Nay Pyi Taw March 27
The Parade of the 76th Anniversary Armed Forces Day took place at Nay Pyi Taw military parade ground this morning with an address by Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing.
Military personnel of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air), female parade company of the Tatmadaw (Army), members of Myanmar Police Force and female parade company of MPF in columns which would participate in the parade ceremony took positions at archway of the parade ground and participated in it on the parade agenda.
First, the Bagpipe Band and the Central Military Band and took the designated position in the parade ground. Antiquated mechanized artillery column, antiquated armored vehicle column, mechanized column of Directorate of Artillery, mechanized column of Directorate of Missiles, mechanized column of Directorate of Tanks, mechanized column of the Office of Chief of Bureau of Air Defence, mechanized column of Directorate of Military Engineers, mechanized column of Office of Commander-in-Chief (Navy) led by column commander Brig-Gen Thein Htwe of the mechanized column, took the designated positions. Then, the flag bearers led by Parade Commander Maj- Gen Soe Min Oo, followed by Anawrahta Column led by Column Commander Brig- Gen Moe Zaw Tun comprising the parade companies representing the Burma Independence Army (BIA), Burma Defence Army (BDA), Burma National Army (BNA), Patriotic Burmese Forces (PBF), Burma Army (BA), torch holders, and berets; Kyansittha Column led by Column Commander Brig-Gen Aung Aung comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour, Gurakha Hats, Point 303 Rifles, BA-52 sten guns, BA-63, women troops (Army, Navy and Air) (1957-1972), Tatmadaw (Navy)(1957-1972), Tatmadaw (Air) (1957-1972); Bayintnaung Command led by Column Commander Brig-Gen Tun Naing Oo comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour, Tatmadaw (Army) (1973-1988), Tatmadaw (Navy) (1973-1988), Tatmadaw (Air)(1973-1988), Tatmadaw (Army) (1989-1999), Tatmadaw (Navy) (1989-1999), Tatmadaw (Air) (1989-1999), Tatmadaw (Army) (2000- 2014); Aungzeya Column led by Column Commander Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Htoo, comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour,Tatmadaw (Navy) (2000-2014); Tatmadaw (Air) (2000-2014); MPF (2000-2014); Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), company 1 of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Office of the Chief of Defence Industry, Directorate of Military Engineers; Hsinbyushin Column led by Column Commander Brig-Gen Maung Maung Soe comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour, Office of Commander-in- Chief (Air), company 1 of Office of Commander-in-Chief (Air), Directorate of Signals, South- East Command, South-West Command, North-West Command, Directorate of Ordnance; Bandoola Column led by Column Commander Brig- Gen Soe Tint comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour, female officer company of Office of Commander-in- Chief (Army), female (other ranks) company of Office of Commander-in-Chief (Army), Airborne company, Eastern Command, Southern Command, Coastal Region Command, Eastern Central Command; Aung San Column led by Column Commander Police Brig- Gen Han Tun comprising the parade companies representing the Guard of Honour, MPF female guard of honour, No. 1 female company, No. 2 female company, No. 1 male company, No.2 male company, No. 3 male company, No. 4 male company of Myanmar Police Force marched to the parade ground together with the military bands in accord with the agenda.
The Parade of 76th Anniversary Armed Forces Day was also attended by delegation led by Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Daw Than Than Nwe, wife of Vice- Chairman of the Council Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in- Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, council members and their wives, the Union chief of justice, the Chairman of Constitutional Tribunal, the Chairman of Union Election Commission, Union ministers, Union attorney- general, Union Auditor- General, the chairman of Union civil service board, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw council and the governor of Central Bank of Myanmar and their wives, senior military officers of Office of Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) and their wives, Independence Mawgun First, Second and Third Class Award winners, retired senior military officers (Army, Navy and Air), families of retired commanders-in-chief of Defence Services, judges of the Union supreme court, members of Constitutional Tribunal and UEC members, representatives from the armed ethnic groups who have signed the NCA, members of the Nay Pyi Taw council, families and relatives of Aung San Thuriya title winners, officers and other ranks who were awarded Thura titles and gallantry medals and their families and relatives, members of the People’s Militia (Transform), members of the People’s Militia (original) and Border Guard Central Advisory Group, military attachés and officials from foreign missions, retired ambassadors, directors general and managing directors of respective ministries, retired Tatmadaw who serves as directors general or managing directors of respective ministries, members of Myanmar War Veterans Organization, retired directors general from Myanmar Police Force, Myanmar Fire Brigade and Myanmar Red Cross Society, chairman of political parties, artistes who participated in movies honouring the Tatmadaw, winners in the marching and military songs, poem, short story and novel contests, Tatmadaw athletes who won medals in international sports events, donors of the Armed Forces Day, students from University for Development of National Races, members of the University Training Corps, instructors and trainees from marine youth training course and aviation youth training course, invited guests and local and foreign media.
The Senior General arrived at the parade ground and took position at the review stand. The Tatmadawmen from the military columns and members of Myanmar Police Force saluted nineteengun salute. Then, the Senior General inspected the parade columns.
The Senior General, Tatmadawmen from the military columns and members of Myanmar Police Force saluted the State Flag and fallen Tatmadawmen and recited the Four Oaths in chorus. In his address, the Senior General said today is the parade in honour of the 76th Armed Forces Day of Tatmadaw imbued with the immense prestige etched in the annals of history remained steadfast in its commitment to protecting the motherland in successive terms and it is also intended to commemorate the 75th Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of Armed Forces Day postponed for COVID-19 pandemic. It is a great honour bestowed on Tatmadaw that seeks to uphold the virtuous traditions through the annals till the 75th Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee).
Our country nestled in a serene shelter with a prosperous identity and unified multinational races as an independent and sovereign State through the annals of history relinquished independence and sovereignty in 1886 and fell into the suppression of Imperialists for hundred years.
Thirty Comrades led by Thakhin Aung San and the patriotic leaders composed of multi-national races tried to learn hard the military tactics with the Japanese assistance to establish Tatmadaw for the repulsion to imperialists. With the leading role of Thirty Comrades and General Aung San, Burma Independence Army (BIA) was established in Bangkok, Thailand on 27th December 1941 and then BIA entwined with patriotic people annihilated the British Imperialists. After the withdrawal of the British, people were brutally tortured notwithstanding Japan declared nominal independence on 1st August 1943. On 27th March 1945, Tatmadaw in collaboration with people launched the triumphal and historical anti-fascist movement. Afterwards, Armed Forces Day was denoted on this date. Burma Independence Army (BIA) was constituted in sequence as Burma Defence Army (BDA) in 1942, Burma National Army (BNA) in 1943, Patriotic Burma Force (PBF) in July and Burma Army in September 1945. Tatmadaw is an institution hailed from the independence movement since Tatmadaw together with people restored independence from the regime of British Imperialists on 4th January 1948. Since the internal armed conflicts ignited from the spillover effect of the divideand- rule policy of Imperialists, ideological differences and ethnic diversity in Post-Independence, Tatmadaw defeated the insurgents with much sacrifice not to relinquish the restored Independence. Since the Burma Communist Party (BCP) went underground on 28th March 1948, other armed organisations came into existence. The international community named them as multicoloured insurgents. At that time, General Ne Win who holds the rank of Chief of Staff of Defence Forces could restore the solidarity and stability of the Nation by prevailing over the multi-coloured insurgents across the Nation with a handful of Infantry Units and Corps.The internal armed conflicts did not occur between Tatmadaw and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) but between governmental bodies and ethnic groups, and Tatmadaw remained steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the Nation and its sovereignty. Tatmadaw has prevailed over the multicoloured insurgency as well as the intrusion of Kuomintang (White Chinese Army) and Mujahedeen based in Rakhine State during 1950-61. During 1962-72, Tatmadaw annihilated the insurgents in Bago and Delta Region. Likewise, the movement of BCP settled in the Bago mountain range came to an end in 1975 since Tatmadaw collaborated with people launched major operations by a four-cut strategy.
As Burma Communist Party launched an attack on Mong Yang with three columns in September 1988 to put the Tatmadaw in a predicament by taking advantage of the 1988 uprising, Tatmadaw engaged in the historical Mong Yang Battle for 8 days. Consequently, Kokang seceded from Burma Communist Party after they were defeated in Mong Yang Battle, and the BCP Northeast operation area came to an end in the collapse of the Burma Communist Party (Headquarters) due to the seizure of power by UWSA. Tatmadaw also defeated the insurgents who attacked the Methawor area, Karen State in September 1988.
The insurgent outposts stationed along the border of Southeast Command were captured in 1989, and the insurgents encroached upon the Delta region were also annihilated in 1991. The insurgents in the Northeast border, furthermore, initiated the massive attack on Tatmadaw Headquarters and Units in Laukkai in February 2015 to occupy the whole Kokang area and to extend their area from Monekoe-Hpawnghseng to Northern Myanmar.
Therefore, Tatmadaw conducted counter-insurgency operations including urban operation with airstrike and artillery support and successfully captured the insurgents’ outposts deployed along the border. Afterwards, the insurgents formed the Northern Allied Coalition and Tatmadaw repelled the simultaneous attacks on the outposts such as Monekoe, Hpawnghseng, Mankan, 105-mile and Monepaw in November 2016. I would like you to be aware that Tatmadaw put strenuous effort at risk of their lives, blood and sweat to protect from internal and external destructive elements since the independence movement to date.
At present, the Nation and Tatmadaw had already conferred gallantry titles, medals and certificates to military personnel, members of Myanmar Police Force and People Militia who shouldered the duties at risk of their lives in the interests of Nation and people as in (6) for Aung San Thuriya Title, (50) for Thiha Thura Title, (546) for Thura Title, (1,860) for Gallantry Record, (2,018) for Gallantry Medal, (339) for Certificate of Gallantry presented by Field Marshal, and (2,987) for Certificate of Gallantry presented by Commander-in-Chief. I would like to convey my great honour to those who gave many sacrifices for the Nation and people though they have not received any gallantry titles, medals and certificates. Family members of Aung San Thuriya Title winners are requested to have an honour of their company in this ceremony.
In honour of senior comrades who gave many sacrifices, today military parade portrays the profound demonstration of Burma Independence Army (BIA) Dress, Burma Defence Army (BDA) Dress, Burma National Army (BNA) Dress, Patriotic Burma Force (PBF) Dress and Burma Army Dress which are worn since its inception and the dresses of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air) which are suited in successive terms after the independence. In honour and redolent of strenuous efforts in counter multicoloured insurgency operations in post-independence, antiquated artilleries and armoured vehicles are unveiled in this military parade. At present, it can be seen that such defective artilleries and armoured vehicles could be transformed into modern ones by the efforts of successive leaders.
Tatmadaw has a common aim to build up a Standard Army imbued with combat capability and combat power for conventional warfare to serve steadfastly the national defence duty. While building up the Standard Army, Tatmadaw has designed to broaden the war establishment and integrated weaponry for Army, to construct and purchase the naval vessels and gears for the Navy, and to seek advantage of modest form in aircraft modernisation, production and possession of modern aircraft for Air Force. The human resources of Tatmadaw make a substantial contribution to the development of the Tatmadaw and Nation-building sectors.
In the immense value of HR development for Tatmadaw, there are about 1,200 DSc and PhD holders and over 14,000 Master degree holders who are experts in medicine, engineering, technology and fields of specialisation, and they prove their mettle in the accomplishment of assigned tasks for the Nation and Tatmadaw.
As it is an honour to the 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of Armed Forces Day on 27th March 2020, Tatmadaw conferred honorary awards for gallantry, service, fine arts, literature, business, technology, healthcare and sports. Moreover, Tatmadaw annually trains the athletes who highly represent and stand for the Nation and Tatmadaw. I would like to express my profound gratitude to remarkable military sportsmen in a major role for swimming, football, shooting, boxing and athletics in SEA Games, Asian Games and World Olympic Games. Tatmadaw also assists in the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief programme for the Nation and People.
Specialists, medical officers and members from Tatmadaw could provide healthcare services to over 2.5 million people for 8-year-tenure. From 2011 to 2021, the Myanmar Navy could also rescue over 4,000 refugees stranded in the sea. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of 1,150 Myanmar nationalities stranded in Malaysia and Port Blair, India for years could be repatriated to the homeland by military ships in February and March 2021. The repatriation of the remnant is in progress. Moreover, military hospitals could provide healthcare services to a total number of 90,000 public out-patients, 30,000 in-patients and 6,000 maternity patients who encountered difficulty since people’s hospitals could not function in February and March for unacquainted reasons.
As for the HADR programme, Myanmar Air Force cooperates in search and rescue operations and catering services for foodstuffs and medicine to the stricken people to some extent. People, civil service, senior citizens and unhealthy people being stricken in the Rakhine conflict were evacuated by Tatmadaw helicopters. Tatmadaw is ready and steadfast in the responsibility to deal with the dangers including disasters that affected the Nation and its citizens within a second, and I would like to urge you to be of assistance for disaster-affected area regardless of someone else’s order.
Tatmadaw puts an emphasis on those preventive measures for people with real virtue and the implementation of internal peace which is essential for the Union based on democracy and federalism. The Tatmadaw made offers for peace in successive terms of government. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) has been signed with 10 Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) due to the peace offers made in the previous multi-party democratic period. Tatmadaw’s stance for peace embarks on the road to Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to achieve eternal peace through Six Peace Principles. Those principles are laid down in consideration for the interests of the Nation and people. Therefore, Tatmadaw declared a unilateral ceasefire to achieve eternal peace. At this juncture, the three committees composed of national solidarity and peace-making central committee,working committee and negotiation committee are organised to put great effort for eternal peace. It is convinced that some armed organisations are asking for unilateral propositions towards self-interests, and are conducting illegal trade and drug smuggling while others are heading towards peace. Our Nation stood under the rule of the Monarchy ever since before she relinquished the independence but was governed by the different administrative system including the parliamentary democracy system since independence.
The Nation practices the multi-party democracy system by the people’s desire since 2011 and embraces to stand tall as a Union based on democracy and federalism. Therefore, I would like to impart that it should not be acceptable to put propositions ahead by terrorism which can be harmful to State tranquillity and social security. It is a prerequisite to sit together for the constructive peace dialogue by putting the weapons aside to end the armed conflict which is the major deterrence to the development of the Nation. Moreover, I would like to urge non signatory Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) to sign NCA and the signatory ones to follow the agreements within the legal framework and to go hand in hand with Tatmadaw for eternal peace.
While NCA is in progress, Tatmadaw renders assistance to displaced persons stranded in some regions for their return. Tatmadaw cooperates with the related departments in the fundamental things; food, clothing and shelter and socio-economic development including demining in the respective areas for the return of displaced persons stranded on IDP camps.
Tatmadaw is an institution that has to abide by the promulgated law. It is also needed to abide by the law and be an institution of morale and morality. Tatmadaw, an example of discipline, needs to embrace virtuous traditions. Every single serviceman and servicewoman joined Tatmadaw by their consent and moral virtues for national defence. Therefore, I would like to leave a word that military personnel need to be proud of vowing to sacrifice lives and to be ones entrusted by the Nation and Tatmadaw.
Tatmadaw assumed the State responsibility on 1st February 2021 due to the unacquainted reasons that occurred in the multi-party general election which was held on 8th November 2020. There were 39.2 million eligible voters around the country in the multi-party democracy general election. Tatmadaw examined the voter list and controversially found over 10.4 million instances of irregularities although Tatmadaw repeatedly asked for a free and fair election. Tatmadaw called for the NLD-led Government, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and Union Election Commission to explain ongoing controversial issues several times, but they neglected and failed to respond to the requests and are proceeding to form a new government and to call respective Hluttaw.
Such kinds of action lead to “The act or attempt to take over the sovereignty of the Union by wrongful forcible means” mandated in Section 40 (C) and Section 417 of the 2008 Constitution. Therefore, Tatmadaw unavoidably assumed the State responsibility by lawful means due to the unlawful acts of the NLD-led Government in the 2020 election.
After the accomplishment of State of Emergency provisions, a free and fairelection will be re-run and the handover of State responsibility will be continued. As Tatmadaw is being a part of the Nation and military personnel are also a part of the people, Tatmadaw is seeking the commitment of the entire Nation and people who go through thick and thin to be able to nestle in a serene shelter with a prosperous identity. And Tatmadaw will also make sure of the socioeconomic development of the Nationality.
Hluttaw Representatives who are going to conduct the enactment of legislation should be the epitome of law-abiding person. The democracy we desire would be the undisciplined one if they pay no respect to and violate the law. As the corruptions were found during the investigation, some party leaders are charged with corruptions by the law. The State Administration Council is going to carry out the responsibility in pursuit of 5-Point Road Map and 9 Objectives for Political, Economic and Social affairs during temporary acceptance, and ensure the implementation of policies concerned with foreign, administrative and peace affairs in pursuit of the existing policies and law.
In the building of a country to become a peaceful and developed one, it is needed to have sustainable international cooperation and relations. Therefore, Tatmadaw practices a policy of diplomatic relation with not only neighbouring and regional defence forces but also international defence forces.
In International Relations, Tatmadaw is looking forwards to regional stability with the defence forces of friendly nations including ASEAN Armies and is putting an effort to enhance cooperation, exchange programme through exercises and mutual understanding. Profound gratitude is expressed to the high-level delegation from the Russian Armed Forces for the pleasure of their company in this military parade. I would also like to impart that the Russian government and responsible persons from the Russian Armed Forces are acknowledged and inscribed for their substantial support to Tatmadaw in a friendly manner though we are far apart. Tatmadaw is originated from the avowed intention and has had a glorious past. Since there is no act of betrayal but loyal to the Nation and people, Tatmadaw always headed towards the act of selfless sacrifice for the Nation and people. Tatmadaw completed its people with the independent Nation, national flag and national anthem. Tatmadaw devoted dutifulness, loyalty and great sacrifice to the Nation and people in the past, and is moving forwards a peaceful and developed Union based on democracy and federalism in the present. I would like to urge that every single endeavour of Tatmadaw with selflessness and virtue is not meant for the Tatmadaw but for the interests of the Nation and people to stand tall on the world stage as a sovereign State and people.
Ongoing efforts will bemade on achieving the objectivesof the 76th Armed ForcesDay as follow:
-To consistently uphold the National Policy: Our Three Main National Causes and foster democracy desired by people not to dissent from its route based on the principles of the Constitution with the entire people
– To protect people fromall dangers including natural disaster in every single time and circumstances and assist in all sectors for the social security of the people
– To take part in the eternal peace process pivoted on the NCA framework not to dissent from the Three Main National Causes as the cessation of armed conflicts is the prerequisite while paving the way to democracy
– To be a strong and capable modernised Tatmadaw endowed with combat power and capability in safeguarding the peace and tranquillity of the State and its sovereignty Tatmadaw members and MPF members of the columns led by Parade Commander Maj-Gen Soe Min Oo saluted the Senior General in military procession and left the parade ground.
During the time, three helicopters, an MI-17 transport helicopter and two MI-2M attack helicopters, of the Tatmadaw (Air) bearing the flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and three MI-35P P attack helicopters flags of (Army, Navy and Air) flew in Vic formation. A Bell-212 helicopter and two Bell-206 helicopters flew in mixed group formation, An H-125 helicopter and two H-120 helicopters flew mixed group formation saluted the Senior General. Lt Daw May Zin Shan, a Chin national, and Lt Daw Phyu Thwe Kyaw, a Mon national, took part in the parade as the first female pilots of the two H-120 helicopters. Three MI-2 attack helicopters flew in Vic formation, one Eurocopter helicopter and two PC-7 light surveillance combat aircraft flew in mix formation, five Grob trainer aircraft flew in arrowhead formation, one Beech transport plane and two K-8 light combat aircraft flew in group formation, three JF-17 multipurpose light combat aircraft flew in Vic formation, three A-5 ground-attack aircraft and two F-7 interceptors flew in mixed arrowhead formation leaving yellow, green and red colour smoke trails representing the State Flag, five Yak-130 light combat aircraft flew in arrowhead formation, three K-8 light combat aircraft and two Yak- 130 light combat aircraft flew in right echelon formation leaving yellow, green and red colour smoke trails representing the State Flag, five Mig-29 multipurpose combat aircraft flew in arrowhead formation and Fan Break formation in saluting the Senior General.
The Senior General cordially greeted the invited guests and left the parade ground and the ceremony came toan end.
The honourable bronze statues of the founder kings of the First, Second and Third Myanmar Kingdoms, the Armed Forces Day Torch,and the plaque marking the 76th Anniversary Armed Forces Day could be seen with admiration. Moreover, the Burma Independence Army Flag, the Burma Defence Army Flag, the flags of Tatmadaw (Army,Navy and Air), the flags of the directorates of the Office of the Commanderin- Chief(Army), and the colourful flags bearing the labels of military commands, light infantry divisions and battalions and units were also fluttering on the ground. Giant posters portraying the activities of Tatmadaw members (Army, Navy and Air) that promote patriotism and nationalistic fervour were erected along Yangon- Mandalay highway and Pinlaung junction, Posters bearing the mottos of the Tatmadaw in Myanmar and English were erected or hanged along the parade route in honour of the 76th Anniversary Armed Forces Day.
