ADDRESS GIVEN BY THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR

DEMOCRACY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

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 xxxxx will not act unjustly to others and will not suffer injustice

from others. We will guard it with our lives."

" We xxxxx 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.

[A] FREE DEMOCRATIC UNION OF BURMA WILL SOON EMERGE. May it endure till the

end of time.

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