MYANMAR has regained its Independence and sovereignty for 74 years after losing the independence for more than 120 years since 1824. 

Myanmar is still striving for gaining development in all aspects. Whenever the exhortation for a paradigm suspends, the development process delays. As the country has firm histories for the country, nationality, culture and values, its sovereignty is still strengthening. Due to the united strength, Myanmar has been standing tall in the global community. The country does not integrate because of farsightedness of the State leaders. 

Meaning of “Myanmar” representing the powerful strength of the nation 

The definition of “Myanmar” is very wide. People of the country initiate everything with wisdom and courage. In this regard, if the definition of “Myan” is combined with “Mar”, the word “Myanmar” defines a significant meaning with dynamic desire, relentless perseverance, nationalistic spirit and hardness. 

“Myanmar” represents all ethnic nationals as well as the powerful nationality with prestige since yore. The strength of defence and leadership are crucial in successive eras. It can be seen that if the leadership is strong with the united strength of ethnic nationals of the Union based on the capacity of defence, the country will be strong and powerful in stability and development. When the country faced weak defence capability under the worsening leadership without the united strength, the country faced invasion of others. Myanmar lost its independence as well due to these points. Ancient leaders were lack of farsightedness to build the defence forces because the royal palace was full of scandals. While not having capacity to defy the systematic arms and man power of the colonialists, Myanmar could not foster the unity among the national races, and then, the country fell under the colonial rule. 

Many sacri    ces for the Independence 

Although the independence can lose easily, it is necessary to strive for regaining the independence for many years through all had to hardly fought against the colonialists through greater perseverance. Many numbers of sacrifices were invested to secure the victories. A large number of workers, farmers, students and nationalistic movements were staged one after another with sacrifice of all walks of life under detention and sacrifice of lives. 

In the every paradigm along the independence struggles, everybody needs to notice the patriotic spirit and nationalistic characters were a main drive. Myanmar could drive both British colonialists and Fascist Japanese off through the belief on the main drives and farsightedness of leadership, the unity among the national races from plains and hilly regions, a keen wish of the people to regain independence and formation of a systematic armed forces with equipped with arms. Finally, all the people could march towards the independence goal. 

Take lessons from loss and don’t lose sight for rights 

Although the country lost its independence due to lagging development, the colonialists could not neglect the keen spirit of all ethnic nationals to fight against the colonialists with the spirit not to be enslaved. Although the people were crushed, the colonialists could not oppress the spirit of the people. However, everybody should not forget that lack of capable leadership and lack of forming the systematic armed force in an armed revolution are an important factor not to secure the victory. 

Nationalistic activities in successive eras were based on the initial undeveloped ethnic armed revolution in the independence struggle of Myanmar history. Hence, it should not forget the endeavours of ethnic national leaders from the remote areas who raised the revolution soon after the Myanmar had lost its independence. Taking lessons from losses and casualties, Myanmar firmly grasped the opportunities of historic independence struggles based on the Second World War in which the British participated because Myanmar leaders who did not steadfastly lose the sight of independence from the colonial yoke. 

Good leader and main theme of unity 

The leadership played a key role in the history of independence struggle and the unity as well. Although the good leaders can undertake the organizing capacity with goodwill, the unity may disintegrate due to some leaders with selfish and less farsightedness. 

After the Second World War, the disputes happened in the AFPFL, causing the splits as example. Based on political and personal dissatisfactions, when they kept the self-interests on the fore, they made admiration of the people destroyed. It caused impacts on the unity among the leaders and it was likely to delay the endeavours of the process for securing the independence the people aspired. 

After regaining the independence, the people safeguard the sovereignty of the State with utmost efforts. It was a consequence of the disunity. The disunity was related to the interference of foreign countries. With a belief that “it needs to fight for regaining the independence” which was left wing and ism guided by those abroad, the Burma Communist Party (BCP) went underground, accelerating the internal armed conflicts. Before the rebellions of BCP which did not wish to restore the peace raised the protests in the cities and held the mass rallies. It is noticeable that acts of BCP were designed to instigate the government and the people. 

Many threats faced for independence 

When BCP went underground and some regiments split from the Tatmadaw, Pyithu Yebaw (White) and Union military police units staged rebellions. When BCP raised rebellions, university students supporting BCP went underground. Service personnel under the disguise of the union staged boycotts. Hence, schools and government offices were in disarray. 

Pressure and impacts deteriorating value of democracy 

It can be said that during the period from about two months after regaining the independence to some two years was very worsening. Many cities and villages were raided by rebels in various colours. Innocent people lost covers and shelters in exchange of killing. Every member of the gangs including rebels was different with respective followers. As the political and military affairs were interrelated, the pressure of the internal armed conflicts posed a terrible pressure on the government. Hence, some members withdrew from the government cabinet. As the government was pushed into a tight corner, it was identified as the Yangon government due to more than a half of Myanmar falling under the occupation of colourful rebels. 

After the country had escaped from the internal conflicts, the lesser matured parliament was difficult to seek the right answers for issues whenever parties tried to solve the problems. Consequently, the grudges were bigger and bigger among the parties. It seemed that they misunderstood among them and lost the trust. Finally, they departed each other and then the values of democracy lost. When the parties split, the administrative mechanism deteriorated. 

Special care for avoiding colonial yoke 

Terror acts and hindrances to the peace are challenges for a country to some extent in initiating the democracy. As norms and values of democracy were complicated with the self-interests and selfishness, utmost efforts must be made for securing the plus from the minus and the goodness from the badness. Due to lack of responsibility and accountability, the people did not totally enjoy the taste of independence at the environs where undisciplined acts, carelessness and unlawful acts exit at the thin layer between the wrong and the right. 

A country is easy to lose the independence but difficult to regain it. It is difficult to develop but easy to lose the mission. Lessons can be taken from the global issues that the bad governance, conflicts, instability, decrease of economy, disunity, undisciplined acts, crimes and not rule of law are possibilities to lose the independence for a country which cannot totally initiate the democracy. 

It is necessary to take lessons from the global issues as much as possible and monitor the issues of environs from the mother land without losing sight. Regional countries form the alliances from the Asia-Pacific area to Indo-Pacific area, compete in the economic market to influence the region, equip themselves with arms competitively, spark the problems as fueling the flames, control other countries under the military power and put pressure of economic on them and influence others. It is necessary to take care of these factors and make preventive measures. The entire national people need to take care of falling under the colonial yoke. 

There were loyal people, armed forces and ethnic nationals

 However, Myanmar did not face loss amid the terrible crises in successive eras. The Union did not disintegrate. The Independence did not lose again. Although some persons betrayed to the State and the national, a large number of people did not lose loyalty. During the parliamentary democracy era, the loyal people sought arms from the government to fight against the rebels who raided the towns and villages. Many regiments and troops loyal to the government sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the independence and democratization. Whenever the country faced problems, a large number of ethnics among all ethnics pledged to willingly safeguard the Union with faithfulness. Some ethnics supported the rebels but a lot of ethnics supported the government. It is necessary to recognize many politicians who were loyalty to the State, the people and the government without desire to grasp the State power. As a gesture of hailing the 74th Anniversary of Independence Day, if one observes the independence struggles and the safeguarding the independence, they will find the issues to be taken lessons and many things for apprehension. Today’s youths and new generations need to know these past things. At least, they will understand the value of independence and will have the spirit to adore the independence. 

Every citizen is responsible for serving the national duty in future generations to continuously conserve a value owned by all with sacrifice of lives in hardship in successive eras.