Families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) paid respect to retired senior Tatmadaw officers who had served Tatmadaw and who will attend the parade of the 81st Anniversary of Armed Forces Day, which falls on 27 March, in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.

The ceremony was attended by 18 retired senior Tatmadaw officers and their nine wives, respectively.

State Security and Peace Commission Vice-Chairman and Defence Services Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, attended the event on behalf of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, together with Commission Secretary and Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Ye Win Oo and his wife, Commission Member and Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Kyaw Swa Lin and wife, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) and their wives paid respect to the retired senior Tatmadaw officers.

In extending greetings on behalf of the Senior General, the Vice-Senior General expressed gratitude and pride, on behalf of the entire Tatmadaw, for the opportunity to meet all the veterans and mentors who had proudly attended the event, noting that this year’s 81st Anniversary ceremony was a special occasion.

He stated that before the Armed Forces Day ceremony, a free and fair multiparty democratic general election, facilitated by the State Security and Peace Commission, had been successfully held in three phases across 263 townships, with 54.22 per cent of eligible voters casting their ballots systematically and voluntarily. He added that the people had elected parties and candidates who could effectively serve the interests of their regions and country.

Currently, the elected representatives are carrying out their duties in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, and a new democratic government will soon emerge with the President and Vice-Presidents, and the State responsibilities will be transferred to the new democratic government.

Similarly, he said that leadership changes would also occur within Tatmadaw after the 81st Armed Forces Day ceremony. Irrespective of who leads, Tatmadaw will continue to follow the guidance of successive leaders, advisors and mentors, as well as established military doctrines and policies. He emphasized that Tatmadaw will continue to dutifully carry out its primary responsibility of safeguarding the nation and will work in coordination with the government in line with its policies.

He added that Tatmadaw’s ability to lead and defend the country up to the present time is due to the guidance and teachings passed down through successive generations of leaders, veterans and mentors, before and after independence. He appealed to all senior veterans and mentors to continue providing good guidance for the development of Tatmadaw on behalf of its members and their families.

He pledged that Tatmadaw will continue to fulfil its core duty of national defence, uphold the Our Three Main National Causes, and carry out its responsibilities in line with the policies set by the government.

The Vice-Senior General and his wife, and senior Tatmadaw officers and their wives, on behalf of the families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air), paid respect to retired senior Tatmadaw officers in pursuance of Myanmar traditions.

On behalf of the retired senior Tatmadaw officers, General (Retd) Thein Sein said that inviting and paying homage to those who had served in duties in Tatmadaw on every Armed Forces Day is a good tradition. Tatmadaw should be a powerful and innovative Tatmadaw, and the government that will emerge soon also should focus on the interests of the country, the rule of law, the welfare of the people and the socioeconomy of the country. As such, Tatmadaw plays a key role in the State’s peace and tranquillity.

The Vice-Senior General and his wife, and senior Tatmadaw officers and their wives, respectfully presented gifts to the retired senior Tatmadaw officers and their wives.

The Vice-Senior General and senior Tatmadaw officers posed for documentary photos together with the retired senior Tatmadaw officers and their wives and cordially greeted them.

MNA/KTZH

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