Alien thoughts and culture are entering nation in waves through the door of culture and economy including the media and the In

Alien thoughts and culture are entering nation in waves through the door of culture and economy including the media and the Internet Alien cultural domination can be warded off only with patriotism Propagate nationalism through strength of literature and fine arts to keep spirits of national people mature

Yangon, 13 Oct—The following is a translation of the speech delivered by Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing13th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein.

State level officials, specially invited guests, diplomats, resident representatives of UN agencies, judges and contestants, I wish you all health and happiness and uplift and safeguard national prestige, while preserving our traditions and culture.

The Union of Myanmar has been standing tall with fine historical traditions as she has firmly set up a grand and high level cultural heritage full with essence since the early period of history.

Throughout the thousands-year-old history and till now, the national brethren of Myanmar, living in unity and amity, have been handing over the cultural heritage they have further strengthened and enriched and added more value to it from generation to generation as a well-preserved legacy.

Thanks to the traditions and culture born of the experience of the race throughout history and the power of nationalistic fervour and national pride to cherish and safeguard high-standard cultural heritage, Myanmar people were imbued with physical and spiritual prowess, and built states where unity and nationalism prevailed. In addition, Myanmar was able to stand shoulder to shoulder with neighbours in all military, political, diplomatic and cultural terms.

Because of those sound cultural foundations, the Myanmar people have been able to stand with dignity, while safeguarding and restoring the national characters and traits together with the national culture they have nurtured as a separate entity different from all other cultures of the world.

The long-preserved high standard culture of Myanmar can be found and studied at ancient pagodas and other religious edifices, excavated old city states, personal items and in ten kinds of traditional arts and crafts, including paintings, wood and ivory carvings, sculpture and stucco art.

The essence of the spiritual part of culture covering the gentle and delicate art, civilized and polite customs, social ethics interwovened with Buddha’s teachings, and deep art of thinking including the social, religious and administrative branches can be studied and discovered only through literature, poems, other letters, and performing arts.

The Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions have been held in connection with the national task of handing down the fine traditions and capabilities that have uplifted Myanmar as the race enjoying high level of dignity throughout the different stages of history to the new generation, and to effectively use the powerful might of the performing arts to uplift the nation and the race.

The Myanmar traditional cultural performing arts are flourishing widely with deep essence in all four branches — marionette, drama, anyient and saing (Myanmar orchestra).

Each of the four branches is developing separately with its own style, nature, art and history, while interacting and supporting one another.

Each of the performing arts branches is with its own glory covering the stateliness, style, melody and energy.

The noble deeds including justice, morals, fidelity, sympathy and loving-kindness, rooted in Myanmar society for many years, and the Myanmar traditions and customs and the noble Myanmar spirit under the domain of the sense of shame to do misdeeds and the Four Cardinal Virtues are engraved in Myanmar cultural performing arts.

Myanmar theatrical plays and Myanmar marionette plays reflect Myanmar characters and virtues such as the essence of traditions and culture and the delicate essence of the performing arts, in addition to the high-level administrative and judicial systems of Myanmar society that existed under its own kings, the principles of equality, diplomacy and military strategies.

Vidhura drama the contestants will have to present at the competitions shows the wise decision made by court minister Vidhura with his power of knowledge, sincerity and selflessness. Moreover the theme of the drama shows the fact that good deeds of tolerance and loving-kindness and the practice of saints to be loyal friends can teach the people a good lesson. Thus, it also confirms the fact that Myanmar people cherish and value the power of modesty and knowledge.

The restoration and uplift of the Myanmar drama and marionette plays and performing arts, which have strong artistic power of influence, and invaluable cultural essence, will help enhance the artistic skill in the respective branches, the public organizational power of the arts, and the people’s ability to appreciate the artistic pleasures.

Furthermore, the competitions will harmoniously vitalize the foundation of nationalism to preserve and uplift national culture among the people.

All will have to preserve the traditional culture in its original style as it reflects the significant characteristics of the people and the nation. Likewise, the task to perpetuate national trait or national character, mode of dress, language, culture and customs and social norms should be conducted through preservation of national culture and race.

The dignity of Myanmar will disappear on the day the national entity and character disappear.

Hence, the government has laid down a firm objective to preserve and protect cultural heritage and national character from vanishing forever.

In this age of globalization, the alien thoughts and culture are entering the nation in waves through the door of culture and economy including the media and the Internet, with ICT as the vehicle.

The alien cultural domination can be warded off only with the spirit to love and cherish our own traditions and culture.

Nowadays, some youths thinking highly of alien culture that is against Myanmar culture are going with the tides and are addicted to decadent behaviour and mode of dress.

If this situation is ignored, honest and sincere youths will fail to value and cherish their own culture, and one day we will have to face the extinction of our own race.

The performing arts competitions will make some youths, who are unaware of the values, standard, system and essence of our culture, realize its values, standard, system and essence and inspire them to study and understand its depth and profoundness. One’s level of appreciation rises as much as one knows the value of culture. When one feels the depth of its essence one will certainly hold it in esteem.

The Government has laid down political, economic and social objectives and has been accordingly taking all possible measures to see that the Union of Myanmar stands tall in the international community keeping in tact her national character and prestige.

In striving for the harmonious and all-round development of education, health, social and economic sectors, it has been exerting its efforts on spiritual uplift of the people of the nation.

To keep the spirits of the national people mature, firm and high, it is necessary to enhance national pride, preserve and promote national culture and vitalize and propagate the nationalism, the spirit of national solidarity and Union Spirit with the strength of literature and fine arts.

Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given guidance that the performing arts competitions are to be organized grandly the way the Union Day celebrations are held so that complete and rich cultural resources could be put to most benificial use in promoting the image of the nation and the people, guarding against penetration of alien culture while enabling national brethren to cordially meet at the performing arts competitions, collectively preserve, promote and cherish the cultural traditions, then only, he added, will they have common views and stand and can patriotism be strengthened for national solidarity.

As much as the performing arts competitions can exhibit and make all understand and realize the similarities of the cultural traditions, customs and traditional performing arts of all the national races and how this national heritage has been preserved for generations, one and all will appreciate the subtleties, values, high standard and fine traditions of Myanma performing arts.

Only when the national races are in a spirit of common views and stand will they be able to firmly and resolutely confront and repulse the influence and domination of the aliens of different traditions and cultural traits in accord with a saying, Blood is thicker than water. Hence, I would like to urge all to guard against the penetration of alien culture, external instigation and manipulation by strengthening patriotism, the love for the nation and Union Spirit while preserving and promoting national culture.

In conclusion, all the artistes are urged

* to strive for firm and continued flourishing of the national character of Myanmar people, cultural traditions and human values with the help of performing arts,

* to make the new generation youths realize the profound historical background of Myanmar people, the prestige and glory of the ancestors and the high cultural standard in order that they will be inspired to take pride in the national prestige and safeguard national interests thereby enhancing national strength with the help of performing arts,

* for the culture and arts to keep the spirit of national solidarity and Union Spirit ever alive to see that stable, peaceful, prosperous, consolidated and enduring Union stands tall always.

13th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions launched

YANGON, 13 Oct—The opening ceremony of the 13th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions was held at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street in Dagon Township here this morning.

It was attended by Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the 13th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Daw Khin Khin Win, wife of the Secretary-1, Chairman of the Leading Committee Chairman of Yangon Division PDC Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe and wife, ministers and their wives, the chief justice, the attorney-general, the chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the chairman of Yangon City Development Committee the mayor, senior military officers, deputy ministers, chairmen and members of the Leading Committee, work committee and subcommittees, diplomats of foreign embassies in Yangon, charges d’ affaires, military attaches, resident representatives of UN agencies, officials, departmental heads, social organizations, members of the central panel and state/division boards of judges, managers and contestants of the teams, and guests.

The first session of the opening ceremony took place at 6.15 am at the venue. The chairmen and members of respective committees, guests, managers and contestants of state/division teams, members of cultural troupes from 14 states and divisions, contestants of 16 teams, and damsels of the University of Culture took positions at the designated places.

Daw Tin Tin Mya and Daw Thida Swe of Myanma Radio and Television emceed the first session.

Member of the Panel of Patrons for Organizing the Competitions Maj-Gen Myint Swe gave an account of preparations for the competitions, saying that the competitions have been held in accord with the traditions since 1993 annually.

The competitions are being held from 13 to 31 October under the seven objectives:

— to vitalize patriotism and nationalism

— to preserve and safeguard Myanmar cultural heritage

— to perpetuate genuine Myanmar music, dance and traditional fine arts

— to preserve Myanmar national characters

— to nurture spiritual development of the youths

— to prevent influence of alien culture, and

— to strengthen national unity and Union Spirit.

In order to satisfy the wishes of the maestros, the Vidhura Jakata drama contest will be held on a grander scale than previous years with a view to regenerating the art of Myanma drama.

In the marionette competition, “Zaw-hnint-mintha” dance is prescribed at the amateur level, and “Min-ku-tha Jakata” at the professional level.

A total of 2,482 contestants are contending for the prizes. All necessary arrangements have been made for enabling the contestants, who love and preserve the cultural heritage of the nation, to take part in the competitions in peace in accordance with the lofty objectives. He urged the contestants to participate in the events with peace of mind.

Member of the Panel of Patrons Minister for Culture Maj-Gen Kyi Aung formally opened the competitions.

The Secretary-1 cordially greeted the diplomats, military attaches and guests.

The second session followed at the venue. U Hla Win and Daw Thida Swe of MRTV acted as masters of ceremonies.

The patron of the Leading Committee delivered the opening speech. (reported separately)

The artistes presented an entertainment programme of a dance and song composed by Gita Lulin U Ko Ko in honour of the 13th Performing Arts Competitions.