Ensuring national reconsolidation, bounden duty of Tatmadaw Government

Social scientists say that judgments shall be made in conformity with practical principles (physical performance). The Tatmadaw Government which unavoidably assumed State duties in 1988 has been making efforts unremittingly for national development through the 12 political, economic and social objectives.

It is obvious that the Tatmadaw Government has achieved unprecedented success in implementing the four political objectives — stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, prevalence of law and order, national reconsolidation, emergence of a new State Constitution, building of a new modern developed nation in accord with the new State Constitution. Similarly, it has made a good headway with economic and social objectives.

Nowadays, certain internal and external groups are fabricating false news as though the Tatmadaw Government were opposed to the drive for national reconsolidation. In reality, ensuring national reconsolidation is the inborn duty of the Tatmadaw. The following points bear witness to how the Tatmadaw Government has been constantly striving for national reconsolidation.

1. Seventeen national race armed groups, that rose against successive previous governments for several decades, returned to the legal fold, some of whom have unconditionally handed over their arms and are participating in the development tasks. As a result, peace, stability and progress prevail in the entire nation including border areas.

2. It has allowed political parties to exist legally, and has been taking all possible measures for building a new developed nation in harness with those parties.

3. It held the multi-party general election in 1990 with the aim of enabling the Tatmadaw, political parties and the people to make efforts in concert for the emergence of a State Constitution needed for the future nation.

4. The Tatmadaw held tripartite talks of political parties whose representatives were elected in 1990 election, parties of national races whose representatives were elected, and representatives of the Tatmadaw Government and had agreed for the framing of a State Constitution by convening of a National Convention for democratic transition; and the Head of State met and encouraged the representatives.

5. The National Convention commenced in 1993 together with various national races, people from all strata of life, intellectuals and intelligentsia, representatives of national races, elected representatives and other invited persons, and it laid down 104 basic principles.

6. The articles by Maung Yin Hmaing in the issues of the newspapers in 2003 carried:

(a) The documentary photo of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Suu Kyi exchanging clear smiles and shaking trustful hands,

(b) The documentary photo that shows frank and cordial exchange of views can lead to consolidated national political future of the nation,

(c) The documentary photo showing a family dinner of State Peace and Development Council members headed by Chairman Senior General Than Shwe and NLD Party leadership, and

(d) The documentary photo showing frequent discussions between NLD CEC members led by Daw Suu Kyi and the Government delegation led by a minister were frank, cordial trustful ones. Those photos represented the cooperation for national reconsolidation.

7. The Government held discussions with NLD to join hands for carrying out nation-building tasks. On 6 May 2002 the restrictions imposed on Daw Suu Kyi were lifted. Then, the Tatmadaw Government and NLD had been able to build mutual trust. Daw Suu Kyi had been allowed to travel to anywhere and take organizational measures freely. At the beginning of the trips, Daw Suu Kyi was treated as a very important person to view Duyingabo River Water Pumping Project near Aunglan, Yanpe Creek Project near Taungdwingyi, Ayeyawady River crossing Bridge (Magway) Project, Paunglaung Hydropower Project, Thanlwin River crossing Bridge (Mawlamyine) Project, Winphanon Dam Project, Thayettabin Agricultural Project near Minhla, South Nawin Dam Project near Paukkhaung, Nyaungkai Dam Project near Padaung, and Nathmaw River Water Pumping Project near Pyay. However, the growing trust was interrupted by alien instigation and influence, thereby leading to Dabayin conflict on 30 May 2003 that put an end to trust-building and cooperation.

8. In 2003, the Tatmadaw Government declared the State’s seven-point Road Map in order that the entire national people could make efforts in cohesion for building a democratic nation. The temporarily adjourned National Convention was reconvened in accord with the seven-point Road Map; and the Government invited all the delegates including those of the political parties that had attended the National Convention, plus elected representatives. In addition, it invited representatives from all walks of life and national races, and held discussions with remnant armed groups.

9. The reconvening of the National Convention, the first stage of the State’s seven-point Road Map, with eight groups of representatives such as representatives of national races, representatives from all walks of life, representatives of intellectuals and intelligentsia, representatives of political parties, elected representatives, and other invited persons.

It is apparent that the above-mentioned facts are convincing evidences of the earnest efforts the Tatmadaw Government has been exerting to gain national reconsolidation and to enable the entire national people to build democratic nation in concert.

The Tatmadaw Government exerted its utmost efforts based on mutual trust. But, the other side failed to reciprocate. The drive for national reconsolidation is thus still far away from the goal due to the fact that some parties and groups cling on to negative views towards the Tatmadaw Government while they think themselves otherwise, and rely too much on external elements. To make matters worse, certain big nations are inciting them.

The article “A New Approach Towards Burma Just Might Work” by David Oldfield in the 25-6-2003 issue of The Nation newspaper asked why an approach towards national reconsolidation needs to be based on political realities. In reviewing the present approaches, it is found that West European countries and others are favouring NLD and regarding it as a standard democracy movement group while setting conditions on the State Peace and Development Council to give concessions to the former. Such approaches mean that the government has to concede to NLD. Indeed, that is just a disregard to the nation’s prevailing political reality.

The ruling government is a national force. So, if they really want national reconsolidation, they should maintain relations as a good friend. It is the building of mutual trust. Instead of getting down to practical work making one-sided demands will achieve nothing. The writer is a doctorate as well as the chairman of Brooker Policy Research Co Ltd.

Political researchers say that high level of intelligence is just the ability to remedy the mistakes one has made as soon as possible but not the ability to avoid making mistakes.

Social scientists say that the best way to understand ideology is the way from which one constantly takes lessons from one’s mistakes through bitter experiences.

As national reconsolidation means making peace and unity among internal groups, the disputes among national groups must be solved in the frame of national interests. So, national reconsolidation in the interests of the nation is bounden duty of the Tatmadaw Government.

Author :  Aung Moe San