Nay Pyi Taw August 4
The Tatmadaw is trying to achieve eternal peace by putting an end to internal armed conflicts. Eternal peace will surely be achieved if all have true spirit to achieve it. In making peace efforts, the spirit of pursuing democracy and Our Three Main National Causes—non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty— must be accepted. As democracy goes together with election process, all must act in accord with the law, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at a meeting with officers, other ranks and their families from Shwegyin Station today.
Also present on the occasion were Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Hsan Oo, Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Nyo Saw and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command Commander Maj-Gen Myo Win and officers, other ranks and their families from the station .
In his speech, the Senior General said the main duty of the Tatmadaw is national defence. In so doing, practicality is necessary. Efforts for a military build-up are for the sake of national defence, not for solving internal armed conflicts. National defence duties cannot be carried out overnight. It takes time to improve national defence through training and there must be combat power. The Tatmadaw is the only armed organization representing the State. The Tatmadaw is trying to improve its capability in respective military commands and headquarters to be able to fight conventional wars for national defence. In so doing, efforts are also being made to improve the knowledge of individual Tatmadawmen so that they can handle modern weaponry efficiently.
It is necessary for Tatmadawmen and their families to have reading habit as libraries have been opened in battalions and headquarters to help widen their knowledge, and fiction and non-fiction books are being published. Thus, they will gain wisdom and knowledge to improve their lives. It is necessary to try hard to give effective talks in the internal discussions of the military unit. With regard to health and fitness, the servicemen in individuals need to take daily physical exercises for their better health conditions. The Senior General stressed need to avoid alcohol, cigarette, betel quid and indulgence as much as they can. He urged them to give a helping hand to local people in rescue and relief tasks for natural disasters which happened in respective organizational areas, without need to wait for orders of superiors.
Regarding the foods for Tatmadawmen, the Senior General said arrangements are being made to deliver quality rations. The military unit-owned and manageable scale agriculture and livestock breeding farms are being operated to sell the products at cheaper prices than the market prices for welfare of servicemen and families. In connection with the clothing, quality clothes and military equipment are issued to the servicemen. Housings for war veterans are being built as much as possible to accommodate the retired officers and others. All the Tatmadawmen will be war veterans at one time. So, they have to be good soldiers in their service terms. The Tatmadawmen must live in unity and try hard to become a capable, powerful Tatmadaw on which the State and the people rely.
The Senior General presented foodstuff for officers, other ranks and families of the station through the station commander. General Maung Maung Kyaw, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Hsan Oo and Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Nyo Saw also presented foodstuffs, sports equipment and fiction and non-fiction books for officers, other ranks and families of the station through officials.
After the meeting, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the officers, other ranks and families who attended the ceremony.
On arrival at the Tatmadaw hospital in Shwegyin Station, the Senior General and party cordially comforted the officers and other ranks in individuals receiving medical treatments and presented foodstuffs to them. Afterwards, they inspected the hospital.