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• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi • Dr.Sein Win • others Printable Version

ADDRESS GIVEN BY THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE January 4, 1999

We commemorate our country's independence day because we understand the value of freedom and wish to honour and remember those good citizens, men and women who gave their lives for the cause.

True independence (freedom) is priceless. It is something that every citizen is entitled to. Legally , basic human rights that operates as our defence must be equally enjoyed by all. A country in which one group misuses power and oppresses and crushes the people according to its wishes and desires is not a truly independent or free country. There were nine pledges made at the time of independence, three of which were:-

" Everyone who is a citizen, big or small, far or near, will not suffer discrimination. All willl be as of one flesh and one blood. No one will have more. No one will have less, no one will be higher, no one will be lower. We will be as equals."

" We will not act unjustly to others and will not suffer injustice from others. We will guard it with our lives."

" We will respectfully adhere to our laws."

The pledge ended with the following:- " As our pledges are truthful, may our Republic of the Union endure till the end of time." Therefore, the struggle for r democratic system with just laws that guarantee equal rights amounts to safeguarding and maintaining freedom and independence of our country. The Pledge began with these words;- " We will unite as one and march in accordance with the principles laid down by our great leader Bogyoke Aung San who procured independence for us". My father stated categorically that the only system appropriate for independence is the democratic system.

Today, on the 51st anniversary of our independence, we honour those who understand and cherish true independence and because of this, they have made sacrifices and are still making the sacrtifices for the attainment of democracy. We are especially grateful to all those who are now being held as prisoners, those honourable persons who were elected by the people to serve as their representatives who are standing firm fully aware of their obligations to those who elected them. We are grateful to the members of the National League for Democracy, their families, and others who are committed to the cause of democracy. I am certain that our country will. without doubt, enjoy the benefits of true independence because of these courageous sons and daughters who will not renounce the pledges of independence.