New Myanmar Amb.-designate U Thant Sin debuts at the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. stage.
For new Myanmar Amb.-designate U Thant Sin to the Republic of Korea, this year’s
Myanmar Armed Forces Day served him as his first official debut stage for allowing
to meet the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. as well as many defense attaches from various
Embassies stationed in Korea.
Under the auspieces of Amb.-designate U Thant Sin & Brigadier Win Moe, the defense
attache office from the Embassy of Myanmar hosted its 2019 Myanmar Armed Forces
Day reception at the Army Club Seoul, located in the complex within the Ministry of
Defense, Republic of Korea.
Many defense attaches from various Embassies in Seoul attended it including
Col. Maged Elwan from the Embassy of Egypt, defense attache Mr. Sokolov Dmidrii
from the Embassy of the Russian Federation etc.
According to the defense attache office, Embassy of Myanmar,
Myanmar observes the celebration of Myanmar Armed Forces Day on the 27th of
March each year. This day is locally known as ‘Tatmadaw Nay’ and
it commemorates the resistance of Burma’s military against the Japanese forces
at the height of the Second World War in 1945.
To date, the Tatmadaw is the most powerful, stable, and
disciplined institution in Burma (present day Myanmar).
As regarding its History of Myanmar Armed Forces Day
Even in the midst of fighting against the British for freedom,
when World War II erupted, the Burmese Army helped the British against
the invading Japanese forces. After Myanmar received its independence from
Great Britain on January 4, 1948, it took a new name, Union of Burma,
under the leadership of Sao Shwe Thaik serving as the first president of the country.
Parliamentary elections were held in 1951, 1952 and in the 1960.
During the country’s parliamentary state of government, a popular diplomat named U Thant
became the United Nation’s first non-Westerner Secretary General.
The experimental parliamentary government of Burma was halted when the General Ne Win led
a coup d’état leading to the dissolution of the parliament.
Between 1974 and 1988, Burma functions politically under a one-party system Burma Socialist Programme
Party (BSPP). Widespread protests followed but the government was well
prepared in cracking down democratic protests in a very violent way especially when thousands of
demonstrators were killed in the 8888 uprising.
The first free national election in Myanmar was held on May 1990
which won by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party under Aung San Suu Kyi but the
current State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) refuse the transfer of power.
To date, Myanmar is still under the control of military junta and
protesters demanding for the restoration of a democratic society are still prosecuted.
In terms of Myanmar Armed Forces Day’s Traditions, Customs and Activities,
The holiday is celebrated with military marches in parade grounds in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw,
including the laying of wreath on famous memorial posts dedicated to the heroes of the revolution
against the imperial Japanese forces. This is also the day when members of the troops are reviewed
in terms of loyalty to the military.