Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses Diamond Jubilee of Artillery Corps Day
Nay Pyi Taw February 3
The 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee of Artillery Corps Day was held at the Transit Centre here this morning, attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present together with the Senior General were Com-mander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice Admiral Zwe Win Myint, Com-mander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, union level officials, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, retired senior officers of the corps, officials and invited guests.
The Senior General arrived at the venue and was welcomed by officials. At the first part of the ceremony, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Soe Min Oo, Command Commander Maj-Gen Saw Than Hlaing, and Director of Directorate of Artillery Maj-Gen Thet Aung formally opened the Diamond Jubilee Day of the corps.
The Senior General then unveiled the Diamond Jubilee Day commemorative signboard and posed for a group documen tary photo together with the attendees.
At the second part held at Hsinbyushin Hall, the Senior General and attendees enjoyed the song “from the diamond jubilee onwards” staged in honour of the Diamond Jubilee.
In his honorary address, the Senior General said today is the Diamond Jubilee of the artillery corps, one of the reliable forces of the country. Since the establishment of the corps, its members have been performing the assigned duties well with their utmost intellectual and physical ability in accord with the motto “change positions, fire, communicate”, and their efforts are honoured.
According to its history, the Burma Defence Army founded the No(1) Field Artillery in May 1946 with the aim of setting up an artillery corps. It was during the preindependence period, so, freedom of administration was absent. In October 1947, it was set up as No(6) Burma Rifles.
Internal insurgency broke out soon after the Burma Communist Party went underground in March 1948. The threat was so large that the name “Yangon government” appeared during the time. When Kayin insurgents were attacking Insein, General Ne Win ordered the establishment of an artillery force with 63 soldiers and Capt Ye Tun to join in the battle soon on 3 February 1949 and the Day has become the Artillery Corps Day since then, and now it reaches its diamond jubilee.
Since its establishment, the corps has been an obedient and disciplined force. In accordance with the order it was set up within three days and started to provide supporting fire brilliantly during the battle of Insein.
Since the battle of Insein in 1949 till the current anti-terrorist insurgency operations, it has been effectively taking part in the battles in accord with the goal to hit the specific targets with the required number of shells at the exact time. The corps deserves honour.
Members of the corps are also actively taking part in public welfare undertakings, in cluding relief and rehabilitation tasks after the Nargis cyclone in 2008, Mocha cyclone in 2023 and other natural disasters, in addition to serving its normal duties.
And during the administration of SAC, the corps has proved its brilliant ability in crushing terrorist insurgents that are committing various kinds of destructive acts in multiple sectors. Its battle readiness is recognized.
In order to enable the corps to stand shoulder to shoulder with the international counterparts, the Tatmadaw is equipping the corps with modern guns, ammunition and equipment and sending scholars abroad to skillfully use them. The corps is conducting multiplier courses that disseminate foreign technologies to broaden the combined internal and external knowledge of officers and other ranks.
Members of the corps also joined forces with other troops in joint (Army, Navy and Air) operations, joint (Army, Air, Artillery, Tank) drills. They could successfully perform their part and main duties.
The corps was established during the independence struggle. It is now standing proudly as a modern artillery force that is partaking in safeguarding independence and sovereignty and a force that can stand shoulder to shoulder with its counterparts. Hence, its members must always strive with utmost intellectual and physical efforts to enhance the strength and prowess of their corps and to remain as a reliable national defence force.
Time and again, members of the corps have approved their ability to service the duties assigned to them by the State and Tatmadaw unhesitatingly during the 75 year-journey. The corps can take pride in its officers, other ranks and families who won titles and medals.
New generation members should try to preserve the fine examples of the corps and hand them over to the future forces as a valuable inheritance. The Senior General urged members of the corps to always perform their duties well in accord with the corps’ mottos and slogans and continue to stand also as a brilliant force in the coming jubilees.
Afterwards, the director of the corps presented a brief account of the corps and a documentary video on the diamond jubilee was shown. Members stage the song “The God of War” that honours the diamond jubilee of Directorate of Signals.
The director presented a commemorative gift of the corps’ diamond jubilee to the Senior General.
Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing then cordially greeted the retired senior officers of the corps.
The Senior General and party visited the exhibition organized in honour of the diamond jubilee day.
The Senior General attended the luncheon hosted in honour of the ceremony together with attendees.