The ongoing National Convention is discussing and laying down detailed basic principles to be included in framing the State constitution.

Those basic principles also include the ones regarding the State objectives. They are: (1) Nondisintegration of the Union; (2) Non-disintegration of national solidarity; (3) Perpetuation of sovereignty; (4) Flourishing of genuine multi-party democracy system; (5) Further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldly values namely justice, liberty and equality in the State; and (6) For the Tatmadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the State.

It is learnt that internal and external anti-government groups are opposing and decrying the last objective— For the Tatmadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the State. They are levelling accusations saying that the Tatmadaw’s participation in national political leadership role of the State is not a democratic way from the general point of view.

The Tatmadaw was formed by patriotic politicians in accord with a national political objective of liberation of subjugation. It was chronicled that the Tatmadaw was conceived of national politics as it was formed with national politicians who became members of the Tatmadaw.

There had been various wicked schemes to break up the Tatmadaw. There were those who wanted continued colonial rule in our country, lackeys of colonialists and national traitors. They had a strong dislike to the united strength of the Tatmadaw and the people.

They also made attempts to install pocket army troops and to abolish the Tatmadaw that stood up for the people when the country’s political parties split in the period of parliamentary democracy in 1958 and replace it with the former.

Being jealous of the Tatmadaw striving in all aspects for the country’s transition into a peaceful, modern and developed democratic one, those relying on external elements with negative views are attempting to break up or weaken the strength of the Tatmadaw with intent to grab the State power with the belief that they will realize their aim only if the Tatmadaw breaks up.

In the time of multi-party democracy, governments may hold different isms but the Tatmadaw cannot do so. The Tatmadaw and the people must be in unison. The Tatmadaw is to cooperate with every government that comes to power. Victories resulting from the united strength of the government, the people and the Tatmadaw must be passed on up to the future.

The State, the people and the Tatmadaw had to struggle for independence. Likewise, they, while safeguarding the independence and sovereignty, had to face the four periods of crisis in which the Union was on the edge of collapse.

The first crisis happened when internal multi-coloured armed insurgency broke out in the nation in 1948-49.

Due to the multi-coloured armed insurgency and various isms that emerged from the colonialists’ sowing of discord among national brethren, the newly independent nation was on the verge of break-up and was reduced to be called Yangon government. Meanwhile, the country had to repulse against the aggression of nationalist Chinese (KMT).

The second crisis occurred when there were splits between political parties in 1958. A huge conflict occurred in the then ruling political party which nearly put the nation in danger. Some politicians attempted to rise against the government after arming their pocket army troops. Some colluded with underground insurgents. The splits between political parties caused commotion among the public as well. So, the Tatmadaw had to handle the situation and safeguard the State as Caretaker Government in order not to cause the disintegration of the Union and bloodshed.

The third crisis cropped up in 1962. Some with narrow-minded racial outlook tried to secede from the Union by taking advantage of the weaknesses of the 1947 Constitution drawn before independence. The then government and the party in power was no longer in a position to save the Union from the danger of disintegration. This time also, it was the Tatmadaw that rose to the occasion.

The fourth crisis was in 1988. Due to various kinds of instigation by destructive elements aboveground and underground and within and without the nation, the entire administrative machinery came to a halt and the whole nation was in chaos. Sovereignty was about to be lost. This forced the Tatmadaw to take the responsibilities of the State.

National politics is the main factor that brings about long-term interest of the country. The Tatmadaw is marching with national politics, not party politics. It is certain that every person who wants national interest will be pleased with this.

If we observe the instigation among the people saying that Tatmadaw member delegates in the legislative bodies of the future State is not democratic thoroughly, we can see that the Tatmadaw’s participation is democratic. I’ll explain to you why it is democratic. As you know. The Pyithu Hluttaw consists of 330 elected delegates and 110 Tatmadaw member delegates. The Amyotha Hluttaw will consist of 168 elected delegates and 56 Tatmadaw member delegates. Similarly, Region Hluttaw and State Hluttaw will also include elected delegates and the Tatmadaw member delegates who constitute one-third of the elected members. One fourth of the total members of the leading bodies of self-administered division and zone are Tatmadaw member delegates.

In this case, what kind of yardstick they use to measure the fact that participation of the Tatmadaw is not democratic? That something is democratic or not must be measured with the use of the yardstick whether it affects the essence of democracy or not. Every bill submitted to the Hluttaws at different levels must be approved in accord with the majority of the vote. Participation of the Tatmadaw members does not affect the essence of democracy and there is full democracy essence.

According to the democratic practice, 110 Tatmadaw member delegates cannot dominate the 330 elected delegates in the Pyithu Hluttaw and 56 Tatmadaw member delegates cannot dominate the 168 elected delegates in the Amyotha Hluttaw. The number of Tatmadaw member delegates is not dominant one but will only see to the check and balance.

So, Tatmadaw’s participation is found to be democratic practice as it is not detrimental to the essence of democracy. This will contribute to national interest and will prevent the recurrence of bitter experiences suffered in the Myanmar history. Hence, as for as I see, this is not only in accordance with democratic practice but also in consonance with the past and the present situations as it is fully endowed with the essence of democracy.

The Tatmadaw members have gained ample experience since they shouldered the political, economic and social duties in addition to military duty in successive eras according to the demand of the nation. Those experiences are human resources of the nation. And they are to be used for national interests.

Only when all the human resources are fully utilized will the nation develop with added momentum. For all the national people to be able to serve the national interest with might and main with full essence of democracy, the Tatmadaw will have to participate in it. Everyone with nationalist spirit will be in favour of it.

Not only our country but most of the global nations are appointing and assigning duties to Hluttaw representatives in the interest of own nations according to the prevailing situation of their own instead of electing them at the Hluttaw levels.

There are about 30 nations that have appointed and assigned duties to non-elective members at the respective Hluttaws to be able to serve the interest of own nations according to the prevailing situations in the respective nations.

They are Algeria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, India, Chile, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Morocco, Neapl, Romania, Spain, Sudan, Uganda, Tonga, UAE, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Britain, etc.

Looking at this situation, it is obvious that the global nations are serving the interest of their own to their utmost in conformity with the history and prevailing conditions there and democracy.

Certainly. In Myanmar also, systematic steps are being taken democratically to serve the national interest to the most possible degree in line with the prevailing conditions of the nation.

Tatmadaw is the national force of fine tradition, that has always been serving the interest of the State and the people risking their lives, and it will be constantly at the service of the State and the people in the future also.