20 February 2022
Esteemed ethnic national brethren in Chin State,
Today’s 20 February is the 74th Anniversary of Chin National Day which is significant and auspicious for all Chin ethnics residing in Chin State and other various regions. On the significant day of Chin ethnics, I extend greetings with a wish to all ethnic national people including Chin ethnics to enjoy physical and mental well-being cheerfully.
A public conference held in Falam of Chin State decided to change the Saopha administration to the democratic administration system on 20 February 1948 when the country regained Independence. The seventh Chin Affairs Council conference held in Yangon on 9 October 1950 sought the wishes of all attendee Chin representatives over the motions to designate Chin National Day. The day 20 February, when the public conference that was held in Falam, was set as the “Chin National Day”. Hence, the Chin National Day starting from 1948 turns 74 years this year. The Chin National Day is a significant day for languages, culture, historical traditions and customs in common with all Chin ethnicities.
In its geographical conditions, Chin State is teeming with locations of natural resources and underground and above ground resources such as the western mountain range stretching from the north to the south, the Kaladan River flowing into the Bay of Bengal, the Natma Hill as habitats of rare plants and animals, the Khonuamthung Hill, the Kennedy Peak which was famous in the Second World War, the beautiful Reed Lake, the streaming Manipur River, Bwenu River and the Bungtla Waterfall.
Our country is a residence for various ethnic national people amicably living for many years. However, due to colonization and invasion of some world powerful countries in the 19th century, British colonialists occupied the whole of Myanmar in 1885 and separately ruled the hilly and plain areas. The Chin ethnic people who did not wish to accept the slavery acts in the aggressive occupation of foreigners cooperated with other ethnic nationals in waging against colonialists. In battling colonialists, the patriotic spirit of Chin national leaders Bo Kyum Bik and Bi Khai Kam who joined hand in hand with various ethnics born of the Union in fighting the colonialists is an honourable historical tradition of Chin State.
As honorary examples, ethnic leaders such as U Hlur Hmung, U Thawng Za Khup and U Kio Mang, who signed the Panglong Agreement on 12 February 1947, expressed the genuine Union spirit of Chin State.
History proves that national unity and the nationalistic spirit are of importance for our country which is home to various ethnic nationals in unison. All ethnic national people residing in the Union through thick and thin sharing the future altogether need to safeguard the State in all aspects through the genuine patriotic spirit. If so, the country will be perpetually peaceful and prosperous with development, standing tall among the global countries.
Currently, riots, the violation of the law and sabotages breaking up the State in various parts of the nation, including Chin State, are very dangerous for the nation. Understanding the real root causes of instability and knowing the acts of saboteurs to disintegrate the State and acts of internal and external destructionists, all need to prevent these destructive acts.
I’d like to urge you all that now is the time to ensure peace and development of the Union through the genuine patriotic spirit and harmoniously cooperate with each other in building the Union based on democracy and federalism in accord with the aspiration of the people.
The State Administration Council has adopted a vow to successfully implement the political, social and economic objectives and the five-point road map during the prescribed period when it takes the State responsibilities. The government is emphasizing the restoration of internal peace and ceasefire across the nation. As peace, stability and the rule of law are crucial in the development of the nation and nation-building endeavours, I’d like to request all the ethnic national people to join hands with the government in further maintaining peace and stability and ending armed conflicts for the development of the nation.
The government in its part is carrying out the management for opening and upgrading of more basic education schools to develop human resources in Chin State, repairing educational buildings, constructing new buildings and appointing more teachers while establishing more hospitals and clinics and deploying assignment of medical doctors for providing healthcare services to the local people.
Moreover, the government arranges the supply of electricity from the national grid aspired by people from Chin State to various parts of the state. In order to improve the transport facilities, the highways with easy access to the mainland and local roads of the state are being extended. In addition, the development of the Kaladan River Basin which can connect foreign countries from Chin State through the waterway and the construction of the Paletwa Port are being undertaken. These projects are sound foundations for the socio-economic development of the ethnic national people from Chin State in the future.
Although transport difficulties based on natural geographical conditions as well as high hilly areas in Chin State cause hindrances to development tasks, the government is trying hard to fulfil the needs for the development of the state as much as possible. Hence, the ethnic national people residing in Chin State need to cooperate with the Union government and the Chin State government in development tasks.
Participation of all ethnic nationals in equal terms of rights is of great importance in shaping the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to be a peaceful, prosperous, modern and developed Union based on democracy and federalism. So, I hereby send a message and I’d like to urge all ethnic national people residing in Chin State in unison in nation-building tasks.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman, State Administration Council
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