TOP SECRET
THE
TO
SOCIALISM
REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL
TOP SECRET
To be treated as Top Secret until
officially announced
TOWARDS SOCIALISM IN OUR OWN
(Translated from the Burmese)
Our Belief
1. THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF THE
does not believe that man will be
set free from social evils as long as pernicious economic systems exist in
which man exploits man and lives on the fat of such appropriation. The Council
believes it to be possible only when exploitation of man by man is brought to
an end and a socialist economy based on justice is established; only then can
all people, irrespective of race or religion, be emancipated from all social
evils and set free from anxieties over food, clothing and shelter, and from
inability to resist evil, for an empty stomach is not conducive to wholesome
morality, as the Burmese saying goes; only then can an affluent stage of social
development be reached and all people be happy and healthy in mind and body.
Thus affirmed in this belief the Revolutionary Council is resolved to march unswervingly and arm-in-arm with the people of the Union of Burma towards the goal of socialism.
Fundamentals of our Policy
2. In setting forth their programmes
as well as in their execution the Revolutionary Council will study and appraise
the concrete realities and also the natural conditions peculiar to
3. In its activities the Revolutionary Council will strive
for self-improvement by way of self-criticism. Having learnt from contemporary
history the evils of deviation towards right or left the Council will with
vigilance avoid any such deviation.
4. In whatever situations and difficulties the Revolutionary
Council may find itself it will strive for advancement
in accordance with the times, conditions, environment and the ever changing
circumstances, keeping at heart the basic interests of the nation.
5. The Revolutionary Council will diligently seek all ways and means whereby it can formulate and carry out such programmes as are of real and practical value for the well-being of the nation. In doing so it will critically observe, study and avail itself of the opportunities provided by progressive ideas, theories and experiences at home, or abroad without discrimination between one country of origin and another.
Socialist Economy
6. The fundamental concept of socialist economy is the
participation of all for the general well-being in works of common ownership,
and planning towards sufficiency and contentment of all, sharing the benefits
derived therefrom. Socialist economy aims at the
establishment of a new society for all, economically secure and morally better,
to live in peace and prosperity.
7. Socialist economy therefore opposes any pernicious
economic system in which man exploits man, and self-interest and self-seeking
are the motivating forces.
8. Socialist economy does not serve the narrow self-interest
of a group, an organization, a class, or a party, but plans its economy with
the sole aim of giving maximum satisfaction to material, spiritual and cultural
needs of the whole nation.
9. Socialist economy is the planned, proportional
development of all the national productive forces.
"Productive forces" is the collective term for
natural resources, raw materials, instruments of production, accumulated
capital, peasants, workers, intelligentsia, technicians, know-hows and experiences, skills, etc.
Socialist economy proportionally plans, on the basis of the
population and productive forces, for sufficiency and abundance of consumer
goods. While improving the standard of living and increasing the purchasing
power of the nation it also expands production. Socialist economy thus solves
the problem of unemployment and ensures security of a means of livelihood for
every individual.
10. In order to carry out socialist plans such vital means
of production as agricultural and industrial production, distribution,
transportation, communications, All external trade,
etc., will have to be nationalized. All such national means of production will
have to be owned by the State or
co-operative societies or collective unions. Amongst such
11. In building up an economy according to socialist plans
every able individual will have to work according to his ability. The material
and cultural values that accrue will he distributed in accordance with the
quantity and quality of labour expended by each individual in social
production.
12. In socialist society equalitarianism is impossible. Men
are not equal physically and intellectually in the respective quantity and
quality of service they render to society, and differences are therefore bound
to exist. But at the same time social justice demands that the gaps between
incomes are reasonable, and correct measures will be taken to narrow these gaps
as much as possible.
13. A socialist democratic state will be constituted to
build up a successful socialist economy. A socialist democratic state is based
on and safeguards its own socialist economy. The vanguard and custodian of a
socialist democratic state are primarily peasants and workers, but the middle
strata and those who will work with integrity and loyalty for the general weal
will also participate.
14. Parliamentary democracy called “The People’s Rule” came
into existence in history with the British, American and French Revolutions
against feudalism. It happens to be the best in comparison with all its
preceding systems.
But in some countries the parliament has been so abused as
to have become only the means by which the opportunists and propertied people
deceive the simple masses.
In the Union of Burma also, parliamentary democracy has been
tried and tested in furtherence of the aims of
socialist development. But Burma’s “parliamentary
democracy” has not only failed to serve our socialist development but also, due
to its very inconsistencies, defects, weaknesses and loopholes, its abuses and
the absence of a mature public opinion, lost sight of and deviated from the
socialist aims, until at last indications of its heading imperceptibly towards
just the reverse have become apparent.
The nation's socialist aims cannot be achieved with any
assurance by means of the form of parliamentary democracy that we have so far
experienced.
The Revolutionary Council therefore firmly believes that it
must develop, in conformity with existing conditions and environment and ever
changing circumstances, only such a form of democracy as will promote. and safeguard the socialist development.
These then are the fundamentals of socialist economy.
PROGRAMME FOR TRANSITION TO SOCIALISM
Reorientation of views
15. In marching towards socialist economy it is imperative
that we first reorientate all erroneous views of our
people.
Fraudulent practices, profit motive, easy living,
parasitism, shirking and selfishness must be eradicated.
16. We must so educate the people that to earn one’s living
by. One’s own labour and to see dignity in one’s own work comes into vogue. We
must educate, lead by example and guide the people away from the base notion
that it is beneath one’s dignity to work by the sweat of one’s brow.
17. Attempts must be made by various correct methods to do
away with bogus acts of charity and social work for vainglorious show, bogus
piety and hypocritical religiosity, etc., as well as to foster and applaud bona fide belief and practice of
personal morals as taught by eithics (sic) and traditions of every religion
and culture. We will resort to education, literature, fine arts, theatre and
cinema, etc., to bring into vogue the concept that to serve others’ interests
is to serve one's own.
Administrative machinery
18. In our road to socialism the existing bureaucratic administration is a big stumbling block. To achieve our socialist aims with this effete machinery is impossible. Steps will have to be taken to remove this bureaucratic machinery and lay firm foundations for a socialist democratic one.
Defence Services
19. The existing Defence Services will also be developed to
become national armed forces which will defend our socialist economy.
Economy
20. The
21. On the full realization of socialist economy the socialist government, far from neglecting the owners of national private enterprises which have been steadfastly contributing to the general well-being of the people, will even enable them to occupy a worthy place in the new society in the course of further national development.
The question of nationalities
22. As the Union of Burma is a country where many indigenous
racial groups reside, it is only when the solidarity of all the indigenous
racial groups has been established that socialist economy which can guarantee
the welfare of every racial group can be achieved. In striving towards
fraternity and unity of all the races of the
"A nation is a collective term applied to a people,
irrespective of their ethnic origin, living in close contact with one another
and having common interests and sharing joys and sorrows together for such
historic periods as to have acquired a sense of oneness. Though race, religion
and language are important factors it is only their traditional desire and will
to live in unity through weal and woe that binds a people together and makes
them a nation and their spirit a patriotism."
We, the peoples of the Union of Burma, shall nurture and hug
a new patriotism as inspired by the words of General Aung San.
Social Service
23. Education. -- The Revolutionary Council believes that the existing educational system unequated with livelihood will have to be transformed. An educational system equated with livelihood will be brought about. Science will be given precedence in education.
Our educational target is to bring basic education within
the reach of all. As regards higher education only those who have promise and enough
potentialities and industriousness to benefit from it will be permitted.
24. Health and Culture.
-- Other social services such as Health, Culture, etc., shall flourish in
direct proportion to the tides of socialist success like the lotus and the water’s
height.
Organizational march
25. In marching towards the goal of socialism the
Revolutionary Council will base its organization primarily on the strength of
peasants and other working masses who form the great
majority of the nation. It will march also hand-in-hand with those who will
work with integrity and loyalty for national interest and well-being of the
people.
26. The Revolutionary Council will therefore carry out such
mass and class organizations as are suitable for the transitional period, and
also build up a suitable form of political organization.
27. When political organizational work is carried out socialist democratic education and democratic training will be given to the people so as to ensure their conscious participation. (The Revolutionary Council believes and hopes that there will come about democratic competitions which will promote socialist development within the framework of socialism.) The aforesaid are in outline the belief, policy and programme of the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma.
Responsibility of the people
28. The Revolutionary Council has faith in the people, and
in their creative force.
The Revolutionary Council believes that the people will,
with an active awareness of their duties and responsibilities, play their part
in full in this national revolutionary progressive movement and programme under
the leadership of the Revolutionary Council.
The Revolutionary Council reaffirms and declares again that
it will go foward (sic)
hand-in-hand with the people to reach the goal of socialism.
THE
REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF
THE
G,U.P.C,P.O, -- No. 48, Min. of
Information,
Published by the
Information Department for the Revolutionary Council