On 12 February 1947, the delegates of the national races made a solemn vow to live in an independent Union of Myanmar free from colonial rule. That day was designated as the Union Day and coming Union Day will be the 61st anniversary.
The constitution essential for the independent Myanmar was drafted in 1947. Although it was drafted based on Union Spirit, there was a federal principle in it on demand of or as a compromise to the feudalists. The 1947 constitution was hastily drafted by 111 members of Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) at the preliminary conference and it was approved by AFPFL Conference.
Altogether 97 members of Constitution Drafting Commission drafted a new constitution in 1974 because the 1947 constitution was not in a position to guarantee the perpetuation of the Union. But the 1974 constitution was a barrier to perpetuation of the Union as it was drafted based on one-party system.
On the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe explained the concepts of the Tatmadaw in connection with the national reconsolidation.
“If the political forces of the country are split, then steps taken to bring peace and tranquillity to the State and tasks undertaken to bring about development will be difficult to implement. Due to the disunity and internal strife, the country greatly lagged behind in development compared to other countries. The Tatmadaw realized that if such conditions continue, the country would not make any further progress from the existing state but would be dragged further down. Therefore the Tatmadaw became responsible to establish national reconsolidation.”
The Tatmadaw believed that it was needed to draft a constitution that would guarantee the perpetuation of the Union in building a democratic nation in accord with the desire of the people and an enduring constitution would emerge only when it is based on national reconsolidation.
The Tatmadaw has built national reconsolidation based on non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty in cooperation with national race armed groups. Confidence building measures were taken between the Tatmadaw and national race armed groups. As a result, there was peace and stability and security in border areas.
There was no peace and security in those areas for over forty years. The Tatmadaw formed the Central Committee for Development of Border Area and National Races and constituted the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs and assigned duties to them. The Tatmadaw carried out tasks for construction of economic infrastructures and for development of transport, education and health sectors.
The local people are free from insurgency that threatened the social life, hindered the progress of the people in border areas for many years. Their life is now peaceful.
In connection with the elimination of narcotic drugs, the government has laid down 15-year plan and is implementing it with the aim of eliminating drugs that have rooted for over100 years in border areas as an evil legacy of the colonialists. The plan is under way depending on own strength and resources as the national task. The government has made arrangements for local people who abandoned cultivation of opium enabling them to earn income from alternative sources since 1999-2000. International organizations have accepted and recognized that narcotic drugs production in border areas gradually decreased.
The drug elimination plan has been implemented under three tactics— supply elimination, law enforcement and demand elimination. Efforts are being made for elimination of drugs not only in border areas but in the whole country by 2014.
The National Convention was first convened from 9 January 1993 to 1996. Eight groups including national race delegates attended it. On 30 August 2003, seven-step Road Map was announced. On 17 May 2004, the National Convention resumed to start implementation of the first phase. Over 1,000 delegates comprising 60 per cent of national race delegates from eight groups discussed and reviewed the past events or historic lessons, present and future situation and laid down the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles to be included in the new constitution.
In connection with the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention, internal and external destructive elements made slanders. But it will be found that the already-laid down principles specially guarantee more rights of national people based on the prevailing conditions in Myanmar in comparison with the past constitutions.
A democratic society desired by the State is a society that will safeguard the Union. It is the society that will carry out the national development tasks or enjoy the development results among national races living in weal or woe and it is the society that will serve the interest of the national races. The society of the national races who safeguard the national policy of the State or Our Three Main National Causes— no disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty will emerge soon.
Based on the Union Spirit that was conceived on 12 February 1947, work was done at the National Convention for emergence of the constitution that guarantees the perpetuation of the Union.
Drafting of the constitution is under way based on fundamental principles and detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention.
On the 61st Anniversary Union Day which falls on 12 February 2008, let us make a solemn vow to participate in every step towards the genuine discipline-flourishing multiparty democracy system upholding Our Three Main National Causes.