How to do Golden Land (Myanmar) (1)

NAY PYI TAW, 1 March—The following is the official translation of the address delivered by President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein’s at today’s third regular session of first Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) in accord with the section 210 of the Constitution in commemoration of the first anniversary of the government’s inauguration.

Myanmar President U Thein Sein

Esteemed Speaker and representatives of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw,

Under the Section 210 of the Constitution, I am here explaining the policies of the State, accomplishments of the government within a year and future programmes through this Hluttaw for public knowledge.

First, I wish the entire nation, all citizens who became expatriates for certain reasons, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker, the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives good health and happiness.

This month marks the first anniversary of the transfer of the administrative power to our government. On this occasion, I through Hluttaw representatives would like to present a brief account of our government’s achievements, ongoing tasks and future programmes to our compatriots who have entrusted the State executive power to us.

Our vigorous constitutional democratic transition has now systematically reached a peaceful path. The international media has named our democracy transition ‘Burma spring’ or ‘Myanmar spring’. As our stable and correct transition is gaining more and more international recognition, we need continuous efforts to win further trust. Our country is in the transition to a system of democracy with the constitution as the core. In fact, it is the uniqueness of our country and our people.

Have we already completed building a new nation where genuine democracy and eternal principles flourish? No, we still have much more to do.

We will have to make more strides. Actually, it is a long-term endeavour for perpetuity and burgeoning of a Myanmar democratic society. We had achievements as well as challenges during the one-year period. We have been working very hard as we saw a lot of people at home and abroad who had doubts on our government or who had no trust in our government during the previous year.

Our people have experienced numerous governments throughout the successive eras. Our practical endeavours and the objective conditions will bear testimony to the quality of our government. In the meantime, we on our part have already understood and accepted in all seriousness that our present undertakings are on the path vitally important in shaping the future of our country and people.

Our government, in fact, is a turning point to a historic beginning for the next generations. This is our conviction. We also solemnly accept the fact that the extent of success, stability and durability of the transition process of the present government will become the legacy for the future successive governments. When it comes to nation-building, peace and stability, unity, order and steadfastness are of vital importance in changing from one era to another and from one system to another.

If we compare our situation with the current global situation, our democratization process is a successful transition which the people can take as a model with great admiration. Who deserves credit? Not only the government, but also all the stakeholders including political parties, civil societies, members of the Hluttaws, the judicial pillar, the fourth estate media, national race leaders, and the Tatmadaw have been harmoniously taking part in the respective sectors to reach this situation.

The main players in fact are the people or in other words the entire nationalities of Myanmar. This accomplishment will go down into the annals of our chronicles as a new page of history. Our country has paved the way for a new democratic Myanmar amidst international observers. We must continue to walk on this path paved by all the countrymen in harmony and unison. Our democracy will become firmer and firmer if we walk on this path with the resolve that there is no turning back while setting aside differences and working together on common ground.

Mr. Speaker,

Since its assumption of State duties, our government has made efforts to fulfill the two main wishes of the entire people. The first wish of the people is to live in peace and stability. With this public wish in the fore, we have been giving priority to political process for national reconsolidation and eternal peace. We try to implement the “all-inclusive political process” for all the stakeholders to have a place in the process. Nowadays, our political process is showing sound results.

We have paved this path with the force of our goodwill and conviction to keep in fore public interest in line with the wish of the entire people. We are happy to see all the internal political forces trying with eagerness to become people’s representatives practicing democracy within the framework of the Constitution.

We have already granted amnesty to over 28,000 prisoners during our first-year term with the aim of ensuring all-inclusive opportunity in national reconsolidation and nation building tasks. It is a new record in terms of the number of amnesties granted in a year.

Frankly speaking, we granted amnesty for two times in January alone for all to take part in the coming by-elections. As we have welcomed back Myanmar expatriates living abroad for various reasons, we now witness with pleasure the eager participation and assistance of overseas Myanmars from various parts of the world.

Truly, we need a strong force of new political generation for a mature democracy. The need to build the nation through harmonious efforts by all new and old generations after finding a common ground has direct relevance to the future of the nation and entire people.

The participation of our brethren demanding rights throughout the past successive eras in our all inclusive political process is the most important thing. As we are a Union, the participation of all national races in this process on equal terms is a must. Actually such an opportunity is a never-come-true dream and a fade-away hope of our national brethren throughout the past successive eras.

We need to end misunderstandings and doubts that appear due to lack of close relations among us. Like all other national races such as Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan, Bamar is also one of the nationalities of the Union. The aspiration of the national races to share the rights among all and enjoy equality is also the desire of our government.

Let me take this opportunity to recount the words a national race leader said recently. He said, “18- or 19-year old armed youths told me they too wanted to use laptops and computers”. I was really disheartened to hear that.

So, I have made a firm commitment to end all suspicions and anxieties during our tenure. And this is the conviction of our government. We have the duty to heal the bitter wounds and sufferings and fulfil the lost dreams. It is the historic duty for all of us. We understand that it is a demanding task. But we have full confidence to shoulder this duty well. After making contacts with national races leaders our confidence grows stronger.

In truth, trust is a vitally important factor in our national reconsolidation process. Sincerely, we will make no deception in our stride to the goal of eternal peace. We will do the job with trust based on Panglong spirit. Questions about Kachin groups are coming from home and abroad. The people would also like to know about this matter. The question here is why the ceasefire cannot be in force even though I myself have ordered the Armed Forces to terminate all military offensives or attacks other than self-defence purposes.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services has already relayed my order to all the troops under his command. Orders and directives are the lifeblood of the Armed Forces. The remaining skirmishes will not end just by pointing a finger at one another. First both sides should cease all hostilities to start a political dialogue.

There must be mutual assurances and pledges to end all hostilities. It is the duty of our government and the Kachin leaders to fulfill the aspirations and hopes of the people. We have been providing aids and carrying out rehabilitation arrangements for local war victims and paving the way for domestic, foreign and international organizations to render assistance.

Our government has adopted three steps to realize eternal peace.

The first step is to hold the dialogue at state level. In this level both sides must stop all hostilities, stay only at the agreed areas, not to hold any arms in other places except from those agreed areas, open liaison offices in the mutually agreed places, and fix the venue, time and date for Union level dialogue. No political dialogue is included in this level. A sincere and genuine wish for peace is the only requirement to complete this level. The scope of the level is just to make an agreement for dialogue after terminating all hostilities.

Second step is the Union level. The points to be discussed at this step are to secede from the Union by no means, accept Our Three Main National Causes, cooperate in economic development tasks, cooperate in elimination of narcotic drugs, take part in political process following setting up of political parties, discuss at length with other national races at Hluttaw and amend the constitution, and coordinate existence of only a single armed force in accord with the constitution. After both sides reach agreement, we will enter third step.

At the third step, agreement will be signed at the Hluttaw comprising all main political players like the government, national race leaders, political parties and political forces and people’s representatives. We must make resolution wholeheartedly to keep undying peace in the Hluttaw. In doing so, we need to bring peace in order that the government, national races and all citizens can achieve a goal by way of three pillars—mutual understanding, equality and development. It is required to amend the constitution by common consent so as to address our needs.

The three steps are the roadmap of the State to ensure eternal peace. This roadmap will entail such many strategies as infrastructures, economic opportunities, industrial zones, resettlement and rehabilitation measures, and social structures as education and health. It is compulsory for national race leaders, political parties, people’s representatives and civil society organizations to stand united with our government until national races under the shade of peace can stand tall.

We all must try our hardest to see national races youths, who had brandished guns, using laptops. By inviting local and foreign investments and welcoming assistance, we must fulfill their requirements from every conceivable angle. Our Union, home to over one hundred national races, must promote the characteristics of diversity with honour in line with the equality which is the standpoint of our government.

Our government as elected by the people has been carrying out bounden duty of national reconsolidation aspired by all national people. It was not because of push and pressure of any person and any organization, but the desire of our people.

(Speech of Myanmar President U Thein Sein)