Senior General Than Shwe sends National Day Message Certain neo-colonialist countries, in their attempt to extend their domination over the targeted small countries, are resorting to various means to interfere in internal affairs of others

Nay Pyi Taw, 4 Dec - The following is a translation of the National Day Message sent by Senior General Than Shwe:

Esteemed national people,

Today is the 87th Anniversary of National Day, on which the national education movement was launched with strong nationalistic spirit in the history of Myanmar's independence struggles.

Myanmar regained independence through earnest efforts it made with nationalistic fervour to introduce an education system that would be in conformity with the socio-economic life of the people. The day deserves being recorded as a significant day because a national movement was launched with nationalistic fervour and patriotic spirit, with which the people protected and safeguarded own race, language and the Sasana, to oppose the colonialists' education system designed to benefit just a handful of people.

In the course of history, Myanmars were able to preserve and uplift national prestige by daringly driving out any alien intrusion with unyielding spirit. Myanmar people worked hard in concert to launch the national movement while equipping themselves strongly with nationalistic fervour and patriotic spirit, thereby helping the motherland regain independence.

Nowadays, certain neo-colonialist countries, in their attempt to extend their domination over the targeted small countries, are resorting to various means to interfere in the internal affairs of the small countries by airing groundless news stories they get from their lackeys, exaggerating news stories, misleading the international community through media into misunderstanding the situations, and even using the United Nations and international organizations to put pressure and impose sanctions against the targeted countries.

Onus is, therefore, put on the entire national people to safeguard the motherland from such dangers with national awareness based on Union Spirit and patriotic spirit to enable the nation and the people to create self-determination, to ensure perpetuation of sovereignty and to improve the living condition of the people. Genuine patriotic spirit is none other than Union Spirit.

The nation is now in pursuit of the 30-year long-term national education promotion plan dividing it into six five-year short-term plans for the emergence of an education system that meets the level of the international education that is always changing and developing alongside the advancement of science and technology. In the process, the government is nurturing the youth to become reliable citizens and human resources with patriotic fervour, Union Spirit and high educational qualifications.

The government is implementing the State's seven-step Road Map it has adopted to transform the nation into a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic one. Now, the National Convention comprising the eight delegate groups representing the people from all strata of life and various regions across the nation has adopted the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles for drafting the State constitution with unanimous consent. And the State constitution is in the process of being framed now.

Certain neo-colonialist countries and their lackey internal axe-handles who are not happy with the successful adoption of the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles to be included in the forthcoming constitution agitated the people in their scheme to create unrest and violence with the intention of disrupting stability, community peace and development of the State. Nonetheless, the people who oppose unrest and violence and favour peace and stability did not accept the agitation, and they are now holding mass rallies and walks in procession in respective regions to express their voice of denouncing recent protests.

In recognition of the people's unanimous support, the government will see to the State's seven-step Road Map so as to work hard in harness with the people in the process of transition to democracy. Therefore, the entire national people are duty-bound to do their bit with patriotic spirit, nationalistic fervour, Union Spirit, and daring spirit in building a modern democratic nation that is in conformity with the historical background of the Union, where national brethren have been living in unison sharing joys and sorrows, as well as cultural heritage and national character our forefathers have preserved well.

Therefore, I would like to exhort the national people to strive with national vigour for realization of the objectives of the 87th Anniversary of National Day:

(1) To uplift dynamism of patriotic spirit and national prestige and integrity,

(2) To promote national education,

(3) To ensure perpetuation of independence and sovereignty,

(4) To realize the State's seven-step Road Map.