7 February 2022
Auspiciousness to all esteemed ethnic national brethren,
I very much take pride in grasping the opportunity to send my message in honorary of the 75th Anniversary Shan State Day which falls on 7 February today.
The Shan State is located on some 60,000 square miles of area in the eastern hilly area of Myanmar. As the Shan State is sharing a border with neighbouring countries, it is an important state for the country. Many ethnic nationals such as Shan, Kachin, Kayah, Palaung, Pa-O, Wa, Danu and Kokang in unison are altogether residing in a state full of natural beauties. Moreover, the Shan State is endowed with underground and above ground natural resources such as ore, gems, teak and forestry products as sound foundations in addition to booming border trade.
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar has been standing tall for many years with firm evidence which showed flourishing own monarchical mechanism, own culture and literature. All ethnic nationals have been residing there in successive eras in the global community by sharing their future. However, the whole of Myanmar fell under servitude in 1885 as British colonialists occupied Myanmar after staging three aggressive wars.
The Burma Independence Army led by General Aung San joining hands with Japan totally drove out British colonialists during the Second World War and completely wipe off enemies from the Myanmar land on 27 March 1945.
After finishing the Second World War, British troops reoccupied Myanmar. Meanwhile, the terribly suffering impacts of war motivated political thought and activities of Saophas of the Shan State, public leaders and the people.
As part of implementing the firm vows of all ethnic nationals that they all would continue various kinds of fighting during the period when they had not secured genuine independence yet, leaders of all ethnic national people strived for independence struggles in unison with might and main. In the independence struggles, Wuntho Saopha U Aung Myat from the Shan State, Shan Saophas and Shan nationals bravely showed off their patriotic spirit in fighting.
In the history of Myanmar’s independence struggle, national leader General Aung San held talks with Saophas from the Shan State and representatives in Taunggyi while making on a tour of meeting with leaders of ethnic nationals to regain the independence of Myanmar. General Aung San went to London in January 1947 when he held discussions with the British government to seek guarantee of the independence for the whole of Myanmar including hilly regions.
On 7 February 1947, Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic national leaders made a decision to cooperate with the mainland for regaining the independence in Panglong City of the Shan State. As a gesture of honouring the 7th February when the decision was made to regain the independence of the whole Myanmar without separation of hilly regions and mainland area, the day has been marked as the Shan State Day for 75 years ago. Moreover, being a period in advance to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee Union Day, it brings the significant and deep essence. Hence, Shan State Day is a significant occasion concerning all ethnic nationals as well as the entire Myanmar nationals.
National unity is the lifeblood for peace and stability, and sustainability of sovereignty of a country as well as a great drive for development of a country. That is why it is necessary to remove suspicions among ethnic national brethren so as to restore perpetual peace. Currently, the local people residing in the regions where the peace has not been restored yet are running out of patience to the aimless fighting. The improvement of socioeconomic status and safe and sound living is the keen and same wishes of the entire ethnic people.
Hence, the unity among national brethren must be built on mutual understanding and forgiveness and trust. If peace can be restored in the country one day ahead of the schedule, it will benefit the people one day earlier.
Nowadays, the dialogues can be convened thanks to strenuous efforts for the restoration of the peace for the Union. Hence, more benefit related to peace is going to come out. The government has adopted and is implementing the five-point road map and nine political, economic and social objectives as part of efforts to make preparations to hold a free and fair multiparty democracy general election for ensuring peace and stability and democratization process. Hence, I’d like to urge the entire ethnic national people to participate in the process of emerging freedom, safety, peace and stability, and development of Myanmar.
It is necessary to restore the unity and understanding among ethnic national brethren built at Panglong in 1947.
At present, all need to strive for showing off national unity as soon as possible similar to a similar event in Panglong city 75 years ago.
Ethnic national people are facing suffering without peace and stability triggered by riots and insurrections in the country, harming the development of the State. All ethnic national people need to review the acts wrongly committed through personal cult and partisan without considering the interests of the State and the people for leading it on the right track. Otherwise, such acts may harm the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, and the future of the nation would be reluctant. As such, the entire ethnic national people are urged to participate in measures of peace and stability of the State and the rule of law through the nationalistic spirit and the Union spirit.
I hereby send this message and urge the entire ethnic national people to amicably join hands with the government with the Panglong Spirit in order to successfully accomplish the mission for building the democratic federal Union based on federalism with the essence of justice, liberty and equal rights.
Sd/ Min Aung Hlaing
Senior General
Prime Minister of the State
Chairman
State Administration Council
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