State Administration Council Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met Tatmadaw members and families from Sittway Station under the Western Command yesterday afternoon.
Also present on the occasion were: Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung and wife, high-ranking Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Defence Services Commander-in-Chief and their wives, Western Command Commander Maj-Gen Htin Latt Oo and responsible officials and officers, other ranks and their family members from Sittway Station.
Political developments
First of all, the Senior General expressed his delight to have a chance to meet the army personnel and their family members. Then, he stressed the need for them all to be aware of the reason why Tatmadaw has to take the leading role in national politics. He explained in detail that the entire mass of the indigenous people is desirous of the multi-party democracy, that Tatmadaw has performed whatever duties assigned to it during the periods of the two democratic governments, that the second democratic government is weak in management and administration with the result that the national development could not be effectuated well enough, thereby making the people lose belief in the election, that there has emerged no vote movement and that he himself has had to encourage the people to vote to be able to continue to implement the multiparty democratic system.
The Senior General then discussed the matters that have cropped up for fear of losing the election on the part of the (ruling) party. He explained matters relating to the cheating of votes in the 2020 election, the refusal to explain the cheating of votes, the justification for the declaration of the emergency and the formulation of the policies and the objectives by the Tatmadaw to bring about the political, economic and social developments.
He then emphasizes the need to learn lessons from the 2020 multiparty democratic election during which there took place cheatings. To ensure the accuracy of the voters’ lists in the coming election, systematic arrangements are being made for conducting field trips to collect the household lists on the ground, the Senior General said. He has elaborated on how his government has been exerting sustained effort for development in political, economic and peace sectors amidst the difficult situation.
Abidance by military discipline and obedience to order
Afterwards, the SAC Chairman Defence Services C-in-C stressed the point that Tatmadaw will always bring to the fore the national interest regardless of whoever is in power. Then he urged the attendees to develop their personal skills. On the part of the Tatmadaw, it will consistently conduct training courses at all levels for the soldiers to be able to develop their skills, he added.
Regarding military discipline, he said, “Disciple is the backbone of the Tatmadaw. Only when you obey the orders, you will become good soldiers. In the performance of national security and defence duties, obeying orders is of utmost importance. At the same time, abidance by discipline is essential, too.”
Man matters most
In all cases, the human factor plays a determining role be it political, economic or social. This is the reason why people are required to always hone their skills on the whetstone. As the saying goes, we can shape our own destinies. As you have all been given training on the art of fighting, you are considered to possess combat skills.
On the part of the leaders, they must be fair and square in their treatment of their subordinates, free from favouritism. For the soldiers to win the battles, they must be strong enough. In this regard, the soldiers are needed to keep themselves fit, do physical exercises, eat healthy food, behaving properly. A sound mind in the sound body, it is said. For you to develop your social life, you need to have confidence in yourself, said the Senior General. He went on to say that the army personnel must be possessed with the esprit de corps, helping one another, learning from one another and also consulting among themselves.
Additionally, Tatmadaw members are needed to be engaged in agriculture and livestock breeding activities on a manageable scale as the country is being faced with the price hike. As Myanmar abounds in natural resources, land and water resources, agriculture and livestock breeding businesses are the best way out. Although we have a big size of labour force, our people are not very hard working, resulting in our country lagging in development. That’s why we are making efforts to boost production in this sector for national economic development. And this is the reason why Tatmadaw has emphasized manageable-scale agriculture and livestock breeding in all Tatmadaw regiments and units.
The need to provide quality education
Concerning the promotion of education, the Senior General said that English language classes and computer classes are needed to be conducted in summer to enable the students to use their leisure hours beneficially. Additionally, the cultural training courses, he said, are also needed to open in summer. Tatmadaw members are needed to develop their capacity and the arms and ordinances are also needed to upgrade to strengthen the Tatmadaw’s capability.
Providing foodstuffs and cash awards
The SAC Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services presented foodstuffs for officers, other ranks and their families through the Western Command commander.
Next, the wife of the Senior General presented cash awards to the maternity and childcare association through the wife of the Western Command commander.
After the meeting, the Senior General and party greeted the attendees in a friendly manner, asked about their needs and fulfilled them. Next, the Senior General, his wife and the party proceeded to the Tatmadaw Hospital in Sittway and asked after the health of the people, spoke words of encouragement and provided foodstuffs to them. — MNA
