National peace and stability and democracy transition benefiting each other, and gaining progress due to Tatmadaw government’s efforts

Driven by their zeal to become an industrial country, the majority of newly independent developing nations of the post-World War II era tried to rebuild themselves with centralized programmes. But they fell far beyond their goals due to their wrong option of installing socialist system right away. They were in the process of exercising the centralized single party system.

From the angle of modern political science, they were trying to leapfrog an era of setting up a capitalist system. Within a period of 20 to 30 years, those nations were facing hardships in many aspects resulting from drastic fall in the economy.

Because of the dwindling situations they were facing, the existing governments, leaders and the peoples of those developing nations wanted changes.

But an unrest erupted in Myanmar, as the Burma Socialist Programme Party had no remedy to address the deteriorating situation, although it had found the source of the problem. As the Tatmadaw government knew both the source and remedial measures, it was able to overcome such a difficult situation.

After assumption of the State duties in 1988 due to unavoidable circumstances, the Tatmadaw government dissolved the socialist economy and the then political system, and since then it has adopted the market economy and has been building a democratic state in conformity with 12 political, economic and social objectives. First it strove to restore community peace and the rule of law, and then permitted legal existence of political parties. One of its significant achievements is in the sector of national consolidation as 17 armed groups have returned to the legal fold and are joining hands with it. The government held a free and fair election in 1990 to write a constitution, the top priority requirement in the field of politics.

Sadly, the party that won the largest number of votes chose the policy of opposing and confronting the government, demanding the transfer of power without the existence of any constitution.

However, the government chose the way to national re-consolidation, and after reaching an agreement with the political parties, whose candidates had been elected, thorough coordination, held the National Convention representing the whole nation in 1993, with the aim of laying down basic principles. At the National Convention, delegates of national races were working hand in hand with elected representatives and delegates of political parties. But in 1996 before the completion of the Convention, the National League for Democracy boycotted and left it. Thus the Convention had to be adjourned.

Myanmar at present is achieving progress as never before, because of the endeavours for flourishing of the market economy and implementing of the multiparty democracy system. Local and foreign investments grow larger, and the domestic market gets sound links with ASEAN, Asian and international markets. Production, trade and services industries are developing and have reached the international level. The entire transport sector is seeing progress alongside the communication advancement in the nation witnessing the emergence of industrial zones and flourishing of border trade.

In addition, ASEAN-member Myanmar is extending cooperation with neighbouring and global countries, while enjoying infrastructure development in various sectors. The population of national entrepreneurs, middle class, academics and a new breed of advanced workers, the basic classes of the market economy, is also growing in the nation that is achieving unprecedented development and changes in all economic, political and social sectors.

The Tatmadaw government is winning greater cooperation with people from all walks of life. Some former armed groups that returned to the legal fold made unconditional exchange of arms for peace. The success and progress achieved due to the government’s goodwill and sincerity have been chronicled in the book — Chronicle of National Development, Companison between period preceding 1988 and after (up to 12-2-2005). The book includes the following tables comparing the nation’s situations in 1988 and during the period up to 12 February 2005

— Development in the border areas and national races affairs sector.

— Development in the sector of drug elimination efforts.

— Development in the sgricultural sector.

— Development in the livestock breeding and fishery sector.

— Development in forestry sector.

— Development in the regional greening sector.

— Development in the transport sector.

— Development in the communication sector.

— Development in the electric power sector.

— Development in the industrial sector.

— Development in the energy sector.

— Development in the education sector.

— Development in the science and technology sector.

— Development in the health sector.

— Development in the sector of development affairs.

— Development in the sector of roads and bridges.

— Development in the sector of information and public relations sector.

According to the law of social science, the truth can be sought in the objective conditions and the developments today give witness to the degree of progress the nation has achieved during the administration of the Tatmadaw government. As the nation is witnessing progress to that degree at present, the government has laid down and is implementing the seven-point Road Map.

The government resumed the National Convention in accord with to the Road Map that was laid down in 2003. The Convention has been laying down basic principles for drawing a constitution. Hence, a new discipline-flourishing democratic nation will emerge in accord with the Road Map. Thanks to the government’s efforts, the national peace and stability and the democracy transition are benefiting each other, and both are gaining progress.

Author : Aung Moe San