Reforms relating to various areas such as political, economic and social sectors have to be undertaken simultaneously in building a modern, developed country National objectives, national policy and plans laid down are based not only on country's history but also on practical nationalistic ideologies, Senior General Than Shwe addresses AGM 2007 of USDA

Nay Pyi Taw, 16 Nov - The following is the full text of the translation of the speech delivered by Patron of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe at the fourth day session of the Annual General Meeting 2007 of USDA held at the University of Veterinary Science on Yezin University Campus today.

On this occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, I would like to extend my warm felicitations to all the members of the Association.

Building a peaceful developed and discipline-flourishing democratic country is the noble national goal unanimously adopted by all patriotic citizens.

In the past 14 years the Union Solidarity and Development Association has been harmoniously taking part in the process of building a new nation which is our national goal.

The process of building the new nation is a noble and vital process involving the whole nation. The Union Solidarity and Development Association was founded with the aim to give assistance in organizing the active and conscientious participation of the whole populace.

Ever since the founding of the Association, trainings have been continuously held for youth members to effectively carry out the cause of the people in their respective regions with higher efficiency.

With regard to the organization of the Association, 15,327 village and ward organizations, 320 township organizations, 66 district organizations and 17 state and division organizations have been formed.

29 million young members have already taken training courses from village to headquarters level. During 2006-2007, altogether 3.1 million youth have been trained by the Association. The Association has given training to an average of 2 million youth annually.

Our country has a fine national tradition. For thousands of years our people have lived with our own culture and civilization as citizens of a sovereign nation.

During 19th Century, we had lost our national sovereignty and fell into servitude due to colonialism. We were able to stand as a sovereign state through the true patriotic spirit and the power of unity of all the nationalities.

Soon after we regained freedom from the colonialists, there had been conflicts and disunity in the country because of ideological extremists instead of collective efforts for national development. The divide and rule policy of the colonialists for over a hundred years resulted in disunity and mutual suspicion among our national brethren. The armed insurgencies had caused loss of life and property of the people. The economic and social standards of the people deteriorated. Until today, we can still witness the malicious attempts of the colonialists to divide and control our country.

Our Tatmadaw which has never betrayed the national cause has always safeguarded the country whenever any danger affecting the interest of the people and the state arises.

Today's Tatmadaw Government came into being in September 1988 as the government of historical necessity with a view to rehabilitating the deteriorating general condition of the country.

When we took responsibilities of the state there were full of calamities in the country such as lawless disturbances, transportation disruptions and public insecurity due to lawless atrocities. We had to take prioritized measures to eliminate all these and to bring about condition for peaceful livelihood of the people and smooth transportation. At the same time, we have undertaken political, economic and administrative reforms in accordance with the will of the people. The one-party political system and socialist economic system were abolished, and we have exerted relentless efforts to establish a multi-party system with market economic system suitable for our country.

In general, the government had to take a wide-ranging, sophisticated and difficult responsibility for the requirements of the country and to take reform measures for long-term interest of the country. Therefore, our Tatmadaw Government cannot be simply seen as caretaker government to maintain law and order but to be viewed in a comprehensive manner a transitional government of historical necessity which is undertaking a state transformation.

The road that we have been treading since 1988 till today was not a road of roses. It was a rough road with internal and foreign political machinations, disturbances and obstacles that we had to overcome. We had to tread this path with genuine patriotism and with the spirit of sacrifice for the country and the people.

The people understood that ?peace and tranquillity is needed in the country, and everybody needs to strive for their food, clothing and shelter in peace.? With this understanding, the people have participated conscientiously and willingly in the efforts for the stability of the state, community peace and tranquillity and prevalence of law and order. As all are aware, the mutual trust, understanding and cooperation among the state, the people and the Tatmadaw have resulted in the prevalence of law and order in all urban and rural areas.

In the same way we have emphasized national unity and have realized it practically. A total of 17 armed groups who have come to understand and realize the Government's pure and venerable goodwill have returned to, one by one, the legal fold, and are presently joining hands with the Government for the development of their areas. National reconsolidation has now reached a breadth and solidity that has never been achieved before under any previous age or time.

Nearly all the areas in which the national race groups reside are now enjoying the favourable results of peace and stability. These favourable results were not achieved easily: they came about only after the overcoming of many difficulties. We must also continue to struggle for a certain extent of time to preserve this for the future. In doing so, it is essential for us to carry out the task in the spirit of loyalty and a sense of duty in the interest of the union without any self-interest.

As we have achieved peace and stability in the country and national reconsolidation, we could also emphasize the development of the State's economy and social development. We laid down special development plans to build the economic foundations which were actually needed, the basic fundamentals for human resources and long life and health, and have consistently realized them with high aspirations. Everybody knows that these special development plans are those of the 24 special development regions, the development plan for the border areas, and the rural areas development project.

The State economy is still based upon agriculture. The main occupation of the majority of the people who live in rural areas is also agriculture. The State is assisting and encouraging agricultural productivity. The Tatmadaw Government has built 204 dams, 305 river-pumping projects, and 7,569 wells and 1,023 tanks to fulfill one of the basic requirements for agriculture, irrigation. In 1988 irrigated area was 1.487 million acres but now increased up to 4.9 million acres. The cultivation capacity in 1988 was only 121 per cent, but now it is 161.8 per cent. Since 1988-89, when there were only 11.81 million acres of paddy acreage and 630 million baskets, we laid down as our first plan the production of 800 million baskets, as our second plan the production of 1,000 million baskets, and the production of 1500 million baskets through step by step plans, and we would realize our objectives. Now we are producing more than twice as much as in 1988. We have laid down plans to produce 2,000 million baskets and are working hard to achieve this. If we look at the production of beans and pulses, from being able to produce only 370,000 tons from an acreage of 1.8 million, we now produce 4,500,000 tons from a sown acreage of 9.89 million. We are now the largest exporter of beans and pulses in Southeast Asia. The acreage of oilseeds too has been expanded from 5 million to 7.4 million. This has become a crop with a good potential for production. In the next 4 years we will be able to grow enough for sufficiency. We are now ready to amply feed a growing population.

In the industrial sector we have opened 18 industrial zones and assisted private industries to progress. From 1988 when there were 624 Government factories and 35,000 private factories, we now have 791 Government factories and 101,000 private factories. In the industrial sector we have a yearly 25 per cent growth rate and have achieved an eightfold growth in industrial production.

Just as the number of Agricultural Workers has increased due to advancement in the Agricultural Sector, so too the number of industrial workers has increased as industry has progressed. From 10,400,000 agricultural workers we now have about 22,900,000. From 1,700,000 factory workers we now have about 5,000,000. From 3,800,000 service workers we now have 7,600,000. If we look at the overall picture from a total of over 16 million workers we have advanced to 35.5 million workers. There are many opportunities to work.

Just as the good transportation network assists the people in their social and economic endeavours, it is also the basic infrastructure for interaction and travel among the national brethren which creates national unity.

We have built a network of National Highways connecting the East, West, North and South of the country, connecting the various States and Divisions, City roads, roads connecting cities to villages, roads connecting villages to each other, and development areas, in every nook and corner of the nation. In 1988 there were only just over 21,000 miles of tarred, concrete, paved, surface-hardened and dirt roads, but now there are over 70,764 miles.

We are upgrading the existing rail tracks and building new railway lines to the states and divisions which do not have rail access. We have already constructed the new railroad across Pontaung-Ponnyar mountain range from Pakokku-Kyaw to Gangaw-Kalay. At the same time we have also extended the existing railroad of Pathein-Hinthada-Kyangin up to Pakokku in connection to Mandalay. The railroad up to Bhamo from Mandalay-Katha is also being constructed. Moreover, ground survey works are being conducted to extend the railroad from Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Namhsan, passing over Shan Plateau up to Kengtung. Since 1988 we have built 1,304 miles of new rail tracks and 319 railway stations.

With the new roads and rail tracks we had to build bridges across creeks and rivers. In 1988 there were only 5 major bridges over the main rivers of our country, which were the Ayeyawady, Sittoung, Chindwin and Thanlwin, but now we have built 17 new major bridges. In addition to the Ministry of Construction, another ministries have built 235 bridges over 180 feet in length and also 36 rail bridges.

In the Air Transport sector we have allowed private air companies to operate. We have built the necessary new airports, and upgraded existing ones. From 21 airfields with runways over 5,000 feet we have increased the number to 38, and upgraded 28 ports.

In the Water Transport sector too from a total of 13 berths suitable for international sea freighters we have now built 28 berths which can handle container freight and 3 berths for internal container traffic or a total of 31 container berths.

Furthermore, the communications sector has also advanced a lot. There are now 886 exchange centres and 930,000 fixed phone compared to 245 and 67,000 in 1988. Not only in major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay but in 32 towns of some States and Divisions as well over 510,000 mobile phones are currently being used. Rural areas are connected through 232 microwave stations having 110 links. Tasks can be now fulfilled in a fast and reliable manner since fax, e-mail and internet are now being in use.

In the electric power sector, which is vital for factories and workshops as well as for the raising of living standards of people ministries have been established-Ministry of No 1 Electric Power for the construction and generation and Ministry of No 2 Electric Power for supply and distribution of electricity.

At present, 1616 megawatts is produced compared to only 568 megawatts in the past. On completion, the 23 hydroelectric power projects which are currently under construction, there will have an increase of 11,000 megawatts. Although hydroelectric power projects are long-term, the government is striving hard to fulfill the needs of the populace within the shortest period. To ensure a smooth supply and distribution of electricity, extremely high voltage transmission lines have been erected or expanded.

Efforts have also been made for the expansion of oil and gas production. While offshore production is under operation, onshore production is also undertaken with technical cooperation.

In the education sector, 6,806 new basic education schools have been opened and the member has reached at 40,553. As 6,261 post-primary schools are opened, the number of basic education students increased to 7,800,000 from 5,200,000 having an increase of 2,600,000.

As for the higher education sector, the number of the institutions increased from 32 to 156 and 53 colleges have been upgraded to universities. The number of university students rose from 130,000 in the past, to 520,000 at present, increasing 300,000. Since 1988 till date, 1,360,000 university students have been graduated. Post graduate courses were also successfully completed. With the spread of educational opportunities all over the nation, literacy rate also increased to 94.75 % from 79%.

In the health sector, it revealed that 208 new hospitals were built, reaching to 839. A total of 167 hospitals were upgraded and expanded. Needed modern health care and medical equipment were also provided by the government.

Institute of Medicine, Institute of Dental Medicine, Pharmaceutical Institute, Para Medics Institute, Nursing Institute, Basic Health Institute, 16 Traditional Medicine Institutes were opened graduating medicinal personnel. Life expectancy rose due to development of health care.

Although the border areas where brethren of our national races reside were unstable regions, since 1988, efforts to gain peace based on national reconsolidation succeeded. Those regions that have lagged behind in prevalence of peace and tranquillity fostered significant development with regard to requirement such as road transport, agriculture, livestock breeding, education, health, etc.

Central Committee for the Progress of Border Areas and National Races was formed where I myself chaired and implemented its tasks. Physical development as well as national solidarity are nurtured owing to implementing with goodwill.

The government is placing emphasis on the development of rural areas. Projects are being implemented for fulfilling basic necessities such as road transport, economy, education, health and clean water for drinking and cultivation. You have also participated actively in projects for lighting rural areas, including 5 basic programmes for the development of rural areas which should be further enhanced.

The government has also given emphasis to uplift the living standards, New satellite town such as Shwepyitha, Dagon Myothit (North), Dagon Myothit (South), Shwepaukkan Myothit, Shwenantha Myothit, Waibagi Myothit , Dagon Myothit (East), Hline-thaya were established adjacent to Yangon Municipal Area. Settlements have also been set-up for squatters. Modern housing projects have been implemented for replacing buildings which are not in conformity with city standards. Roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, gardens and playgrounds, markets as well as religious buildings were constructed in accordance with city standards. In Yangon Municipal Area, permanent dwellings have been completed for altogether one million people. Similarly, above 300,000 people have been allocated in Mandalay. 210 townships have been expanded in various States and Divisions and altogether 2,000,000 have been located. In our time, we have successfully made arrangements for a population of more than 3,300,000 to live in own houses.

Reforms relating to various areas such as political, economic and social sectors have to be undertaken simultaneously in building a modern, developed country. In doing so, government alone could not take sole responsibility. It is a truth that all citizens should collectively and equally participate in good faith and with understanding. Thus, I would like to reiterate that the Union Solidarity and Development Association was established for activation for better understanding, wide and dynamic participation. With the country's historical turnaround where we were compelled to take the State's responsibilities with the support of the various national races, our strong beliefs and convictions are required in order to have a right track in implementing our resolute objectives.

We have set the national goal to establish a peaceful, modern developed discipline-flourishing democratic state. We have also laid down the national policy of ?Our Three Main National Causes? in-disputable by all nationals. We have also chosen and laid down the objectives in our march for the successful implementation of the national goals. The twelve national objectives are the practical plans for our endeavours in nation building process.

The national objectives, national policy and plans laid down are based not only on our country's history but also on our practical nationalistic ideologies. Ideologies and practicality are complementary to each other. Impractical indoctrination and implementation would be meaningless and likewise implementation without ideologies would be like ?Building castle in the air?. We will be more successful in building a new State if there were less indifferences and harmony in ideology and practicality, policy and implementation and in leadership and obedience.

You must bear in mind the national interests with dedication and steadfastness in your efforts in organizing and in carrying out regional developments. If our beliefs and convictions of the national interest are jeopardized you must defend with self-sacrificing valor. The self-sacrificing valor is based on patriotism. We will be able to overcome any obstacles or difficulties if we have a true belief in patriotic and self-sacrificing spirit. The over 24 million members of the organization should not only be quantitative but also qualitative since they are to be the model citizens contributing to the welfare of the State.

Prevalence of Peace and Stability of the State, economic might of the people and State and Human Resources Development are essential requirements in building a new State. While understanding these requirements, we have declared a Seven-Step Road Map towards a democratic State. The Seven-Step Road Map is the only means to smooth transition towards a new State.

Now, the con-vening of the National Convention which is the first and crucial step of the Seven-Step Road Map was successfully con-vened on 3 September 2007. The convention was able to lay down the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles to be enshrined in the new State Constitution. National Convention was successfully convened despite the difficulties during its long session. It was a national success, as over 1000 representatives from eight strata held plenary discussions in adopting fundamental principles for the future of the State and its people. This success paved the way for a strong footing in our march towards a new State.

We will notice that there are differences in history, tradition, culture and geopolitical background of each country in building a democratic State, implementation should be based on the requirements beneficial to the State and its people. All of you along with the people of various states and divisions have held mass rallies unanimously in support of the National Convention and the upcoming new State Constitution. It is also learnt that the citizens of all walks of life from wards and quarters have held mass rallies denouncing destructive acts that hampers the peace and stability and development of the State. Now, we have started to implement the third step of the Seven-Step Road Map towards democracy.

The Annual Meeting of the Union Solidarity and Development Association provides the opportunity to exchange experiences, hold discussions, and adopt plans and activities for the upcoming year which not only bring about the progress of the association but also for the development of the State and its people.

Therefore, we strongly urge all of you to try your best for the successful implementation of the future plans and activities adopted by the Annual Meeting.

We also urge to safeguard and promote the peace and stability and development infrastructure of the State which the State and the people are currently enjoying.

I would like to urge all of you that with genuine patriotism and self-sacrificing valor, we will be able to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in our endeavours in carrying out the State and National interest.

I urge all of you to join hands with the people in carrying out the Seven-Step Road Map in building a new State.

In conclusion, I would further like to urge to join hands with the national people in implementation of the smooth transition of a peaceful, modern, developed, disciplined flourishing democratic state aspired by the people.