Having crossed a brand new river spanning bridge, a passenger bus is steadily moving on a smooth and stretching motor road. Soon, a train chugs through the same bridge. It parallels the motor road for some distances and turns the corner gradually. The bus and the train then take their respective ways.
In the past, cars had to wait for Z-craft to cross the river. Z-craft could carry only limited number of vehicles. It took abut 30 or 40 minutes to cross the river. The considerable amount of time was also allowed to offload the cars one after another. It is enough time for the car to go 40 miles and for the train to travel 30 miles. Once half an hour trip by the motor boat is now shorted to five-minute trip by motorcycle. Even with bicycle, it doesn't take more than 20 minutes to reach the other bank of the river. In everyday words among the public, "The land has been narrowed."
The number of bridge or road emerging is not only one or two. The facilities are also mushrooming.
A series of dams with huge volume and high storage capacity are rising above the ground. They contribute to both food security and living standards, by increasing irrigation areas and generating hydropower. The structures also bring about greening of the environs as they could keep and manage water resources.
The number of such dam and hydropower project is not only one or two. They are also mushrooming.
Besides, there are many factories manufacturing agricultural machinery, vehicles and construction materials as it is understood that the country will create wealth only when it can transform itself into industrialized country.
The number of such factories is not only one or two. They are also mushrooming.
Who laid foundations roads and bridges, dams and factories? Needless to say, Tatmadaw which never betrays the country, ever stands up for the people and ever safeguards the interests of the State and the people, founded these things.
Since its birth, Tatmadaw focused on regaining sovereignty, serving the interest of the people and protecting the people. It restored independence to the country. It safeguarded the independence. It always stood up for the people in every dilemma.
Apart from the colonialist rule by the British, Myanmar was never in occupation of any country for many years. Some neighbours tested immunity of the country. Some invaded inner part of the country. They could never rule Myanmar as the country responded immediate defence. Only Britain with superior weapons, wealth and knowledge could win the wars with Myanmar and rule the country. It was only once but left a large scar. The country was deeply wounded by civil war for many years. It has not finished yet. Due to instability, the country was undeveloped. Myanmar has legged behind other countries, following instability and insecurity.
Tatmadaw used all ways and means to remedy all the wounds inherited from the colonialism. Successive governments and leaders of Tatmadaw initiated peace talks, made offers and allowed exemptions. Though these are somewhat successful, it is still away from absolute peace.
Tatmadaw which had sacrificed many lives in independence struggles did the same things to safeguard the independence. We could take battles with Kuomintang that stationed in the north-east region of the country and threatened Myanmar seriously. They set up bases in Myanmar and cultivated poppy with foreign assistance. Sacrificing many lives of Tatmadawmen, Tatmadaw fought against the invaders. Eventually, Myanmar complained to the United Nations about it and drove them from the country’s soil. Due to systematic instigation of the British colonialists, national brethren lived in disputes for about 60 years.
Today, the signs of ending disputes can be seen. Those who have most bitter experiences of war are soldiers. Those who want most the end of domestic conflicts and the sole duty to safeguard the country against alien enemy are soldiers. In whatsoever domestic conflicts and Kuomintang invasion, soldiers sacrificed parts of their bodies and even their lives. And the ones who have to perform duties away from homes are soldiers. As husbands and fathers laid down their lives for the sake of the country, many a family were broken down. These are evil legacy of colonialism.
Like Tatmadawmen, those who suffered a great deal from war are people of the regions where armed conflicts and wars broke out. They could not make a living and pursue education. Despite many infrastructural necessities in the regions, successive governments could not fulfill the needs. The incumbent government is implementing tasks for improving quality of life in the regions where peace prevails. These are evil legacy of colonialism.
Development of the country depends on various factors. The most important one is security. There will be no security if there are armed conflicts and instability. Insecurity is a hindrance in construction of infrastructures. If with no infrastructures, transportation, logistics, production and socio-economic development of the people will not improve. The government and Tatmadaw are jointly speeding up peace making tasks at state/region level and Union level step by step.
The government itself is an outcome of goodwill of Tatmadaw. Tatmadaw which always have goodwill towards the State and people set seven-step roadmap and implemented it step by step. We can clearly see that countries which could not undergo smooth transition are in crisis. Tatmadaw did not allow such situations. It smoothed democratic transition desired by the people. It laid sound foundations for the people and the country. The government in office has received these sound foundations from former Tatmadaw government. When peace making tasks being carried out today are accomplished and peace prevails in the country, these infrastructures are causes for development of the country. The whole country will enjoy the fruits then.
Tatmadaw is the firmest organization which always upholds Non-Disintegration of the Union, Non-Disintegration of the National Unity and Perpetuation of Sovereignty. Tatmadaw is taking and will have to continue to take a leading role in national politics with Union Spirit, True Patriotism. Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for safeguarding the constitution in building a developed democratic nation. It also has to build modern and strong army in order to perpetuate independence and sovereignty. However the economy is strong, the country will lost reputation if it does not have the modern, talented and strong armed forces. The country needs to build capacity of Tatmadaw in order to accomplish national duties as there are possibilities ranging from insults to invasions. Gratitude of Tatmadaw is remembered every time smooth roads, stretching railroads, river-crossing bridges, dams, factories and democratic reforms are seen. Having fought the fascists and restored the independence, Tatmadaw sacrificed many lives in safeguarding and perpetuating independence and sovereignty. It established infrastructures for the development of the future nation. On 67th Anniversary Armed Forces Day, I would like to congratulate Tatmadaw in gratitude for its long service from 27 March, 1945, to date.