Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses first meeting of Central Committee to Observe 2022 74th Anniversary Independence Day
Nay Pyi Taw October 12
The Central Committee to Observe 2022 74th Anniversary Independence Day held the first meeting this evening at the meeting hall of State Admini-stration Council Chairman’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw with an address by Chairman of the central committee Vice Chair-man of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Also present were union ministers U Wunna Maung Lwin, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, U Min Thein Zan, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Maung Maung Naing, and Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Zaw Hein. Officials participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General said Myanmar’s in-dependence has reached the age of 74 years on 4 January 2022. According to the country’s history, Pyu city states emerged in the 9th century. The Bagan dynasty emerged around the 11th century. In the 14th century, small kingdoms including Innwa, Taungoo, Hanthawady, Myinsai, Pinya, Kayah, Monyin, Mogaung, Hsipaw and MraukU came into being. The Taungoo dynasty flourished between the 15th and 17th centuries, and the Konbaung dynasty between 1752 and 1885. The city states, small kingdoms and dynasties of history are the symbols of unity between the kings and the people, the existence of powerful armed institutions, and that prosperity that rivals other states of the surrounding areas.
But during the first Anglo-Myanmar war that broke out in 1824-1826, Myanmar lost Rakhine, Assam, Manipur and Taninthayi. The second Anglo-Myanmar broke out in 1852 and the country lost the lower Myanmar up to Bago. Myanmar fell under servitude after the third Anglo-Myanmar that broke out in 1885.
The country is powerful when there is national unity and a modern and well-organized Tatmadaw. Independence was lost, when there was no unity among the people and between the royal persons and the coun-try was in disarray relying on foreign powers. Those were the lessons of history. It is impor-tant that the new generation should understand the bitter experiences which were the consequences of the loss of independence. Historical kno-wledge must be disseminated. Independence Day must be observed with full essence on a national scale.
The long history of indepen-dence struggles and lots of sacrifices made from the time the country lost independence till it regained independence must be exposed. So, that the new general will understand the essence of independence which ensures self-awareness and free will, self-determination, freedom of administration.
To secure the independence to mark the 74th anniversary, national leaders and ethnic lea-ders had resisted the colonialists in respective regions since the time of losing the indepen-dences. They faced various ex-periences in the independence struggle. The country gained the fake independence. They sacrificed a large number of lives, blood and sweat for the sake of regaining the indepen-dence. So, new generations need to know the history of regaining the independence. Hence, relevant committees need to dis-seminate the knowledge about the independence. The essay and extempore talk contests on loss of independence and efforts for regaining the independence to mark the Independence Day must be held for new generation students as part of preserving the historical traditions.
Various ethnic leaders coope-rated with the people with pa-triotic and nationalistic spirits in regaining the independence not to discredit the national prestige and integrity. National leader General Aung San and thirty comrades took the military training in Japan and strived for regaining the indepen-dence of the nation. It was an unforgettable history. Conse-quently, the national level in-dependence day is celebrated with essence of Our Three Main National Causes on a yearly basis not to lose the independe-nce anyhow.
Although 10 subcommittees have been formed for organizing the 74th Anniversary of In-dependence Day, it is necessary to consider the possibility of infection rate of COVID-19 for the ceremony. So, arrangements must be made to implement the work process by following the disciplines related to COVID-19 prevention and control issued by the Ministry of Health. Plans are separately implemented for the ceremony depending on outbreak of COVID-19. Prepara-tions must be made for inviting the guests to the ceremony in line with the COVID-19 restrictions.
New generation youths need to know that it is necessary to strengthen the sovereignty of the State. Only when the nation is powerful with unity of the entire people and systematic formation of the modern Tatmadaw will the nation be developed. Talks and TV broadcasting should be done for enabling the youths to know the bitter experiences on sacrifice of life, blood and sweat for regaining the independence and endeavours for safeguard-ing the independence not to lose it again. It is necessary to broadcast the plays to sharpen the nationalistic spirit and historic songs. The radio talks on Myanmar history with partici-pation of intellectuals and in-telligentsia must be presented and articles on their discussions must be mentioned.
In conclusion, the Vice-Senior General urged departmental heads to discuss duty and functions of their respective sub-committees.
Union ministers, deputy ministers and officials reported on formation of respective subcom-mittees, duty and functions and measures to successfully hold the 74th Anniversary of Independence Day.
The secretary of the central committee reported on the actual expenditures spent by subcommittees for the previous year’s independence day cele-bration.
The Vice-Senior General gave a concluding remarks before ending the meeting.