Dr Maung Maung: Gentleman, Scholar, Patriot

Address to the Nation, 1 September 1988

Section VII, C. 549 ADDRESS TO THE NATION, 1 SEPTEMBER 1988 Reproduced from Dr Maung Maung presidential speech, “Address to the Nation, 1 September 1988”, published in The Working People’s Daily (2 September 1988), by permission of Daw Khin Myint, wife of the late Dr Maung Maung. People of the country, We are now making arrangements to hold the Extraordinary Party Congress on 12 September and then to hold an emergency session of the Pyithu Hluttaw on 13 September, to decide on the holding of the national referendum as to whether the single party system is to be continued or whether to change over to a multi-party system; and for holding a free and just national referendum within one month. If the answer received is a choice for a multi-party system, general elections will be held as quickly as possible and in the most just manner under the supervision of free and independent election commissions. The party which is strongest in the Hluttaw will form a government. We will then hand over matters to that government. This I promised in my address on 24 August. This promise was not given by me alone; this promise was made by me and all my colleagues with the most genuine cettana. 07C฀DrMaung.indd฀฀฀549 1/25/08฀฀฀10:29:03฀AM 550 DR MAUNG MAUNG: Gentleman, Scholar, Patriot This arrangement is the most convenient and possible one according to the Constitution. We are not in a position to employ methods which are contrary to the Constitution for my colleagues and I have been entrusted with responsibility according to law. The life blood of religion rests in the codes of conduct, the vinaya and disciplines; this is the case in all other religions. For the Tatmadaw, its life blood is discipline. In a nation, the life blood of civilised existence which enables people to live in peace and tranquillity is law and order. We have heard and seen demonstrations in the town. We sympathize with the people and we are doing our very best to fulfil the just aspirations of the people as quickly as possible. Some are saying that having written the Constitution, we should abolish it and form an interim government, and then hold elections in which many parties can compete. The fact is that it was not we who drew up the Constitution. The Constitution was drawn up with the participation of the people and it was adopted after a national referendum in which artistes, students, Tatmadaw, and all the rest of the working people participated overwhelmingly. Some of those who are now calling for changing or abolishing the Constitution must have also participated at that time. I don’t know if these people have forgotten after some 14 years; in the life of a nation the period of 14 years would correspond to yesterday. If changes are needed, they must of course be made. It was the desire to make changes if needed that the matter of a multi-party system was open for discussions at the Party Congress in July. Before this nobody thought about it or demanded it. The people are now demonstrating because they can no longer bear the experiences of the 14 years which the term of the Constitution had remained as mere words on paper even though the Constitution in fact provides controls against any single person or group from gaining and exercising absolute power. The Constitution provides such control by spreading and sharing authority from the centre right down to the ward and village tract. Present conditions give opportunity for all those who would like to exploit the situation by using many methods including blatant violence or by pandering to the genuine and just wishes of the people. Just as the roads are full of the sounds of militant demonstrators and others who have been brought along by other means, there are many people who are having to live in fear and anxiety day and hide in their 07C฀DrMaung.indd฀฀฀550 1/25/08฀฀฀10:29:04฀AM Address to the Nation, 1 September 1988 551 homes and those who are having to take turns at kin (guard duty). It is also necessary to listen to the silent cry of such people who are also suffering. If the referendum and the elections are genuinely free and just, the authentic aspirations of the majority of the people...