Senior General Than Shwe sends Independence Day message All national brethren urged to firmly uphold five  objectives of 60th Anniversary Independence Day 2008 Realize objectives with Union Spirit and patriotism while making firm resolve to build a new, peaceful, modern and developed discipline flourishing democratic nation

NAY PYI TAW, 4 Jan- The following is a translation of the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary Independence Day.

On this auspicious 60th Anniversary Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I with love and respect would like to greet all the national people residing in the nation.

It has been 60 years since Union-born national races have regained independence and sovereignty of the Union of Myanmar from the colonialists after sacrificing lots of blood, sweat and lives.

Throughout history, national brethren including Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan had the fine tradition of living in amity, unity, mutual compassion and understanding and through thick and thin based on Union Spirit. And with that fine tradition and noble spirit, the national brethren were vigorously and daringly safeguarding the State for the perpetuation of the nation and sovereignty. Hence, the nation stood tall in the world with dignity as a sovereign and independent state under the rule of her monarchs throughout the past successive eras.

In the late 19th Century, Myanmar monarchy met its end and the nation lost independence and sovereignty due to colonialist aggression. Naturally, Myanmars are gifted with the spirit to make sacrifices for the nation and race, the spirit to cherish and value own nation, race, sovereignty, literature and traditions and culture and the spirit to never tolerate any acts that will harm national dignity. Hence, they fought back he intruders sacrificing lots of blood, sweat and lives and regained independence and sovereignty.

Nowadays, the entire people have unanimously adopted the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic state as the national goal and are striving to realize it. The government has been giving priority to ensuring stability of the State and the rule of law, building economic infrastructures and developing human resources which are essential for building a new nation. It has been working overtime to ensure equitable progress in all parts of the nation. It has laid down 24 special development zones project, border areas development project and rural development project and is implementing them for harmonious development of the entire nation. The government has been making all-out efforts in every aspect to lay a durable foundation for the new nation.

The government has already proclaimed the seven-step Road Map to build a new, peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation. The government has been realizing the Road Map phase by phase and it successfully concluded the National Convention on 3 September 2007, which is the most important step. The National Convention successfully and unanimously adopted fundamental principles and detailed basic principles to write a constitution.

The Commission for Drafting the State Constitution has been formed and assigned duties to it. The commission is now implementing its task of drafting the constitution in accord with the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles adopted by the National Convention.

On this glorious Independence Day, I with love and respect urge all the national brethren born in the Union to firmly uphold the following five objectives of the 60th Anniversary Independence Day 2008 and vigorously realize them with Union Spirit and patriotism while making a firm resolve to build a new, peaceful, modern and developed discipline flourishing democratic nation:

(1) All the national people to constantly join hands for safeguarding the perpetuation of independence and sovereignty of the State;

(2) All the national people to collectively strive for non-disintegration of the Union and non-disintegration of national solidarity;

(3) To ensure emergence of an enduring constitution in line with the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles adopted by the National Convention that has been completed successfully;

(4) All the national people to harmoniously make all-out efforts for building of a modern, developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation;

(5) All the national people to cooperate in realizing the State's seven-step Road Map with Union Spirit, patriotic spirit and the spirit of sacrifice.