Today, peace and development are necessary for Myanmar and the entire people, as evidenced by historic events. The processes for transition to democracy indicate that democracy is the practice to be exercised for peace and prosperity of the nation and the people.

It is said that democracy means individual responsibility and respect for rule of law. Many world countries’ democratic transition processes have given historic lessons that on the other side of democracy is anarchy.

Once a historian said that a people who failed to review their historical background would be ill-fated to repeat the same mistakes made in the past. The historical trend of a nation depends on its geographical features and productive relations of the human society living in it.

Myanmar is geographically strategic among southeast Asian countries, northeast Asian countries and southern Asian countries. It is adjacent to the Himalayas with a long coast adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

Being situated in the westernmost land on Indo- China Peninsula in the southeastern part of Asia between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Myanmar’s location plays an important role in geopolitics. In that regard, the colonialists’ annexation of Myanmar in the 19th Century was one of the compelling evidences.

Myanmar is located between north latitude 9° 30' and 28° 30'. The Tropic of Cancer passes near Tiddim, Kyunhla and Hsenwi in Myanmar. Myanmar is more than 1,300 miles from north to south, and about 600 miles from east to west with an area of 261,228 square miles. After Indonesia, Myanmar is the largest country in southeast Asia.

Myanmar is not a landlocked country. It has an exit to the sea along with a 3986 miles long border line and a 1,385 miles long coast line. It shares the border with China, India, Bangladesh, Laos and Thailand. It is situated near the international sea route, air route, and land route. It is rich in natural resources and is home to more than 100 national races who have been living in it through thick and thin from time immemorial. Despite being located in the region where world cultural giants exist, Myanmar has been able to preserve own culture continuously.

Due to these outstanding characteristics, the people love and value the motherland very much. It is heartening to note that the nation and the people have faced crises for several times, but the people have been able to safeguard and protect the motherland from collapse.

Myanmar was under the British colonialists for more than 100 years and under the Fascists for about three years. Therefore, Myanmar people are capable of weighing the international political affairs and geopolitics.

In addition, Myanmar has passed through the Parliamentary Democracy period and the Myanma Socialist Programme Party period, so the people are strongly imbued with nationalistic spirit (Union Spirit), with which they constantly uphold the fine national political traditions.

To recall an expression that was popular in the tenyear Parliamentary Democracy period in which political parties were in a dominant position, the nation was on the edge of the abyss, and the democracy foundation of the Union was almost broken. Moreover, the political expressions that were popular in the journalism world at that time such as “split story” and “political stalemate, equipped with arms” depicted that the nation tried to transform itself into a democratic one without fine foundations or maturity. It is public knowledge that Myanmar saw anarchic events in the Myanma Socialist Programme Party period.

Thus, the nation’s historic events should be viewed that the Tatmadaw government is implementing the State’s seven-step Road Map in earnest to enable the nation to practise genuine democratic process, as aspired by the majority of the people.

Now, all who are participating in the nationbuilding tasks have realized that the government is building all necessary infrastructures as many as possible in all sectors in all the regions for proper evolution of the market-oriented economic system to fulfil the wishes of the people.

In Germany-based Spiegel’s interview with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, when asked if it would be possible that in the Asian Century a democratic system directed by authorities in accord with the market economy would emerge, he replied that there would be no absolutely free market. There would not be any absolutely free market no matter what democratic system was practised, Europe-style or American-style. Every human society is different from one another. America had to launch a civil war before it reaches today’s stage. Europe also has reached today’s situation only after experiencing the two world wars. This passage is mentioned for the readers’ observation.

Well, let me point out some facts regarding the present economic situation of Myanmar. A report of IMF says that at the end of 2006-2007 fiscal, it is estimated that Myanmar’s economy would grow by seven percent. Myanmar could have economic prospects as she is an economically strategic nation situated between her developing trade partner countries in the region. ADB also expected that Myanmar’s GDP was likely to increase by 4 percent in 2006 as well as in 2007. Prevention of foreign investments from being made in Myanmar as economic sanctions is hindering job opportunities and economic growth of the country, it pointed out. In issuing human development report for 2006 by collecting data from 177 countries, UNDP mentioned that Myanmar stands at the 130th grade being listed in moderate nations in terms of life span, health, literacy and GDP.

Likewise, Iwould like to present some points on good economic prospects of Myanmar as follows:

- Feasible study of India-Myanmar railway section project, the very first of Indian Eastwest railway projects is in progress. The railroad section passes through China and goes to Russia. It covers Myanmar up to 200 kilometres and the project takes three years.

- India is planning to launch a bus line to shuttle between Manipur and Mandalay in order to boost trade ties. This is to reopen historic Stilwell Highway which is 1726 kilometres long stretching from Assam to Kunming, China, by passing through Kachin State, north of Myanmar.

- Plans are under way to build Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) in order to facilitate the transport sectors in Asia. The railway is 81,000 kilometres long and passes through 28 Asian and European countries. As Myanmar, part of the route, plays a main role in the transportation between China and Southeast Asian countries, it will have smoother commodity flow and gain benefits.

- An agreement has been reached among Myanmar, China and Bangladesh to hold meetings so as to build a road to directly link Dhaka and Kunming by reopening the Silk Route that used to be popular in the history.

- China has been prepared to invest in TAR project covering six ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar. Out of the four Trans- Asian Railways, three will directly pass through Myanmar. As another short-cut railway has a link with Myanmar, Mekong region including Myanmar will become a strategic region of Asia.

Even the above-mentioned facts and figures indicate economic prospects and growth of Myanmar. I have learnt from a book that development indicates a constant learning society blessed with happiness, peace and prosperity.

I believe that Myanmar has had good conditions in order to carry out democracy transition in a peaceful and united way.

Therefore, all who cherish Myanmar are working hard keeping sight of the government’s policies without ignoring the country’s background history and prevailing conditions.

Overall, I will conclude this article wishing the Myanmar nationals working for news agencies at home and abroad to release authentic news about Myanmar in the interests of the State and the people including the monks as they are also the ones who love and value Myanmar.