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Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing calls for military modernisation

By Pyae Thet Phyo   |   Tuesday, 28 March 2017

The military must try and build a Tatmadaw which is ready for 21st century modern warfare, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the 72nd Anniversary of the Armed Forces Day.

“In the 21st century battlefield, the most advanced technological army will be the victor. Therefore, we must try to build our Tatmadaw to achieve success in the 21st century modern warfare,” he said.

A 21st century warfare will be fought with different methods, directions and fields, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said.

“To be a victor of the 21st century modern warfare, we must be qualified for ICT, electronic technologies and mechanical technology know-how.

“We need to learn the changes of military strategies and tactics with updated technologies accordingly,” he said.

As the Tatmadaw is tasked with protecting the nation’s defense, it is necessary to promote defense and fighting capabilities and power; to be a capable Tatmadaw, fighting capabilities must be raised in quality and quantity and those must be utilised more effectively after weapons are equipped, he said.

“We must study, we must train and we must follow the process of military strategies and tactics to be able to keep abreast with the changing world,” he said.

The 72nd Anniversary of the Armed Forces Day began with a show of arms and parade at Nay Pyi Taw’s Tatmadaw Park at 5:30am yesterday.

More than 10,000 soldiers paraded on the grounds while air force jet fighters flew in the sky, soldiers jumped out of helicopters by ropes, armoured vehicles, tanks and several other military vehicles saluted the Commander-in-Chief.

The military parade was attended by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Vice Senior General Soe Win among many other military personnel and government officials.

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In his speech, the Commander-in-Chief said, “The army, which has responsibilities to defend the violations of the safeguards [of the country] – the national sovereignty, public’s security and prosperity –  took part in political, military, and national affairs with the high resolution in order to save the nation from difficulty.

“We have to take lessons from the fact that if there is no unity, only losses will be incurred.

“After the first democracy government led by President U Thein Sein, it has now been the second democracy government led by President U Htin Kyaw. After the state authority was peacefully handed over by the former government, it is the stand of the army to keep the national tranquility, solidarity and development to support the multi-party democracy system selected by people.”

Touching on the recent conflicts in the country, the Commander-in-Chief said:

“The Armed Forces, aiming at prosperity of the state and its people, will be suppressing the terrorists that attack the three main causes. Moreover, any invasion on the state territory, water and space will be defended.

“The battles in Rakhine State in 2016, Kachin State in northern Myanmar, Mong Ko and Laukkai region in northeast of Shan State were the operations fought by the armed forces because they attacked the country’s sovereignty.

“It has already been announced that there is no race termed Rohingya in Myanmar. The Bengalis in Rakhine State are not Myanmar nationalities but immigrants. It will be seen that the victims coming out of the terrorist attacks committed by some Bengalis which took place in October 2016 resulted in political interferences.  

“Things that should be done under the existing laws must be carried out with responsibilities. The armed forces will be responsible for defending against all measures of insurgencies based on the religions and races.

“Only if we can establish domestic everlasting peace, our nation will be developed.”

Regarding the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, the Commander-in-Chief said:

“In transparent democracy, the disagreement of political doctrine must only be solved by political means. Our Tatmadaw participates with might and main in establishing peace throughout the previous governments. On August 18, 2011, the former government started the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and offered ethnic armed groups a peace settlement. Eight ethnic armed groups with the same view entered into agreement to achieve peace. The government invites and urges the remaining ethnic armed organisations to sign in the NCA for peace.

“I would like to say that our Tatmadaw will participate in establishing everlasting peace accordingly with the six peace principles laid down by the Tatmadaw under supervision of the government.”

Later, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing opened the Hero Mausoleum (Nay Pyi Taw) constructed on the hill east of the Tatmadaw Park in commemoration of the 72nd Armed Forces Day.

After that, he paid homage to retired senior Tatmadaw officials at the Bayintnaung Villa.

– Translation by Zaw Nyunt

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