Independence and bounden duty of Myanmar people

Independence and sovereignty are two of a nation’s characteristics the world legal experts and

political scientists have standardized. They said that to be able to stand in the international community, a nation had to have (1) territory, (2) population, (3) sovereignty and (4) independence. Myanmar has its territory. King Anawrahta reunited the scattering regions into the First Myanmar Empire. Taking a stronghold in Toungoo, King Bayintnaung brought disintegrated regions together to establish the Second Myanmar Empire. Shwebo (Konbaung) U Aung Zeya (King Alaungphaya) founded the Third Myanmar Empire and delineated the territory of the nation. When the Third Myanmar Empire became weak in military prowess, the British colonialists annexed the nation. Myanmar national races thus had to sacrifice a lot of lives, blood and sweat to regain territory. The Union of Myanmar today has (1)

territory, and (2) more than 56 million people of more than 100 national races. (3) Since Myanmar regained independence, successive Myanmar governments have taken charge of State duties. (4) Myanmar is an independent and sovereign nation. Therefore, Myanmar stands tall in the world with allthe four characteristics of a nation. Sovereignty, independence or practice of

democracy in accordance with the consent of the majority of the people, and meeting the standards of human rights reflect the image of an independent nation. Sovereignty means the right to serve the interests of the nation and the people freely or self-determination.

Under the UN Charter, every independent nation shall become a member of the UN after pledging to follow the principles of the Charter and enjoy the rightstherein. The Charter prescribes that all member nationsshall recognize and respect the sovereignty of other
members. There shall be equality among big and smallnations holding only one vote for each nation. Members are to refrain from committing acts of aggression against the territory of others and the UN and other nations are not to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations and disputes are to be settled through negotiations rather than the use of force, and every

member nation is entitled to self-determination. International legal norms support the principles. The principles of the Bandung Declaration (resolution passed at Bandung Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1955) of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement are similar to the principles of the UN Charter. The fundamental principles and objectives of

the ten-member ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) and the principles of the ASEAN Charter include cooperation for development, peace and security, and non-interference of the Association in the internal affairs of members. Myanmar joined the United Nations in 1948, in which it regained independence. It is one of the nations that initiated the Non-Aligned Movement. Myanmar, a member of the ASEAN, upholds nonaligned foreign policy and Bandung principles. Now, the government is dedicating itself to the national development tasks in line with the nation’s geographical features, characters of national races, historic experiences and consent of the majority of the people. As a result, it managed to put an end to
internal armed conflicts that had disrupted national development for 40 years. The government has been able to realize projects for all-round development of the whole nation, tenaciously braving a wide range of blockages, disruptions and destructive acts. The
purpose of the government’s endeavours is nothing more than enabling the people of national races to fully enjoy the taste of independence.Myanmar people have placed gravity on
perpetuation of sovereignty or independence, for which the people had to launch battles with tenacity against the colonialists, and on perpetual existence and prosperous
future of the Union that was unified with national solidarity and Panglong spirit or Union Spirit based on patriotism. National races have made efforts to regain
independence, chart brighter future of the nation and ensure non-disintegration of national solidarity. To maintain independence, to protect the Union, and to ensure perpetual unity of national brethren are the three national duties or bounden duties of Myanmar people.
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