YANGON 3 Jan—The following message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the auspicious occasion of the 58th Anniversary of Independence Day for 2006.

On this auspicious 58th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar, I extend my greetings with amity and esteem to all national peoples living in the Union .

It was 58 years ago today that national peoples of the Union of Myanmar managed to regain the sovereignty of their motherland at the cost of a lot of lives, blood and sweat.

Myanmar had existed in the world as a sovereign nation with its own monarchs for many years and national brethren, namely, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan had lived together in amity through thick and thin and defended their motherland with patriotic spirit and Union Spirit.

Toward the end of the 19th century, Myanmar fell under the rule of colonialists and lost her independence. But national brethren, who had lived as independent citizens throughout different periods of history, bravely fought against the colonialists to regain independence and sovereignty, risking life and limb.

Nowadays, brazen annexation of a nation with the use of force is not as popular as before.

However, it is found that some big nations are essaying to interfere in the domestic affairs of others and influence their political, economic, social and cultural tradition fields. Today’s new generation youths are born as independent citizens and fully realize the value and essence of independence. The onus is on these new generation youths to safeguard the national independence and sovereignty.

The present government, upholding “Our Three Main National Causes”, is laying strong foundations of a peaceful, modern and discipline-flourishing democratic state. Peace and stability, strong national economy and human resources development being fundamental requirements, the government is working day and night to fulfil these requirements.

Since the assumption of State responsibilities, the government has given top priority to national reconsolidation, community peace and stability and rule of law and order. Development plans for border areas and national races are now being implemented with greater momentum. Peace negotiations were held for national reconsolidation. As a result, 17 armed groups of various national races, realizing the genuine goodwill and correct policy of the government, have returned to the legal fold and are now taking part in the national development endeavours. Out of the armed groups that have returned to the legal fold and exchanged arms for peace, some have unconditionally surrendered their arms.

For national development, 24 special development zones have been designated and development plans are being implemented. At the same time, rural development tasks are being carried out for parallel development of all regions including rural and border areas.

Efforts are being made for all-round development of various sectors of the economy with that of the agriculture sector as the base. For this, more and more irrigation facilities and river-water pumping stations are being constructed and assistance is being rendered for improvement of agricultural technologies and increase of agricultural production. To meet the electricity need of the present-day lifestyle and emerging industries, new electric power stations are being built. For industrial development, State-owned and private factories are being established. For the development of transport infrastructure, the key to socio-economic development, new motor roads, railroads, bridges across rivers and creeks and airports are being constructed or upgraded.

In the education sector, the 30-year long-term national education promotion plan is being implemented for human resources development.

In basic and higher education sectors, schools, colleges and universities were upgraded and opened throughout the country. There are better learning opportunities, providing a wide range of choices. Now 40,525 basic education schools have been opened and altogether 5,545 primary schools were upgraded to post-primary ones. In the higher education sector there are 156 universities and colleges. PhD graduates can be produced after conducting the doctorate courses in respective subjects. With the improvement of learning opportunities, literacy rate has increased up to 94 per cent and a great number of post-graduates and graduates can be produced.

In the health sector, new hospitals and dispensaries were opened and upgraded and modern equipment was also installed in the hospitals for uplift of health and fitness of the entire people. Institutes of Medicine, Institute of Dental Medicine, Institute of Pharmacy, Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Institute of Nursing, University of Community Health produce medical scientists. The government has also extended measures on improvement of efficiency in the profession and medical education. University of Traditional Medicine and traditional medicine hospitals were opened for development of traditional medicine.

In rural development sector, tasks were laid down for raising the living standard of rural people, who constitute over 70 per cent of the country’s population, and are being implemented for development of rural economic, education, health and social sectors.

The Union Solidarity and Development Association has been formed as a consolidated national force and the association is training new generation youths.

In order to keep abreast of the advancing information and communication technology which influences global society with greater momentum, new technologies are being applied in information and communication technology in Myanmar . Necessary measures are to be undertaken for continued progress of the technology since the country has linked up with the world communication network.

Myanmar has maintained goodwill relations with the nations of the world and neighboring countries, constantly practicing independent and active foreign policy based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence. It is also actively participating in the UN and international organizations for world peace, security and development.

The government has laid down the seven-point Road Map, which is a task of transition to democracy for emergence of a peaceful modern developed nation and it is implementing it step by step. It is necessary for the entire people to take part in the successful implementation of the Road Map with the Union spirit upholding Our Three Main National Causes.

We have laid down the four national objectives for the 58th Anniversary Independence Day with the firm determination for the emergence of a peaceful modern discipline-flourishing democratic nation—

(1) All the national people to collectively safeguard the national independence and sovereignty of the State and ensure non-disintegration of the Union and national unity

(2) All the national people to unitedly strive with might and main for emergence of an enduring State constitution and for building a new modern and developed nation

(3) All the national people to work in concert for success of the seven-point Road Map of the State with the Union spirit and nationalistic spirit

(4) All the national people to make concerted efforts for building of a new discipline-flourishing democratic nation

Therefore, all national people are urged to implement the objectives with united strength and endeavours based on the Union Spirit and patriotism on this auspicious occasion of Independence Day of the Union of Myanmar.

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