By Aung Kyaw Thant
EVERY Myanmar citizen knows Myanmar lost its independence to the colonialists after facing three Anglo-Myanmar aggressive wars. These aggressive wars were based on the weakness of arms and lack of efficient training of Myanmar forces which were unable the shoulder to shoulder with that of colonialists. At that time, troops of colonialists holding modern arms and ammunition have had a full capacity of training in their profession. Nonetheless, it should not put blame on the endeavours of the Myanmar kings in ruling the country and it should praise those Myanmar kings for their relentless efforts in comprehensively managing the country even though they faced various kinds of destructive acts and dangers imposed by colonialists.
Soon after Myanmar fell under colonial rule, various ethnic people led by some royal family members such as Prince Shwe Gyo Phyu and Prince Linpin, Saophas (Chieftains) of Shan Plateau, town and village leaders fought against the colonialists in many parts of the country for decades. Despite holding just knives, spears, bows and sticks, they showed off their brilliant courage, with the sacrifice of blood and lives in the battles.
Although the British colonialists declared Myanmar as its occupied country in 1886, Myanmar people from all walks of life residing in hilly and plain areas had been fighting against them in various forms such as boycotts of students from the Yangon University, all workers’ boycotts, the rebellion of Saya San (peasants’ revolution), the 1300 Revolution, until the time when Myanmar regained independence in 1948.
Throughout the colonial period when Myanmar lost its independence and sovereignty, all the national people motivated by a strong genuine Union Spirit and a nationalistic spirit fought against the colonists and they had to make vigorous efforts taking the risk on the way to regain independence.
All the Myanmar people lost their rights during the period under the rule of colonialists and Fascists. But the people waited for the great chance to stage the uprisings against the colonialists and the Fascists in their respective eras. When the British colonialists left Myanmar, Fascist Japanese troops entered the country to rule the nation and the people as their slaves. After the Fascist Japanese troops had been driven out by the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the people in cooperation with the Allied Forces, the British colonialists entered the country again to implement the white paper project which was meant to take a long time for ruling Myanmar.
All Myanmar people knew the moves of colonialists how to implement their future plans. A that time, Myanmar people were not worried about their future. They had established a reliable armed force called the Myanmar Tatmadaw. Whenever the country and the people faced important issues, the Tatmadaw had saved them many times.
The Tatmadaw born of the people took a gigantic role in the independence struggle of the entire nation. Thirty-comrades of the Tatmadaw led the entire people to drive out the colonialists and the fascists. General Aung San demanded independence for Myanmar within one year from the British government with the strength of the people shown in the mass rally on the terrace of the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Moreover, the Panglong Agreement signed by most of the ethnic leaders as well as Myanmar leaders including General Aung San contributed a great deal to the process for regaining independence from the British government. As such, the strength and unity of the Myanmar ethnic national people shook the British Empire.
On 4 January 1948, Myanmar regained its Independence the entire people longed for. Truly, regaining Independence is a definition for the country to possess not only Independence but also sovereignty. Everybody has to consider the opportunity and the responsibility. Those wishing to grasp the opportunity must accept the responsibility. It is a give-andtake system of the Universal truth.
All the people from the independent country have the responsibilities to safeguard Independence and sovereignty. If the people have to regain their independence, they are responsible to defend the State without putting reliance on any other. If they want to enjoy the right to manage the natural resources of the country, they are responsible for uplifting their capacity deserved to manage these natural resources. To be able to do all things, the people have to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the nation as an inborn duty. If the country loses its sovereignty, it also loses its independence. Only when the country safeguards its sovereignty, will its independence exist for a long time.
The people residing in the independent country are responsible for safeguarding the country not to lose its independence again. Likewise, if the country loses its sovereignty, the country will fall under the rule of others automatically and the country will have so-called independence. Moreover, people need to always widen their scope of knowledge about global issues. It is because neo-colonialism does not need to occupy any country but they gradually manipulate these target countries in various ways and means. Mostly, the big power countries are seeking the best opportunities to colonialize the small and weak countries by influencing over them with political, economic, social and many other affairs. One day, these small countries would unavoidably become the puppets of those powerful countries.
The people living in the independent country will have to enjoy all the fundamental rights. Hence, their lives are so different from those of the non-independent countries. The independent people can create their fortune on their own. However, they have to consider the peace, prosperity and tranquillity of the nation. If so, all the people can enjoy the taste deserved of independence.
That is right. However, the people have to abide by the prescribed laws, rules and regulations which support the standing of the country. All their acts should not harm others. All their moves must be based on disciplines. If so, the whole country will be free from crime and will be prosperous. Consequently, Myanmar society can see its brighter future.
All ethnic nationals must be united under the single State Flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. They all have to join hands in nation-building endeavours. They must pledge not to secede from the Union. Currently, Myanmar initiates building itself as a Union based on democracy and federalism. Such a political aim is the aspiration of the entire people.
Now, Myanmar is an independent and sovereign country. They all have a national duty to safeguard the independence and the sovereignty of the nation forever. If so, Myanmar will powerfully stand tall among the global countries perpetually. Now is an opportune time. Let’s safeguard the independence and the sovereignty of the nation as a national duty.
