It is the duty of every citizen to undergo military training and to serve in the military to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of Myanmar, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has said.  

He made the comment during a speech at the Passing-out Parade of the 7th Intake of Graduate Female Cadet Course held at the parade ground of the Defence Services (Army) Officers Training School (Hmawby) in Yangon on December 21, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported on its website. 

Section 386 of the 2008 Constitution states every citizen has the duty to undergo military training in accord with the provisions of the law and to serve in the Armed Forces to defend the Union. Myanmar is geographically contiguous to the populated countries. Myanmar pivoted on the geographical and strategic figure, the ministry chief said. 

“It is a must for every citizen to undergo military training and to serve in the Armed Forces to safeguard the independence and sovereignty. Hence, it is an honour bestowed on your aspiration to carry out defence duty despite being female. I would also like to impart that you are obliged to organize every citizen who comes of age for defence duty and military training to safeguard the Nation,” he said. 

The Senior General said although the turnover of governmental bodies handles with parametric time trends around the world, the Nation and Tatmadaw (military) will remain constant. There must be a defence institution, the Tatmadaw for the perpetuation of national sovereignty. Here I would like to express that every citizen is responsible for the powerful Tatmadaw.

“As there is no greater loss for a nation than the loss of its independence, every citizen has full responsibility to safeguard the perpetuation of national sovereignty. The main duty of the Tatmadaw is the national defence,” he added. 

The term “defence” is composed of comprehensive meanings. It needs to take paramount duties to national defence; to safeguard territorial integrity, lives and property of people, to protect national interests, to deal with the disaster and to take preventive measures of infectious disease and famine for people, he commented.