All need to guard nation against neo-colonialists' perpetration with national awareness that originated in patriotism, Union Spirit It is very important for everyone of the nation wherever
they live to cultivate and possess Union Spirit
Only Union Spirit is the true patriotism all the nationalities will have to always uphold and safeguard

YANGON , 24 Nov — The following is a translation of the 85th Anniversary National Day Message of Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services:

Esteemed national people,

Today is the 85th Anniversary of the National Day, the day on which the struggle for independence gained an extra force of unity and harmony of the whole nation, with nationalism as the foundation. The country was able to regain independence thanks to the movement the Myanmar people launched with greater efforts springing from the nationalistic fervour for emergence of a national education system that was in conformity with their socio-economic life. Thus, it is also a day, always to be remembered as a milestone in the history of Myanmar 's independence struggle.

Throughout the history, the nation and her people always have safeguarded and enhanced the national prestige and lineage, with unyielding spirit to gallantly drive out any kind of encroachment or intrusion. Although the national races faced the loss of their monarchy and the country for some time, they struggled to regain independence through the national movement deeply rooted in the noble spirit with dear love for the country, race and the Union .

In this age of advancing science and technology, the neo-colonialists instead of using much-obvious colonization and coercion resorting to force, are trying to encroach on and dominate others through the media, with social, economic human rights and narcotic drug excuses. In this regard, we all need to guard the nation against their perpetration with national awareness that originated in patriotism and Union Spirit.

In addition, the launching of the 30-year national education promotion plan beginning 2001-2002 fiscal year is to enable today's youths to face and overcome the socio-economic life created by the ever advancing science and technology of the 21st Century. The plan covers the task of developing the education sector to meet the international standard and producing highly qualified human races for the future.

The plan involves the programmes to enable all school age children to attend classes, and thanks to the cooperation of parents and the people, school enrollment rate of children at elementary classes increased to 97.58 per cent in the present academic year. Up to 5,545 post-primary schools have been opened in the nation to open greater opportunities to pursue middle school education. At present, over 7.79 million students are attending classes at 40,525 basic education schools. Moreover, the government has been launching the project, that covers every nook and cranny of the nation, to ensure equal learning opportunities for both the rural and urban areas, enhance the teaching qualifications, increase the adult literacy rate and improve the reading power, with the cooperation of local authorities, education staff, people, parents and wellwishers.

In the higher education sector, the government is opening more and more universities and colleges in the 24-special development regions across the nation to promote opportunity for the youths to pursue higher education, new masters degrees courses (research), doctoral courses and region-wise courses on proficiency, and providing educational institutions with electronics on IT. Now, over 797,000 students are pursuing education in 156 universities, degree colleges, and colleges, and 988 students have got doctorates.

The government and the entire national people are to join hands firmly in the drive for emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation and building a discipline-flourishing democratic nation, mobilizing the strength of qualified human resources that will develop under the national education promotion plan being implemented for constantly safeguarding and enhancing the national interest.

It is very important for everyone of the nation wherever they live to cultivate and possess Union Spirit. Only Union Spirit is the true patriotism all the nationalities will have to always uphold and safeguard.

In line with the fine traditions of National Day, a significant day, on which a national education system was established to uplift dynamism of nationalistic spirit and fervour that helped the nation regain independence, the entire national people should make collaborative efforts in unison with nationalistic fervour, patriotism and Union Spirit for successful implementation of the State's seven-point Road Map, upholding National Policy — Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of national solidarity, and Perpetuation of sovereignty.

In conclusion, I would like to exhort the entire national people to make efforts with nationalistic vigour to achieve the objectives of the 85th Anniversary National Day, that falls today:

(1) To strengthen nationalist spirit and to ensure uplift of national prestige and integrity

(2) To promote national education

(3) Perpetuity of independence and sovereignty of the State