YANGON, 2 June - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of felicitations to His Excellency Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Republic of Italy, on the occasion of the Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Italy which falls on 2 June 2002.

Present on the occasion were delegates of local national races from Monghsat, Mongton and Mongpyin townships in Monghsat District, Mongphyat and Mongyawn. townships in Mongphyat District, Tachilek in Tachilek District, Kengtung, Monghkat, Mongyan and Metmang townships in Kengtung District; local people from five wards, 37 village tracts and 837 villages in Kengtung Township, members of social organizations  Kengtuna Township Union Solidarity and Development Association, Working Committee for Women's Affairs, Myanmar War Veterans Organization, Maternal arid Child Welfare Association,. Red Cross Society, Auxiliary Fire Brigade and Nurses Association, Shan State (East) traditional culture troupe. and local residents of Kengtung Township totaling over 20,000.

The Alaungphaya column comprising members of WVQ, local people of Kengtung, members of national cultural troupes of Wa, Shangyi, Lwe and Leshaw national races totaling over 6, 700 took positions in the grounds through the eastern entrance; the .Hsinbyushin column of members of I MCWA, WAC and Red Cross Society, nurses, students, families of local regiments, people of wards 2 and 3 in Kengtung and members of cultural troupes of Lahu and Shan national races totalling over 6, 700 through the southern entrance; the Bayintnaung column comprising members of USDA, Red Cross Society, Auxiliary Fire Brigade, teachers, students, local people. from Kengtung Myoma 1 and cultural troupe members of Akha and Shan national races totalling over 6,600 through the western entrance holding banners bearing the words "Those who harm the national sovereignty are our I enemies", "Those who drive a wedge among the national races are our enemies", "Safeguard and defend the security and tranquility of the State". "Oppose all destructive insurgents", "Down with SURA and KNU insurgents", "Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views", "Oppose those .trying to jeopardize stability of the State and. progress of the nation", '.Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State" and "Crush all internal and extern at destructive elements as  the common enemy".

In his speech, Chairman U Sai Naw Kham said:

I would like to extend my greetings to the national people who have come to the mass rally to denounce SURA and KNU terrorist insurge who are attempting to encroach upon the security and peaceful condition of , border areas, and wish you all good health in mind and body. We are here to condemn the opium-trafficking group and the terrorist group who, wearing the mask of the leading actor, are disturbing our border areas which are peaceful and developing.

I am Shan national U Sai Naw Kham of Mongpyin Township, Shan State (East). Over the past ten years, concerted efforts have been made to ensure security, stability and pence and tranquility in our Union of Myanmar. The entire national people are today endeavoring to maintain peace and tranquility and to modernize and develop the nation.

Our Union of Myanmar is the largest nation in South-east Asia. The Union of Myanmar has an area of 261 ,228 square miles. In this wide nation, over one hundred nation III race5i such as the Kachin, the Kayah, the Kayln, the Chin; the Bamar, the Mon, the Rakhine and the Shan, have been living through thick and thin. 

In the course of the history of Myanmar ,which has existed for years countable by the thousand, all the national races within the territory of the Union have been living in a closely-knit community , In retrospect, as the saying goes "In times of emergency, blood Inspire. unity", all the national, brethren have protected the sovereignty of the nation with Union Spirit against every danger posed from inside and outside the country. It is known to all.  

During the reign of King Anawrahta In the Baian Period, the first Myanmar Kingdom was established with the unity of all the national races.

In the Toungoo Period, the second Myanmar Kingdom, which was built by King Bayin Naung, stood tall as a strong nation in south-east Asia. At that time, the defence force comprising all the national races of Myanmar was very strong.

In the Konbaung Period, the glory of the third Myanmar Kingdom, built by King Alaungmintaya, reached its peak during the reign of King Hsinbyushin. At that time, the defence force made up of all the national races was able to repel every invasion, and won every battle.

In 1885 during the 19th century, the British enslaved our Myanmar with three aggressive wars; but owing to the patriotism and Union Spirit of the national races, the nation regained independence on 4 January 1948. The purpose of my relating to the history of Myanmar is to point out that all the Myanmar national races not only resorted to an armed revolution but also launched political activities in the anti-colonialist movement.

Throughout the anti-colonialist movement, patriotism was more and more awakened in all the national races. They stood united for the independence struggle. Once the colonialists resorted to various tactics and strategies in their bid to divide a wedge among the national races and to break up the national unity. However, our national races, bound by the national unity, strove together for the perpetual existence of the Union of Myanmar and independence. 

After taking up the duty of State, the present government has worked for the national solidarity and peace and tranquility in view of the past experiences. The government has placed in the fore Our Three Main National Causes  non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty. In making effort for the materialization of Our Three Main National Causes, national solidarity and unity plays a crucial role. All of us need to understand that the achievement of national solidarity and unity leads to the materialization of Our Three Main National Causes.

With regard to national unity, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe said on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Armed Forces Day, "As a matter of fact, armed groups in the jungle are the forces of the nation. If these forces of the nation are going against one another, it will be difficult to restore peace and tranquility and to develop the nation. As fighting broke out as a result of disunity, the nation fell far behind other nations in development. If fighting continues, the nation will not develop, and things will go from bad to worse." The Senior General stressed the importance of national solidarity for the nation.

The government has striven to make peace with armed groups in the jungle out of pure goodwill. Efforts were exerted to make peace on the basis of Our Three Main National Causes. Altogether 17 armed groups, realizing the genuine attitude of the government, returned to the legal fold. It is a significant political achievement. Stability and peace and tranquility are now prevailing in the Union of Myanmar. As the leaders of national groups who made peace, have come to work together with the government, the latter has managed to undertake national and rural development tasks in urban and rural areas as well as in border areas. The objective condition bears witness to this fact. The government has systematically worked for the development of border areas and national races, which is the backbone of the perpetual prevalence of peace and tranquility. Moreover, to improve the socio-economic life of local national people, the government has built transport infrastructures concerning roads, bridges, energy and communication, social infrastructures related to education, health and public relations and economic infrastructures pertaining to agriculture and livestock breeding.

To promote the development of border areas and national races, the government has constituted the Central Committee for Progress of Border Areas and National Races, the Work Committee and the Sub-committee. The Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs has been set up. In working for the development of border areas and national races, the government has spent over K 24 billion. Moreover, over K 12 billion has been spent on improvement of transport in border areas. This shows that the government has made a lot of investment for border areas and national races. As the government has worked day and night to the best of its ability, construction of economic infrastructures is gaining momentum. In implementing four political, four economic, four social objectives, the government is working hard for the development of the State and at the same time keeping a lookout for the danger from inside and outside the nation.

As stability and peace and tranquility has already prevailed in the nation, the government has built economic infrastructures to strengthen the national economy. Up to now, Myanmar is an agro-based country, and agriculture is a fundamental sector in the production sector of the State. Therefore, the government has stepped up its efforts for water supply to increase the number of irrigated areas. To supply water for agriculture, the government has built altogether 134 dams including Baingda Dam in DaikU Township, Bago Division, after 1988. They irrigate 1,967,619 acres of land. Now there are over 39 million acres of land on which crops have been grown, and cultivation of crops has increased by 155%. After assuming the duty of State, the Tatmadaw government has spent over US $ 398 million and over K 36,005 million on construction of railroads, motor roads and bridges, and US $ 336 million and K 9,364 million on motor roads and bridges. To strengthen the national economy, the government has implemented plans by enlisting the participation of the people.

Therefore, significant success has been achieved. At a time when the government is building a new, peaceful, modern and developed nation, SURA led by opium-trafficking insurgent Ywet Sit, KNU insurgents and some destructive elements, taking strongholds in Yodaya, are encroaching on the security of the state and the stability and peace and tranquility of border areas through various ways and means. SURA led by Ywet Sit and KNU, regarding the stepfather as their genuine father, are not only speaking disrespectfully of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union of Myanmar but also launching attacks many times. SURA opium-trafficking insurgent Ywet Sit and his confederates, a group of Yodayas, crossed into our border areas and fired at the Myanma Tatmadaw outposts, Tatmadaw columns, towns and villages and vehicles.

They launched attacks. They planted mines. They murdered people and looted things. Yodaya is having a hand in this matter like the jungle cat which is filled with glee while the jungle is on fire. Therefore, the entire people loathe SURA led by opium-trafficking insurgent Ywet Sit and outsiders who are insulting the nation. In conclusion, I would like to say that despite internal and external disturbances, the government is building a new, peaceful, modern and developed nation. It is working for the development of the nation and seeing to it that the youths of new generation are free from troubles and miseries. So I would like to urge all the national brethren to denounce courageously whoever encroaches on the sovereignty of the nation, whoever makes an attempt to break up national unity, any organization attempting to disturb the security and stability of the State, any nation putting pressure on the nation. Shan national U Sai Sam Tip tabled the motion to denounce SURA and KNU insurgents who are encroaching on security and peace in border areas. Esteemed Panel of Chairmen and national races, I am a Shan national U Sai Sam Tip of Mongkhat Township Shan State (East).

I will table the motion to denounce SURA and KNU insurgents who are encroaching on security and peace in border areas. All national people, Anyone who try to harm the sovereignty of the State is the enemy of the State and the people. We gather here to ward off those who try to harm the sovereignty. Recently, SURA drug trafficking terrorists and KNU terrorists disturbed the border areas of the motherland through various means. It means that they have harmed the sovereignty, security and peace and it also means that they have disrupted border areas development tasks being undertaken by the State. The chairman of the meeting explained the government's efforts for national development tasks as well as development tasks for national races during the decade after 1989. According to the speech of the chairman, urban and rural regions including border areas in the Union of Myanmar developed equitably and proportionately after the Tatmadaw government had taken up duties of the State. The government and national race leaders in harmony made efforts for development. They did so with strong determination. It is obviously seen that all national races living in Myanmar can now enjoy fruits of success.

The government has been making efforts for equal development in states and divisions after designating 24 development regions. The government designated Taunggyi, Panglong, Lashio and Kengtung regions in Shan State as four development regions. In implementing the development tasks in all regions, the government is also undertaking national development tasks and other development programmes including opening of university, degree college, government technological college and government computer college in designated development regions in states and divisions. Today, the government has promoted economic and social powers for economic infrastructure to be able to achieve national development. Therefore, the government laid down the 12 political, economic and social objectives. Strong infrastructures are needed to establish political, economic and social systems. After the Tatmadaw government had taken up duties of the State in 1989, regional stability was restored.

The government has been establishing economic infrastructures and other infrastructure development such as construction of roads, railroads, bridges, port development, construction and renovation of airports with added momentum. The government built Kengtung-Tachilek, Kengtung-Mongpyin, Kengtung-Mongla, Tachilek-Monghsat, Mongpyin-Monghsat, Mongyan-Hsilu, Mongyan-Hotaung and Mongpauk-Pansang roads in Shan State (East). Especially, it also built Mongtong-Tarhsan Bridge across Thanlwin River. Therefore people in the region can now go to Taunggyi and various parts of the country. Although the government has goodwill toward national races, SURA drug trafficking terrorist group and KNU terrorist are making schemes with ill intention. The entire people detest them for their rude behaviours.

On 11 February 2001, from the side of Yodaya, SURA drug trafficking insurgents and his group launched surprise attack on Myanmar Tatmadaw camps on 'O' hill near Tachilek. They fired shells of heavy weapons into Tachilek. As a result, ten shells fell and exploded in Tarlot Ward and Tarlot Market, destroying seven houses, one monastery, three shops and three vehicles. This is the rude act of SURA toward our country. As a saying goes " the slave behaves imprudently for ingratiate the master", SURA drug trafficking insurgents attacked Lwetawkhan camp in border area on 21 February and Parchee camp near Pungpahkyem camp in Mongtong Township on 21 April 2001.

In order to discredit the dignity of Myanma Tatmadaw, SURA drug trafficking insurgents and follower group in collaboration with some media stations announced that they had seized 200,000 stimulant tablets from Myanmar Tatmadaw camp. True event about the made-up story came to light when company commander Kwankham, platoon commander Aik Maung and private Aik Pi returned to the legal fold. SURA drug trafficking insurgents gradually showed their true colour. Altogether 200 SURA drug trafficking insurgents with the help of Yodaya attacked Lwedawkhan camp in Myanmar border on 21 February 2001, about 200 SURA insurgents the Tatmadaw camp in border post BP-1 Ponpakyin in Mongtong Township on 21 April 2001 and 80 SURA terrorists also fired at Maikyoke camp, new Maikyoke camp and Maikyoke Village with heavy weapons on 8 February 2002.

Altogether 28 houses, one vehicle and two motorcycles were burnt and destroyed. They took two cars and two motorcycles. In the battle of Maikyoke camp five Tatmadaw men, three people militiamen and nine villages were killed and public properties were lost. KNU terrorists committed destructive act over 50 years and caused harm to Myanmar internal affairs and security of the border region. Yodaya bred the armed terrorists attempted to weaken Myanmar and to cause disintegration of the Union of Myanmar. All national people, I would like to say earnestly that Yodaya bred some traitorsĘof our country and equipped with arms and provided with rations and allowed them to stay in their land and to gather people for recruitment. The entire Myanmar people know these facts. These acts lead to disunity among the Myanmar citizens. The entire Myanmar people know that the acts lead to disrupt stability of the State and the insurgents undermine the national development. On 6 May 2002 KNU terrorist group relying on external elements entered Bilin and Thaton and destroyed Yangon-Myainggalay gas pipe line near Kazaing Bridge between mile posts 130/3 and 130/4 on Yangon-Mottama Road by planting mines.

At 4.20 am on 15 May 2002, about 100 terrorists from KNU and ABSDF attacked Minletpan Village in Myawady Township. The acts of SURA drug-trafficking insurgents and KNU caused harm to regional security and peace. The destructive acts of SURA and KNU terrorists caused harm to regional security and peace. Properties of the people in border areas were lost. Esteemed Chairman and national races, SURA drug-trafficking insurgents and KNU extremely caused harm to regional security and peace. On 20 May 2002, the drug-trafficking insurgents with the tanks and heavy weapons from Yodaya brazenly opened fire on Panmongsun, Nyaungbibgin, Pangangaw and Yanpaingsun outposts.

On behalf of the national brethren in Myanmar, I would like to table a motion to denounce SURA drug trafficking insurgents and KNU insurgent destructionists who are encroaching on security and peace along the border in line with the People's Desire:
- Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views,
- Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the State and progress of the nation;
- Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State;
- Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy.

Afterwards, Akhar national Daw Ahphe of Kengtung township seconded the motion that all regional people denounce SURA and KNU insurgents who are violating border area security and peace tabled by Shan national U Sai San Tip of Mongkhat township. She said; The government is building the nation upholding the three main national cause Non-disintegration of the Union; Non-disintegration of the National Solidarity; Perpetuation of national sovereignty. Mutual respect, understanding, reliability and help could be set up among national brethren now. We are now witnessing good outcome of peace and development of the country. During a decade period when the government implemented plans for development of border area and national races with momentum, border areas where national brethren live have developed and local people are now enjoying the fruit of socio-economic development of the region.

After 1988 the government has assumed the responsibilities of the State, in education sector, 366 basic education primary schools, 48 basic education middle schools, 19 basic education high schools have been opened in border areas under the arrangement of the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races Development Affairs. 586 BEPS, 59 BEMS, 39 BEHS have been opened in border areas under the arrangement of the Ministry of Education. The total number of the schools opened is 1,117. 35,154 BEPS, 3,109 BEMS, 1,712 BEHS have been opened all over the country. In higher education sector, a total of 150 institutions could be opened including 62 universities, degree colleges and colleges under the Ministry of Education. In health sector, 46 hospitals, one station health care centre, 74 dispensaries, 18 rural health care centres and 30 branches of rural health care centres could be opened in border areas.

The government has made equitable efforts in livestock breeding sector, electric power sector and communication sectors. In transport sector, union roads have emerged as the outcome of far-sighted endeavours of the government. As a result, national brethren have easy access in the Union. Union Spirit has become tempered for unity among national brethren has become more strong as a result of friendship among them. All national people loathe the act of violating State security and peace of opium trafficking insurgents and KNU insurgents at the time when the government is building a peaceful modern developed nation. Especially, classifications about the attempts of harming State sovereignty and peace of SURA and KNU insurgents have been given by the chairman and the mover. SURA and KNU groups are opium trafficking insurgents under the cover of racism and politics.

They are harming State sovereignty with reliance on Yodaya.Taking stronghold in Yodaya territory, they are destroying security and peace of border areas. At this point, I would like to point out some fact regarding Yodaya. It is known to all that Yodaya, through out the history, has given assistance to any insurgents who would give trouble to Myanmar in order that Myanmar were weak, undeveloped and instability caused in Myanmar. It is also known to the world that invasion of nationalist Chinese in the Myanmar territory from 1949/50 to 1970 was due to the assistance given by Yodaya. Yodaya has rendered assistance to any armed insurgents from Myanmar. Yodaya provides them with arms, food and shelter. Yodaya recruits for them. Moreover, Yodaya is giving assistance to any association against Myanmar no matter they are armed or not. We the people know that there are many offices of the associations against Myanmar in Bangkok.

I would like to stress that we the national people oppose and denounce
- anyone who encroaches on the national sovereignty
- all activities of the destructive insurgents
- all traitorious insurgent destructionists and all those who are supporting them
- those who are harming the State from outside the framework of law and those who are
  stealthily or blatantly conspiring with them
- any attempts to hinder the developments by defaming the State with pessimism
  I will put it bluntly.
- Down with SURA and KNU drug trafficking destructive insurgents
- Down with external elements that interfere internal affairs of Myanmar by
  keeping destructionists

The following are our desire. Those who are endowed with National Spirit and Union Spirit have a desire for border area security and peace, continuous development in border areas. She urged those present to safeguard security, peace and development.

We must bravely crush those who are violating sovereignty along the border area of Myanmar and any destructive activities of insurgents. Thus, opium trafficking SURA and KNU insurgents at the border area will be crushed with the strength of the people, she added. Later, Chairman declared approval of the motion.

The ceremony came to a close with recitation of "Non-disintegration of the Union — Our Cause, Our Cause"; "Non-disintegration of the National Solidarity — Our Cause, Our Cause"; "Perpetuation of national sovereignty — Our Cause, — Our Cause".