It is important for all of us to nurture Union Spirit regardless of the place we are residing  Only Union Spirit is the true patriotism that will ever protect and safeguard all the national races

YANGON , 12 Feb —The following is a translation of the message sent by Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, on the occasion of the 59th Anniversary Union Day, 2006, of the Union of Myanmar.

Esteemed national brethren born in the Union,On the auspicious occasion of the 59th Anniversary of Union Day, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all the national brethren living in the Union and may you enjoy physical and mental well-being.

“Union Day” is an auspicious and historic day, on which the Union of Myanmar, through the might of unity of national people, managed to throw off the yoke of servitude under the colonialists who enslaved the nation for more than one hundred years, and the nation became an independent and sovereign nation again.

Moreover, it is also the day which reflects the national essence that the nation, exerting the strength of the absolute unity of national races born in the Union , and the Union Spirit, could achieve a triumph over stark deception and the driving of a wedge by the colonialists, with national conviction and awareness.

From time immemorial, national brethren have been living together in the Union of Myanmar through thick and thin with friendship to one another, mutual help and reliance, forbearance, mutual collaboration based on family spirit and Union Spirit.

All the national races should notice and preserve the fine tradition of Myanmar Community that a tribe that has come into being since early history while in search of better place and condition settled down in groups in the area that would become the Union of Myanmar and they thrived into more than one hundred races.

Living together across the Union of Myanmar as well as in each and every part of the nation, various national races have possessed a common socio-economic life and shared joys and sorrows throughout the history.

Therefore, a national race or a part of the Union cannot be separated from national races or from the Union . And fruitful results will come out only when the entire Union and all the national races are taken into account together. This indicates a significant characteristic of the Union .

So, all the national racers are to accept that stability, peace, development and existence of the Union of Myanmar encompassing all the national races completely rely on the strength of national solidarity and flourishing of Union Spirit.

Throughout the history of the Union of Myanmar, the spirit of national unity, Union Spirit and anti-colonialist spirit or the spirit of collectively repulsing alien intrusion have always reflected the national vigour that enables the Union to stand tall among the world nations.

National people are to be aware of the fact that colonialists and neo-colonialists who are anxious to intrude into and dominate our Union have been intentionally breaking up national solidarity, the foundation of the Union , to weaken the national vigour.

In this regard, national people are to ever keep in mind a historic lesson that disintegration of national solidarity pushed the Union that have stood magnificently for thousands of years with own monarchs to fall under alien subjugation for more than one hundred years.

During the time when Myanmar was under subjugation, the colonialists separated the Union into many parts and exercised the divide-and-rule policy. And with a sinister scheme the colonialists conspired to widen the development gap between regions, cause doubts and differences among the national races and create hardships and problems to deprive Myanmar of peace and stability for successive eras so that it would have to rely on foreign countries. Due to the conspiracies, Myanmar faced armed conflicts for over 40 years after regaining independence and near disintegration of the Union for three times. We have to solve the problems till today of evil legacy inherited to us by the colonialists.

At present also, some powers wishing to dominate and manipulate the Union of Myanmar are perpetrating to cause racial dissension for the ruining of national solidarity and the recurrence of armed conflicts and obstruction of national development. They are also imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar and attempting to incite political instigations to hinder the momentum of national development. We must be vigilant against the steps and schemes of the neo-colonialists with national awareness. Esteemed national races,

Taking the lessons of history, the State Peace and Development Council has laid down the national policy — non-disintegration of the Union ; non-disintegration of national solidarity; and perpetuation of sovereignty — and has re-consolidated the national unity. Thanks to the national policy, the entire nation including border areas are witnessing peace and stability and sound foundations of cooperation and unity and political, economic and social developments as the State Peace and Development Council was able to end armed conflicts in the whole Union .

With the sound foundations as the base, the government laid down the seven-point Road Map for emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation in accord with the wish of the entire people. In addition, it has been in the process of convening the National Convention, the first and most important step of the Road Map, with the participation of the delegates of all walks of life in which the representatives of the national races are the majority.

Now, we are witnessing the bright prospects of the emergence of a constitution, drawn with the participation of the national races themselves, that will ensure continued flourishing of liberty, justice, equality and the rule of law in the country, with worthiest and noblest of worldly values as the base; propagation of fine traditions — peace and tranquillity, oneness and unity — among the national races; and equitable sharing of all fruits of progress.

At this opportune time, we all should strive with true-patriotism-based efforts for further promotion and propagation of the spirit of national unity and Union Spirit, the foundation of the Union as well as the national strength.

What is vital for all the national races is that they must always keep in their hearts the conviction “It is important for all of us to nurture Union Spirit regardless of the place we are residing. Only Union Spirit is the true patriotism that will ever protect and safeguard all the national races”.

In conclusion, I would like to urge the entire people of the nation in all seriousness to implement the following objectives of the 59th Anniversary Union Day in harmony and unison and with firm resolve, while always cultivating Union Spirit, which is the true patriotism, and always striving to further consolidate national solidarity for emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation:

— for all national races to safeguard the national policy — non-disintegration of the Union; non-disintegration of national solidarity; and perpetuation of sovereignty
— to keep Union Spirit ever alive and dynamic among the national people
— for all national people to defend and safeguard the Union for its perpetual existence
— to prevent, through national solidarity, the danger of internal and external destructive elements undermining peace and stability of the State and national development
— for all national races to make concerted efforts for successful implementation of the seven-point future policy programme of the State.

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing attend fifth Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image

YANGON, 11 Feb — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing attended the fifth Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image on Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township this morning.

Also present on the occasion were State Ovadaçariya Sayadaws, members of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Tipita-kadhara, Tipitakakovida Sayadaws, members of the State Central Working Committee of the Sangha, members of the Sangha of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, State Pariyatti Sasana University (Yangon), State Vinayadhara Sayadaws, the Chairman of Yangon Division Sangha Nayaka Committee, totalling 45, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet, Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein and wife Daw Khin Khin Win, members of the State Peace and Development Council and theirwives, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and their wives, Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defence and wife, the Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command and wife, ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the Yangon Mayor, and senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and their wives, the Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental heads, the Chairman of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and members, religious and social association members, wellwishers and guests.

First, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San offered lights, flowers, water, ‘soon’, and alms to Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image and paid homage.

At 7.30 am, the ceremony to share merits gained was held at Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi in which the Buddha Image is kept. Adviser U Arnt Maung supplicated on the agenda of the ceremony.

The ceremony was opened with the recitation of Namo Tassa three times. Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and the congregation received the Nine Precepts from Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Magway Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Kumara. Members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing offered robes and provisions to the Chairman Sayadaw.

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San also donated robes and alms to Secretary Nyaungdon Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Osadhabhivamsa.

Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, presented robes and offertories to Vice-Chairman Sayadaw Bahan Aungmyebonsan Monastery Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Paññinda-bhivamsa.

Afterwards, General Thura Shwe Mann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet donated robes and provisions to Vice-Chairman Sayadaw Dawei Gawthitayama Monastery Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Arçinnabhivamsa.

So also, Prime Minister General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe offered robes and donations to Vice-Chairman Mandalay Chanmyathazi Maha Nandithenayama Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Ariyabhivamsa.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein and wife Daw Khin Khin Win presented robes and alms to State Ovadaçariya Bahan Thirimanta Sankyaung Monastery Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa.

Members of the State Peace and Development Council, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and party also donated robes and offertories to members of the Sangha.

Secretary Sayadaw Bhaddanta Osadhabhivamsa delivered a sermon, and Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party shared merits gained.

The ceremony ended with three-time recitation of Buddha Sasanam Çiram Titthatu.

After the ceremony, the ‘soon’ offering ceremony followed. While Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party donated ‘soon’ and other alms to 108 members of the Sangha, Mingala Drum Troupe of Thirikhema Wut Association sang the religious songs.

Likewise, the Ministry of Defence, State Peace and Development Council Office, the Prime Minister’s Office, Adjutant-General’s Office, Quartermaster-General’s Office, Commander-in-Chief (Navy)’s Office, Commander-in-Chief (Air)’s Office, ministries, Supreme Court, Attorney-General’s Office, Auditor-General’s Office, Civil Service Selection and Training Board Office, Yangon Command Headquarters, Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Office, Yangon City Development Committee, District and Township PDCs and wellwishers donated provisions and alms worth K 16.5 million to members of the Sangha.