In accord with law, townselders from Bago Region organized ceremony to support the National Convention and the forthcoming constitution on 15 October at the sports ground in Bago, Bago Region.

Altogether 120,000 people including townselders and locals, members of social organizations and cultural troupes, entrepreneurs, industrialists, farmers, workers, departmental personnel, teachers, students and people from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

Before the ceremony, Bago column led by Joint Secretary U Win Khaing of Bago Township Union Solidarity and Development Association and Toungoo column led by Executive U Kyaw Zin Win of Bago Township USDA marched towards the sports ground and took their designated places.They shouted slogans such as non-disintegration of the Union-our cause, non disintegration of national solidarity-our cause, perpetuation of sovereignty- our cause”; “The seven-step road map- must succeed” holding placards that read “Oppose those who hinder national development and peace”, “We support the National Convention”, “We welcome the forthcoming constitution”, “We don’t accept neo-colonialism”, “Down with hegemonism”, “No need of internal and external destructive elements”, “No need of skyful liars VOA, BBC, RFA, DVB”, “We don’t accept unrest”, “Those who incite unrest, people’s enemy”, “We want stability” and “We want peace”.

Rector U Kyaw Ye Tun of Toungoo University presided over the mass rally together with Joint Secretary U Nyi Nyi Myint of Bago Region USDA, Member of Bago Region Women’s Affairs Organization Daw San San Myint, Joint Secretary Dr Tin Tin Win of Bago Region Maternal and Child Welfare Association, member of Bago Region War Veterans Organization Lt-Col Tin Myint (Retd), Townselders U Hla and U Khin Maung Htwe of Bago. Executive Daw Shwesin Myat Theint Kywe of Bago Township USDA and Executive Daw Theint Theint Khaing of Bago Township USDA acted as master of ceremonies and co-MC.First, those present saluted the State Flag.

In his address Chairman Rector U Kyaw Ye Tun said: For the emergence of constitution, the National Convention was convened on 9 January 1993 with six objectives. But, it was temporarily adjourned in 1996 as NLD walked out the National Convention.

After announcing the seven-step Road Map, the National Convention was reconvened and it was completed successfully.

Altogether 1071 delegates to the National Convention held discussions in the interest of the Union and thus positive results have been achieved.

Under the 1947 constitution, the nation had only four states—Kachin, Kayah, Kayinni and Shan. Under the 1974 constitution, three more states — Chin, Mon and Rakhine—were formed. And under this State Constitution, apart from seven states and seven regions, the nation will be constituted with one self-administered region for Wa national race and five self-administered zones for Naga, Danu, Pa- O, Palaung and Kokang national races.

This constitution vests national races with better rights on the basis of the prevailing conditions of the nation.

Based on fundamental principles and detailed basic principles, constitution (draft) will be drawn and referendum will be held.

Ignoring own business and social affairs, delegates with Union Spirit tried to complete the National Convention.

Myanmar is home to various national races and has a long history and thus stability and prosperity are very important for her. Misunderstanding among national brethren led the country into instability and as a consequence, the country lagged behind in development. Now, the government has been able to build national reconsolidation and priority has been given to development of all parts of the country.

As peace has been made with national race armed groups and 17 armed groups and various small groups have returned to the legal fold and they are now serving the interests of the people.

Defence capability, economic might and organizing strength are essential for perpetuation of the Union.

Only when there are peace and prosperity, will there be discipline-flourishing democracy and vice versa.

The opposite of democracy is disturbing the State and its people and doing as one wishes to grab power. Democracy should be practised through sincerity.

It is known to all that neo-colonialists are trying to bully small countries. Under the guise of democracy and human rights, they incite unrest in the target country.

Economic sanctions were imposed to put the people into dire poverty and these sanctions caused only negative effects. People are to strive together with the government for stability of the State and national development.

In conclusion, I would like to urge the people to support the National Convention and actively participate in endeavours for emergence of constitution.

Secretary of Bago District USDA U Aung Soe tabled a motion calling for support of the National Convention and forthcoming constitution and denouncing external and internal destructive elements who undermine peace and stability and foreign broadcasting stations reporting skyful of lies.

The completed National Convention is a genuine one representing various organizations and delegates from over 100 national races, officials of political parties and the groups that returned to the legal fold.

When we study the fundamental principles laid down, there are based on national policy of Our Three Main National Causes. The principles differ from those of the 1947 and 1974 constitutions and the people can enjoy more opportunities.

Now internal and external destructive elements create instability and unrest in the country and they provide cash and other supplies to above and underground destructive elements.

Moreover, foreign broadcasting stations like BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB air lies. Fabricated broadcasts undermine peace and stability and harm the national political trend.

Majority of the people favour stability and prevalence of law and order and they do not favour violence like 1988 disturbances. What the people desire is to establish a modern discipline-flourishing democratic nation. There are better foundations in agriculture, livestock breeding, greening and transport.

with the exploitation of rich natural resources, all the people are to be united in establishing the democratic nation.

Therefore, I table the motion calling for support of the National Convention and forthcoming constitution and denouncing external and internal destructive elements who undermine peace and stability and foreign broadcasting stations reporting skyful of lies.

Next, member of Bago Region Women’s Affairs Organization seconded the motion.

Fundamental principles and detailed basic principles are better than those of the 1947 and 1974 constitutions. The fundamental principles are based on the prevailing conditions and rights of the national races are specially prescribed.

Myanmar constitutes over 100 national races and the constitution is essential. The people are waiting for approval of new constitution. I seriously second the motion.

Member of Bago Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association Dr Daw Ni Ni Kyaw said that it is required of the people to be able to distinguish between good and bad in a bid to build discipline-flourishing democracy in the nation. The government is fulfilling this requirement by implementing the State’s seven-step Road Map.

The principles to be included in the forthcoming State constitution are designed to create a brighter future of the nation.

So, she said that she deeply seconded the motion.

Member of Bago Region War Veterans Organization Captain Tin Htay (Retd) supported the motion, saying that these days, destructive elements are resorting to various means to instigate protests like 1988 unrest, using all possible persons even monks.

The western super power invaded its targeted countries and interfered in their internal affairs under the pretext that peace and stability is not restored in the nation due to lack of democracy.

The government is putting a great of energy into the drive for restoration of peace and stability, prevalence of law and order, national economic growth and raising the education standard of the nation. The upcoming State constitution is necessary for a prosperous future of the nation.

It is the most indispensable role the Tatmadaw plays in the national defence and security sector.

The principles the National Convention has adopted reflect the life of the people and are against the democratic process of internal and external destructive elements. In conclusion, he urged the people to do their bit in the process of drafting the State constitution.

Townselder U Win Tin of Bago said that in adopting the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles, the delegates held thorough discussions at the National Convention with the common goal of serving the public interest.

The State constitution will not complete and correct if it is drafted by a person alone.

The people are to be constantly vigilant against the dangers posed by destructive elements at home and abroad alongside foreign radio stations.

He said that he firmly supported the motion.

Afterwards, U Than Shwe, a peasant, seconded the motion in support of the National Convention and the forthcoming constitution and to condemn the foreign media that have broadcast fabricated news to jeopardize the community peace and stability of the State.

He said : Regarding the rights of peasants, the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles guarantee that laws shall be enacted to protect the rights of peasants and to help peasants earn reasonable incomes from the cultivation of crops.

Regarding the economic system of the country, the principles also guarantee that the economic system of the State shall be the market oriented Economic system, the State shall safeguard the interests of the people, the State shall not nationalize businesses and industries and the State shall not demonetize the currency.Therefore, it is obvious that the forthcoming constitution guarantees that the entire peasants and the people shall have rights and economic opportunities.

It is a constitution that controls a political system, economic system and social system of a country. Therefore, a constitution is necessary to ensure a smooth transition from the old system to the new one.Transition from the old system to the new one in haste without constitution can makes and can hurt the State.

Hence, the Tatmadaw has been making efforts for the emergence of a constitution and convened the National Convention. At the convention, delegates from all walks of life laid down the detailed basis principles.

Today, some developed countries have used media as a weapon to influence Myanmar. We, all national races, must guard against the danger posed by BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB that have broadcast false news to jeopardize the national unity. We denounce the acts of those media.

The National Convention was convened successfully and the new constitution will emerge soon. The forthcoming constitution reflects the genuine desire of the entire people. Hence, we support the National Convention and the forthcoming constitution and denounce the acts of internal and external destructive elements and foreign media which have aired fabricated news.

Next, the chairman sought the approval of the people for the motion calling for the support of the National Convention and the forthcoming constitution and denouncing the acts of internal and external destructive elements and foreign media which invented fabricated news. Those present unanimously approved the motion.

The mass rally successfully concluded at 8 am chanting slogans.