NAY PYI TAW January 4
A ceremony to award military gallantry medals and titles to those who shouldered their duties at risk oftheir lives for the sake of the State and the people in 2018 and 2019 took place at Zeyathiri Beikman here on the afternoon of the 72nd Independence Day(today). Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing addressed at the ceremony and presented the gallantry medals and titles.
Also present on the occasion were DawKyu Kyu Hla, wife ofthe Senior General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Thiri Pyanchi Soe Win and wife, the Union Minister for Home Affairs and wife,the Union Minister for Defence and wife, the Union Minister for Border Affairs and wife,the Chief of the General Staff(Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief(Air) and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officers, other ranks and heirs who would receive medals and titles, and invited persons.
Giving an honorary speech, the Senior General said this is a honourable ceremony to award military gallantry medals and titles to those who shouldered their duties at risk of their lives for the sake of the State and the people. It is an inborn duty ofevery citizen to safeguard independence and sovereignty for their perpetuity. It is common knowledge that with its fine traditions, the Tatrnadaw, as a major organization responsible for national defence, has been serving national duties by sacrificing a lot of lives, blood and sweat.
Likewise, wives of soldiers who are an auxiliary force of the Tatmadaw are shouldering national defence duties at risk of their lives. This is why military gallantry medals and titles are awarded to those who did things that everyone cannot do every year on Independence Day.
The Tatmadaw was born with noble patriotism and nationalism willing to regain the independence that the country lost by joining hands with national people. Ours is a Union Tatmadaw or people’s Tatmadaw formed with siblings of national people born within the Union. It is also a strongest organization that is serving a wide range of selfless duties given by history at risk of life and body.
The twelve traditions of the Tatmadaw have stood witness to the fact that when it comes to serving national defence duties,the Tatmadaw is an organization that wants least but sacrifices most.
Nowadays, the State is marching towards a strong multi-party democratic system as aspired by the people. As such, Tatmadaw members filled with patriotism and nationalism are steadfastly serving their duties day and night to protect Our Three Main National Causes, the national treasure for the citizens.In view of serving the only interest of the people, the Tatmadaw is trying to end the long-running armed conflict through eternal peace. Lack ofpeace and stability is a major obstacle to national development. In this context, it is crucial for the country to be stable and peaceful in terms of politics and security.
In dealing with the peace issue, the Tatmadaw does not focus on the efforts for peace and problem solving on a short-term basis only. But it is trying to achieve lasting peace. The Tatmadaw is trying to complete the peace process by 2020 and bring eternal peace to the people as they wish.
However, leaders prioritizing selfishness with narrow-minded till today from some armed organizations are committing acts to undermine the administrative machinery of the government and cause lack of security for life and property of the people instead of peacefully realizing democracy,carrying out terrorist acts to encroach on the State interest because of their lesser wills to actually restore peace. That is why problems are being unavoidably solved through military way.
Neglecting several compliances and negotiations in patience by the government and the Tatmadaw, some armed organizations are encroaching on sovereignty of the State by triggering political gain and problems based on personal interests.
In reviewing the history, the Tatmadaw upholding Our Three Main National Causes forever conducted justice wars by standing tall before the State and the people without turning a blind eye to destructive acts. In so doing, those who performed sacrifices for the justice battles with loyalty to the State and the people to accomplish the assigned duties will be recorded as able persons of the State without fading their names in the history until they lost their lives.
In discharging State defence duty, in line with a saying which goes: “Martyr does not attach life as well as martyr is ready to sacrifice life”, those who sacrificed life and blood with the martyr spirit have been emerging one after another in the Tatmadaw.Consequently, Myanmar has been standing tall across the world till today.
At today’s ceremony, gallantry medals will be conferred on 15 recipients, gallantry certificates of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on three recipients and honorary certificates of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on six recipients.At the same time, respective commanders of military commands, on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, will confer gallantry certificates of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on 10 recipients and honorary certificates of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on 28 recipients.
The Senior General said he took special pride of those awarded military gallantry medals and certificates for their wonderfully gallant performances in sacrificing life and body for the State and the people with brave combats in fighting, their spirit of sacrifice and firm vows in discharging their assigned duties, and he honoured all gallant persons for their performances although they were not conferred gallant medals.
The Senior General urged every serviceman to always try hard to become patriotic Tatmadaw members on whom the State and the people rely by vigorously discharging assigned duties to accomplish the missions for the State and the people with relentless sacrifice of life.
Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing presented gallantry medals to two Lieutenant Colonels, three Majors, two Captains, two Sergeants and six heirs, gallantry certificates of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services to two Colonels and one Major and certificates of honour of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services to one Colonel, four Captains and one heir respectively.
The Senior General and party posed for documentary photos together with the officers,other ranks and heirs who secured military gallantry honorary medals and certificates.After the ceremony, the Senior General and party gave a tea in honour of the medal and certificate recipients and those present.Myawady Band under the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare entertained them with honorary songs. Then,the Senior General and party cordially greeted those present.
Thiha Thura title was awarded to one serviceman, Thuratitle to three and gallantry medal to nine on the 72nd Anniversary of Independence Day which falls on 4 January 2020. The number of military gallantry medals and certificates winners totalled six Aung San Thuriya title winners, 49 Thiha Thura title winners, 545 Thura title winners, six Thiha Bala medal winners, 1,860 gallantry record winners, 2,011 gallantry medal winners,337 winners for gallantry certificate of the Supreme Commander, 2,889 winners of gallantry certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, two winners of honorary certificate of the Supreme Commander and 1,713 winners of honorary certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.
