Nay Pyi Taw, December 17 – The following is the full text of the address delivered by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe at the Passing out of Parade of No. 13 Intake of the Defence Services Technological Academy.

Comrades,

Today is the graduation day of the No. 13 Intake of the Defence Services Technological Academy, a day on which our Tatmadaw gains new strength in engineering.

You comrades have completed your military and technological studies and will soon be assigned duties as junior leaders in military engineering in the Tatmadaw.

Comrades,

The aim of the Tatmadaw is the building of a strong and capable modern patriotic Tatmadaw. Our principal duties are the protection of the nation and the people, constant training to ensure high levels of attainment in the 3 capabilities and the performance of activities beneficial to the people utilizing the time available.

Comrades,

In the world today, every country is building modernized Armed Forces, taking great precautions to ensure national defence capabilities. So, during our time, we have made endeavours to ensure that the Tatmadaw is strong, capable and patriotic, as it has been since its inception. As the economic strength of the nation grew, the modernization of the Tatmadaw was implemented appropriately.

Comrades,

In the period immediately after independence, domestic insurgencies were strong and had enormous momentum, while our Tatmadaw was weak in every aspect, in terms of manpower and weapons. The Tatmadaw was able to save the country from the kind of horrible situation where only a small area around Yangon remained outside insurgent control only because we had the patriotism, the daring to take risks and make sacrifices and the support of the people. It was thanks to such spirit that we were able to repel the Koumintang invasion.

Thus, the strength of the Tatmadaw was gradually built up and hand in hand with the people, the Tatmadaw was able to wipe out the insurgents that maintained strongholds in the delta region, the Bago Mountain Range and the regions to the west of the Ayeyawady River, turning those areas into regions of peace and tranquillity.

History teaches us that our Tatmadaw needs not only to be capable of maintaining peace and stability within the country but also to be able to repel threats such as unforeseen foreign invasions.

So I’d like to urge you to build the Tatmadaw into a modern and capable Tatmadaw as a duty that has been passed on to you.

Comrades,

Our principal duty is the protection of the nation and the people. To be able to provide protection, we need training, military awareness and combat readiness forever.

To be effective, military training by its very nature can never stop. It is necessary to have constant training in conventional warfare, guerilla warfare, people’s warfare strategy and the changing strategies and tactics that arise out of evolving military science and technology.

In today’s world, efforts are being made to utilize new and powerful weapons of mass destruction to achieve land, sea and air supremacy as well as dominance in space and to exploit it in warfare.

However, as in all mattes, strong points are always accompanied by weaknesses and shortcomings. You can confront anything and win if you avoid your opponents’ strong points, exploit their shortcomings and strike at their weaknesses. So I’d like to urge you comrades, who are military engineers, to engage in constant study and creative thinking.

Comrades,

Military affairs require constant awareness. Awareness is the principal determinant of security. You can be combat-ready forever only if you have awareness forever. Those who lack constant awareness and are not combat-ready at all times may be taken by surprise. Being taken by surprise is the principal cause of defeat. When the Tatmadaw engages in warfare, overall victory must be won, even though parts of the battle may be lost as it is in the nature of warfare.

So, you comrades who have joined the Tatmadaw must instill in yourselves the unyielding spirit of victory.

Comrades,

You have become members of the Tatmadaw and pledged allegiance to the nation and the people.

In the Four Oaths that we have taken, the word “We” includes everyone from the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services to the newest recruit. We must bear allegiance to the nation and the people. We must bear allegiance to the members of the Tatmadaw who have fallen. We must discharge the order given and the duty assigned to us by our superiors. We must pledge our readiness to sacrifice our own lives for our nation, our people and our Tatmadaw.

So you comrades have to dare to take risks and make sacrifices. You have to be courageous and have fortitude. You have to have the Five Fundamental Qualifications that every unit and every soldier must possess: mental fortitude, good discipline, loyalty, unity, and the three capabilities-military, organizing and administrative capabilities. You must have the strength of mind to be willing to safeguard the traditions of the Tatmadaw even at the risk of your own life. You must have the capability to provide absolute protection to Our Three Main National Causes.

Comrades,

As you will soon be assigned duties as junior leaders, you need not only to have the above-mentioned qualifications yourselves but also to be able to help those under your command to acquire them. A military leader must be able to build a good unit, overcome any hardship or obstacle and organize his own unit so that it can act cohesively and effectively.

In order to achieve this, you have to lead by example in every aspect. You have to be able to go through hardship and deprivation. You have to show perseverance, industry, hard work and effort. You have to provide good command and control. In every way, you must be able to put others before you. Only in this way, will you, comrades, become the junior leaders who have earned the trust and confidence of your subordinates.

Comrades,

As engineering professionals, you are part of the human resources necessary for the building of a modern Tatmadaw. You must be able to give illustrious service to the Tatmadaw using your expertise. In the same way, you must be able to help and protect the rural people in areas where you serve.

Comrades,

The engineering officers who have graduated since the establishment of the Defence Services Technological Academy on 4 February 1994 have contributed their services with energy and enthusiasm to activities that serve the interests of the country during the time the Tatmadaw has assumed the responsibilities of the State. I’ like to state that their services are placed on record and honoured.

Comrades,

In conclusion, I would like to urge you to

- discharge the duty of building a strong and capable modern patriotic Tatmadaw as a duty that has been passed on to you;

- discharge the three main duties of the Tatmadaw;

- fulfil the Three Forevers and provide absolute protection to the nation and the people;

- cultivate yourselves to become good leaders; and

- uphold Our Three Main National Causes and carry on the Twelve Noble Traditions of the Tatmadaw.

With this I conclude. – MNA