an independent and sovereign nation, the State Peace and Development Council is striving for the Union of Myanmar to be a modern and developed nation on self-reliance to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world nations, using the national strength as the driving force to reach the goal. Hence, the working guidelines have been laid down in every sector to practise thrifty methods, minimize waste and boost production for the development and modernization of the nation.

Smooth and secure transport is the core factor of the national development and modernization drive. Likewise, the increased production in the agriculture sector, the main economy of the State, plays an eminent role.

The Government had implemented the first four-year short-term plan and the second five-year short-term plan for national economic development. It may be found that efforts have been made to exceed the targets of the respective plans.

Now, the nation is implementing the third five-year short-term plan. At a time when continuous endeavours are being made to develop and modernize all the sectors of Myanmar which is a developing country, frugality is essential. Thus, every government department has been practising thrifty measures to save fuel and electricity. Here, I would like to urge the people to efficiently use fuel and electricity with love for the State, to see that there is all-round development of the nation which will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with other nations of the world.

Myanmar has designated rice, beans and pulses, sugarcane and cotton as the four main crops of the nation. Because of the Government's endeavours to systematically promote the agriculture sector, Myanmar today is among the top ten nations in terms of rice cultivation and production. In addition, Myanmar has become a leading beans and pulses producer and exporter in Southeast Asia. All are urged to strive for greater yield of cotton and sugarcane.

We are now trying to realize the objectives food production to exceed the local consumption; to export the surplus rice of the nation as a means to help fulfil the regional and global food needs; to ensure edible oil sufficiency; and to boost beans and pulses production for export, and increase the industrial crops output. In addition, the Government has encouraged extended cultivation of coffee, tea, pepper and rubber that can earn foreign exchange.

The growing sector of agriculture is now contributing up to 48 per cent to the GDP, and 18.3 per cent to the exports.

As extended land use is under way at present, total sown acreage of the nation has reached 25 million acres out of the 45 million acres of cultivable land in the whole country. Further efforts are to be made for increased commodity production. The Union of Myanmar has adopted the independent and active foreign policy. It has been strictly adhering to the five principles of Peaceful Co-Existence laid down at the Bandaung Conference in 1955. Till now, the nation is practising the five principles which were laid down unanimously.

In accord with the principles, the Union of Myanmar has been always trying to live in amity with all other countries around the world. Especially, the nation is extending relations with her neighbours in line with the Myanmar saying which goes "Enhance amity, diminish enmity". In addition, Union Spirit has been nurtured to safeguard the Union against disintegration. Union Spirit is based on patriotism. Patriotism means the strong spirit to safeguard the race, respect and cherish own traditions and culture, protect the national interests, and never tolerate insults on the national character and integrity. The new generations have the duty to preserve the patriotism.

With the firm determination of ensuring the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation, that is the national goal, we have laid down the following four objectives of the 55th Anniversary Independence Day:
(a) All the national people to collectively safeguard the national independence and ensure perpetuation of sovereignty;
(b) All the national people to collectively strive for the building of a new, modern and developed nation;
(c) All the national people to be united to ensure non-disintegration of the Union and non-disintegration of national solidarity; (d) All the national people to strive for emergence of an enduring State Constitution.

And on this auspicious Independence Day, I, with love and respect, would like to urge the entire people of the Union to realize the four objectives with Union Spirit, the national spirit, the fraternal spirit, the force of oneness and the dignity and while exerting all-out efforts.