Esteemed Rakhine ethnic nationals,

I extend greetings to national brethren residing in the Rakhine State and all ethnic national people from the whole nation to enjoy the physical and mental wellbeing with auspiciousness on today’s 47th Anniversary of Rakhine State Day.

Rakhine State Day is a significant day among the important days of the Rakhine ethnic nationals in Rakhine State. The Day of Rakhine State was designated in accord with the Constitution approved by the government of the Myanma Socialist Programme Party in 1974.

The Rakhine State Day has been held since 1975, and this year’s celebration will be 47th year.

The Rakhine State lies in the coastal area between the Rakhine mountain ranges and the Bay of Bengal. Being a long coastal line, the Rakhine State is teeming with valuable rivers, creeks, lakes and islands as a region to produce invaluable natural products for the country. And, the Rakhine State is rich in natural resources due to geographical conditions.

 The Rakhine State possesses a long history of ancient Rakhine ethnic nationals with abundant cultural heritages. As the historical shreds of evidence prove that Rakhine literature has been flourishing since the Danyawady era, it is a state possessing invaluable ancient cultural heritages in literature, culture and customs arenas. Since the time from the reigns of ancient Rakhine kings to date, Buddhist monks and layman authors, as well as Rakhine national scholars and professionals, have emerged in the Rakhine State. And, it should take pride in those Rakhine nationals who served the State interests.

The Rakhine State is poor in the transport sector due to geographical conditions and it lags development behind other regions. Although successive governments carried out the development tasks, the Tatmadaw government in its tenure especially pays emphasis on the transport sector for the Rakhine State not to be less developed than other regions. Thanks to such kinds of efforts, ethnic nationals have easy access to other areas of national brethren of the Union by cutting the time, aimed at enhancing the friendly relations among the ethnic nationals.

The Rakhine State started enjoying the fruits of transport sector in better transport facilities in addition to electrification, agriculture, livestock, education, health, and socio-economic development sectors. Moreover, efforts are being made to further develop the tourism sites. Only when the tourism services develop, domestic products of Rakhine ethnic nationals can be sent to local and foreign markets with the aim of increasing the per capita income.

As the government is implementing the five-point road map and nine objectives, much progress can be seen in the security, peace and tranquility of the Rakhine State thanks to concerted efforts of the people from the state. As Myanmar is home to the rural people, accounting for more than 70 per cent, it is necessary to mitigate the development gap between the rural and urban areas to the least percentage, the government is considering the improvement of the life of rural people from the Rakhine State. Only then would the Rakhine State have the growth of long-term interests.

 Currently, the government is making the utmost efforts in all aspects for taking preventive, control and treatment measures of the COVID-19 pandemic the globe is facing. In this regard, COVID-19 vaccines are distributed to the Rakhine State in the real-time, and the people in the state are being vaccinated. The government on its part has pledged to continuously assist in prevention, control and treatment activities of the COVID-19 to any ethnic nationals with momentum.

In looking back the history of the country, the impacts based on the political conflicts the people had faced in the Myanmar society since the time of the post-independence era to date cause the armed conflicts sparking the diversity of political doctrines, differences from concepts and attitudes, and doubts among the national brethren. Due to solving these conflicts, the country lags development behind neighbouring countries and regional States. As such, all ethnic nationals need to reside in the country together with sharing of the future through thick and thin by building mutual respect, understanding and trust in order to shape the Union based on democracy and federalism while fully exercising justice and fairness in the revitalization of the genuine, disciplined multiparty democracy.

Buddhism has been flourishing in the Rakhine State. Hence, efforts are being made for putting the MraukU region into the list of world cultural heritage cities. Not only the people in the Rakhine State but also the entire citizens are responsible for safeguarding the national cultural characters by safeguarding the heritages and customs all the people should take pride in. Encouraging all ethnic nationals to perpetually serve the interests of the Rakhine State and the Union with the Union spirit and the patriotic spirit,

I send a message in honour of the 47th Anniversary of the Rakhine State Day, letting the national people perpetually serve the interests of the Rakhine State and the Union based on the Union spirit and patriotic spirit.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

Prime Minister

Chairman of the State Administration Council

#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar