As Myanmar looks to transition away from isolation and an era characterized by military rule, events at a commemorative event Wednesday may have been discouraging to many. Wednesday marked the 68th anniversary of Myanmar's Anti-Fascist Revolution Day, the beginning of the uprising against Japanese occupation during World War II in 1945. The anniversary has evolved into an honorary event for Myanmar's armed forces, or Tatmadaw, in the country's post-colonial history since the junta era. Like in years past, the event this year marked another opportunity for the military to portray its strength and power. In a symbolic gesture, 6,000 troops — accompanied by artillery, tanks and jets — marched at the Three Kings Monument in the capital of Naypyidaw. Meanwhile, Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing, in an address to soldiers and a national audience, reaffirmed Tatmadaw's leading role in national politics and the country's fledgling democratic process.