In my school days, I read a remark made by a leader that during the period of anti-colonialist struggles and national liberation movements, he was worried about the future of Myanmar every day; and that he often wept in bed at night, visualizing what the future of the Myanmar’s political affairs would be like. However, I did not understand well what he meant then. Now, I have realized that he urged the people to carry out party politics and national politics separately.

I also learnt that when military operations were being launched with tenacity to repulse internal and external attacks so that Myanmar would not lose sovereignty and independence, a leader said, “I wish Myanmar were an island nation in a sea or an ocean”. At that time, I did not know well what he meant. Now, I understand well that he highlighted the strategic location of Myanmar.

It is time we, people, realized that the words of these two leaders reflect the Myanmar’s political affairs. The people should be capable enough of choosing and marching on the most appropriate path in the interests of the nation, taking into consideration the nation’s strategic location, national politics, and party politics.

According to the globalization process, it is said that the world is flat. It means that due to the advancement of Information Technology, the information communication covers every part of the world, and everyone in the world has access to the benefits of IT. In other words, the world is now like the plain owing to the IT.

The world, home to more than 6000 million people, consists of more than 190 countries. According to the concept “The world is flat”, it is questionable whether each of the over 190 countries has equal access to the political, economic and social affairs, whether each of the over 6000 million people has equal access to the political, economic and social benefits.

The correct answer is that stemming from the power imbalance in the world, many countries are subject to evil consequences of hegemony. Some nations are repulsing hegemony. Meanwhile, nearly more than half of the world population live below the poverty line. Efforts are being made under the leadership of the United Nations to alleviate poverty. (It is perceived that this assumption is the same, that of every international political watchdog.)

Therefore, it is badly required of every citizen actively participating in the Myanmar politics to cooperate with the government with correct national outlook in order to avert a situation in which the result comes out against the expectation. Considering the nation’s strategic location, the people are to try their utmost to be able to withstand all forms of outside interferences so that the nation will not become a minion one. And according to the national politics, it is needed to build a firmly consolidated nation.

Now, Myanmar’s population is over 56 million only, but the number of national races is more than 100. Myanmar’s geographical features can be categorized into two kinds—hilly regions and plains. In the post-independence period, the number of armed insurgent groups was so many in Myanmar that the world branded these groups multi-coloured insurgent groups.

Since late 1988, the Tatamadaw government has striven for national reconsolidation, and as a result 18 major national race armed groups and many small armed groups have returned to the legal fold. They are now working hard hand in hand with the government to restore peace. That is, in fact, a breakthrough in the nation’s political sector.

In a bid to seek better ways through coordination to improve Myanmar’s political affairs, it is required to give up outdated ideas of viewing things with Yangon or Mandalay in the centre. Only when the affairs of national races living in far-flung and border areas are taken into consideration in discussing or seeking ways and means to address issues on Myanmar’s democratic process and human rights, will it be possible to serve the interests of the entire people.

Although it is said that the world has become flat due to the process of globalization, there are still a big gap between rich and poor. In Myanmar also, there were disunity and conflicts among political parties due to their malpractices of party politics. Consequently, the nation lagged behind in development in various sectors. All are to be well aware that among the regions that lagged behind in development, border areas and rural areas lagged behind much more than such cities as Yangon and Mandalay.

It means that many global countries are still different in all aspects although the world is said to have become flat. So also, plains and hilly regions of the nation are still different in terms of development. Therefore, it is found that the government is taking necessary steps in all sectors to bring about equitable development across the nation including rural regions.

Nowadays, fundamental principles and detailed basic principles have been laid down for the writing of the new State constitution after holding the National Convention in the process of transition to democracy. And work is well under way for the drafting of an enduring State constitution. All are to be convinced of the fact that the forthcoming constitution is designed to serve the interest of the State and the people under the nation’s prevailing situations.

Likewise, the Tatmadaw government is building a large number of economic and social infrastructures at every opportunity for the soon-to-emerge civilian government in order that the latter can build a peaceful, modern, developed and discipline-flourishing democratic nation without any difficulty.

At present, a string of roads and bridges have been built the length and breadth of the nation for better transport. There are also many roads and bridges under construction. For development of the agricultural sector a cluster of dams and reservoirs were built and some are under construction in line with geographical condition.

For development of the industrial sector a large number of industrial zones and special economic zones sprang up throughout the nation. For improvement of the living standard of the people a spate of hydroelectric power projects are being implemented.

In the health sector, hospitals and dispensaries have been opened across the nation including border areas for better health care services. Previously, people had to rely on hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay in receiving medical treatment. At present, they are in a position to receive medical treatment at hospitals in most major cities of the states and divisions.

In the education sector, extended opening of basic education schools was carried out throughout the country for rural people to be able to enjoy equal opportunity in their pursuit of education. In the past, people of different regions had to go to Yangon and Mandalay for studying technology and computer science. Now, they are able to pursue subjects of their choice at higher learning institutions in the 24 special development zones.

In the past, rural people were unable to enjoy economic and social opportunity on equal terms due to poor transport in their regions. At present, with the emergence of new roads and bridges they are able to enjoy the fruits of development in various sectors. As the government strove for narrowing the gap between the plains and hilly regions there have emerged a large number of qualified human resources capable of serving the national interest. All should rejoice at the achievements of the government.

Otherwise, if they are dissatisfied with and jealous of the achievements of the government and are deceived by lackeys of neocolonialists who are practising hegemony, it is sure that they will be unable to overcome the situation like 40 years ago. With dissension and discord sown by colonialists they will constantly be in a sea of troubles.

Therefore, the entire national people are to make concerted efforts in protecting the already achieved peace and stability, national development and success in the process of transition to democracy. Only then, will a peaceful, modern and developed nation aspired by the people emerge.