Senior General Than Shwe sends message on Peasants DayMass of peasants duty-bound to arm themselves with anti-colonialist sentiment  Ward off dangers of neo-colonialists and their lackey axe-handles for ensuring perpetuation of sovereignty

Yangon, 2 March — The following is a translation of the message sent by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the Peasants Day (2007).

Esteemed peasantry,

On this auspicious occasion of 2 March marked as the Peasants Day to honour the entire mass of the peasantry, who are striving for ensuring food security and development of the nation, I wish them physical and mental well-being and success in their farming and better serving the interests of the nation and the people.
Now, the government is implementing the political, economic and social objectives for transforming the Union of Myanmar into a peaceful, modern and developed nation to see that it is on a par with the international level. In pursuit of this goal, it, in the economic sector, has designated agriculture as the base of the State’s economy. Agriculture that covers the entire nation is major commodity production kept in the hands of the peasantry. And it brings socio-economic development to the peasants and contributes towards national economy.

In colonial days, the imperialist government created situations for foreign capitalists and their cohorts to exploit Myanmar peasants variously such as bringing aliens into Myanmar and granting them permission for farming, giving capital to the alien loan sharks to lend money at very high interest rates to Myanmar peasants, and helping imperialist companies to purchase rice produced locally at very low prices and export it.

The acts of the colonialist government were completely intolerable. So, equipping themselves with whatever arms available, the mass of peasants launched Peasants’ Uprising to oppose and rise against the colonialist government. That went down in the annals of the Myanmar history. Some time after the Peasants’ Uprising, the nation managed to regain independence due to the national forces inclusive of the peasants.

Thanks to the harmonious efforts the entire national people including peasants have made under the correct leadership of the government, national reconsolidation has been achieved and the projects for national development have come to fruition at present. In addition, the National Convention, where discussions are being held to adopt basic principles and detailed basic principles to be included in the State Constitution for transition to a discipline-flourishing democratic nation, is now moving forward with gaining momentum. So, it is fair to say that the nation has a promising future. Nevertheless, certain neo-colonialist countries are resorting to various means to manipulate and dominate Myanmar at will, using lackeys and national traitor axe-handles, squeezing international organizations and misusing even the United Nations.

Hence, the mass of peasants are duty-bound to arm themselves with anti-colonialist sentiment at highest degree in accordance with their fine traditions and collectively ward off the dangers of the neo-colonialists and their lackey axe-handles for ensuring perpetuation of sovereignty and not to lose independence again.

The State Peace and Development Council is focusing on various projects for the development of the agricultural sector that can ensure food security and socio-economic development of the entire national people, and rural development. It is also taking necessary steps for supply of adequate irrigation water for growing crops, boosting the yield of the crops, conducting multiple-cropping patterns, and greening of the regions.

It is pouring huge investments into the projects for building irrigation facilities in states and divisions. And it is paying a careful attention to maintenance of the already-built dams and reservoirs and ensuring proper flow of water into the irrigation facilities and systematic supply of irrigation water. In addition to dams and reservoirs, it is constructing sluice gates, river water pumping stations and underground water tapping stations in various regions according to geographical features for supply of sufficient irrigation water.

Between 1988 to date, the government has spent more than K 153,000 million on building 196 irrigation facilities that benefit over 2.6 million acres of arable lands. It is now constructing 39 more irrigation facilities where necessary in states and divisions. Besides, it has built 305 river water pumping stations in 13 states and divisions that irrigate more than 460,000 acres. Now, it is building 37 more river water pumping stations.

The government has been taking measures unremittingly for use of more farm machinery, supply of fuel for that machinery, boosting production of crops and use of more fertilizers. It is now encouraging extensive growing of jatropha curcas (physic nut), from which bio-diesel can be extracted, across the country to fulfil the requirement of fuel for farm machinery. Here, I would like to urge farmers to grow profitable jatropha curcas plants, which can be grown easily and that are highly useful, on a commercial scale.

Esteemed peasantry,

Adhering to the correct national policy namely non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty, the State Peace and Development Council is now putting into action the State’s seven-step Road Map for the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation with flourishing discipline.

It is heartening to note that representatives of the peasants are now actively participating as delegates in the discussions at the National Convention held in accordance with the seven-step Road Map.

For restoration of peace and stability and modernization and development of the nation, I would therefore like to exhort the peasantry to join hands with the entire people in the tasks for;—

- the development of the agricultural sector, the major pillar of the State’s economy,

- guarding against the dangers of neo-colonialists and their hangers-on axe-handles, and

- successful completion of the State’s seven-step Road Map.