First memorial to fallen soldiers

The event was organised for the first time by retired servicemen with the approval of the Yangon Regional Command and it will become an annual event. During the event, attendees laid wreaths, saluted and observed two minutes of silence in remembrance of soldiers, including General Aung San, who sacrificed their lives for the country. 

At the memorial, Kyaw Ne Win said, “Our country would not have achieved independence unless the Tatmadaw existed. Now we are in an independent country because General Aung San and my grandfather established the Tatmadaw. I am attending this event because I was born and grew up among these comrades, and I think we are all in oneness. I am very proud to be here. I assume such an event will continue every year.” 

When asked how to reduce casualties from clashes between government troops and rebels, Kyaw Ne Win said, “Our soldiers and families always stand by the commander-in-chief of the Defence Services. We will have to follow his orders. I have no authority to talk about this. As we are subordinates, we will do what the Tatmadaw asks and follow its orders.” 

Tin May Oo, mother of army lieutenant Zaw Myo Htet, who was killed in a battle with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in August last year, commented that other countries will exploit Myanmar if divisions between ethnic communities continues. 

Ordinary soldiers have had to sacrifice their lives because of political opportunists who are incapable of distinguishing between the dictatorship and the Tatmadaw, she added. 

Officials from the organising committee called for negotiations between warring parties in which demands must be pragmatic. 

The armed ethnic groups denounced the Myanmar Army’s shelling of a KIA military academy on November 19, which left 23 cadets dead and several others injured. They said such attacks are unacceptable at a time when the country is involved in a peace process. 

Locals from the Kachin State town Myitkyina also held a prayer ceremony, and peace activists carried out a memorial service in front of the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon. 

Retired army captain Ye Moe, who is a member of the committee for organising the memorial to the fallen soldiers, said the idea for holding the event was partly inspired by the condolence statements issued by political parties over the killing of the KIA cadets. 

“Recently, the NLD issued a statement expressing sympathy for the fallen KIA soldiers,” said Ye Moe. 

“We are not condemning their statement. But there have also been tens of thousands of soldiers from the Tatmadaw who sacrificed their lives for the good of our country. So it came into our mind that we should hold a memorial service to honour those fallen soldiers. But we did not do it in response to their statements.” 

At present, there is a dispute between the military and the NLD over amending Section 436 of the constitution. In parliament, NLD MPs advocate charter change, while military MPs opposed it.