USDA serving national interest as it represents the people

For a Myanmar studying history of the country and the world will make him acquire knowledge every citizen should have. Moreover, the treatise compiled by Shin Maha Ratthasara on the search of knowledge and wisdom is a lighthouse of knowledge for every Myanmar and a directive for the nation and the race. The treatise will help every person become a good citizen.

The love for the nation and the race originates from the human nature of the love for himself. It is the nature of human beings to enjoy a fair share of social life and to live in a peaceful and secure environment. Basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are the main requirements for man to live. But man’s wishes never stop there. They want better living conditions and higher social status and living standards.

Naturally, man does not prefer to lead a solitary life. He wishes to live with family. As he wants a higher social standard, he wishes his family to enjoy a better social situation too. In this way his self-interest interacts with the majority’s interest. They begin to realize that the security of his family and property depends on the community peace and tranquillity. This understanding has made him possess the love for the community, the start of patriotism. Later he begins to understand further that only the national peace, security and progress will ensure a secure, peaceful and developing environment for his community and his family. Thus, he begins to love the nation and the race.

If man has patriotism, global and national historical outlook and the ability to take lessons from history and if he knows the dos and don’ts, he will be able to serve the interest of all the nation’s people in addition to his own.

Myanmar has fine historical traditions. The people were united in times of emergency throughout history. We have a brilliant history of unitedly warding off all forms of encroachments on our sovereignty. The harmonious and daring efforts of the national races in the three aggressive Anglo-Myanmar wars in 1824, 1852 and 1885, have already been gone down in the annals of the history.

The independence struggles of the people beginning 1900’s have been recorded in history. In other words, history of the independence struggle is the history of the people’s solidarity.

There are also lessons in history that the pace of independence struggle met with a delay because of the alien instigation and colonialist attempts to sow discord. And because of the instigation and colonialists attempts to sow discord, the nation after regaining independence faced a number of situations in which she was in danger of losing her independence once again.

Myanmar has favourable climate and is rich in natural resources including marine resources and minerals, oil and gas and gems. It is almost free from natural disasters. What’s more, forests cover half the nation’s land surface.

For round about 150 years — 100 years under colonialist exploitation and 50 years under internal insurgency — the nation despite her rich resources was poor. Thanks to the harmonious efforts of the Tatmadaw and the people since 1988, the nation has been able to restore peace and stability and build a large number of infrastructures one after another.

Myanmar now is enjoying progress in all aspects and is on the road to reaching the goal — peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation. Thus a national force loyal to the national cause was required to serve as the main driving force to build a new nation in the golden age.

The government formed the Union Solidarity and Development Association 12 years ago on 15 September 1993 with the sole intention of organizing the national force to serve the national interest without any political influences. The USDA emerged according to the historical requirement.

Youths from rural and urban areas, farmers and workers, artistes and artisans from various regions and members of the Armed Forces have been joining the USDA. As the national races of all 14 states and divisions are USDA members, we can say that the USDA represents the entire Union. The USDA has over 21 million members which is nearly half of the nation’s population, more than 54 million.

The USDA has been conducting various courses at the central, state/division, district and township levels. Hundreds of thousands of members have completed courses that cover a wide range of subjects including history and Myanmar and global affairs. Moreover, the courses have provided academic and general knowledge for the members.

The USDA considers all the causes, thoughts, wishes and aims of the entire nation as its own. The work programmes of the people to implement the national objectives is also the work programmes of the Association.

The national all-round development drive covers the five rural tasks. The USDA members are harmoniously, energetically and urgently striving to bring development to the nation, and ensure public peace and security and the people to fully enjoy the taste of independence.

All the members have made a pledge to observe the following Four Oaths:

I shall be loyal to the Union of Myanmar and her citizens.

I shall endeavour for Our Three Main National Causes, namely, non-disintegration of the Union; non-disintegration of the national solidarity; and perpetuation of sovereignty.

I will constantly strive for the emergence of a prosperous, peaceful and modern Union.

I will abide by the Code of Conduct of the Association.

The USDA Oaths clearly state the noble conviction of the Association, saying that it has no interest other than the nation and the people’s. The Oaths will help ensure the members’ loyalty to the nation, and enhance progress, unity, duty consciousness, morality, national dignity, patriotism, cultural preservation, community peace and the rule of law.

The Association has been striving with might and main for national peace and stability, all-round development and building of a modern and developed nation. As the USDA represents the people, it is participating with full energy in implementing the seven-point Road Map. With this article, I honour the USDA at its 12th anniversary.

Author :  Eint Dali