Esteemed ethnic national brethren of the Union,
On the auspicious occasion of the 76th Anniversary of Union Day which falls on 12 February 2023 today, I wish all ethnic national brethren of the Union who have been living in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar together physical and mental happiness and prosperity.
As all ethnic national brethren have been residing in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in unison, the Union has been firmly standing tall in the world with prestige for thousands of years. Nonetheless, as capitalist invaders severally waged aggressive wars over Myanmar, the whole country of Myanmar fell under colonialist British as of 1886. The colonialists raised the administrative power to the mainland under the Government of Burma Act in 1935, it left the hilly regions in order to separately govern the hilly regions and the mainland.
Restrictions were imposed on the people from the mainland not to visit the Shan State as the border act was enacted. That is why the people from both hilly regions and the mainland missed the chance to contact each other, and they were too far but areas were close to each other. In passing a long time, the instigation of imperialists waged suspicions and disbelief among the ethnic people. Up to now, everybody knows that all our ethnic people are suffering from the bad impacts of such consequences.
British Governor Sir Dorman-Smith released the White Paper on 17 May 1945, mentioning that independence shall be granted for the mainland but the hilly region shall be placed under British rule. General Aung San held meetings with national leaders in Panglong in 1946 and unanimously demanded to grant independence for both hilly regions and the mainland together without absolutely accepting the White Paper.
On 12 February 1947, a total of 23 ethnic leaders including General Aung San signed the Panglong Agreement comprising nine unification points for hilly regions and the mainland as part of laying the cornerstones to forge the national unity between the hilly regions and the mainland. Hence, the government recognized and designated 12 February as Union Day when the Panglong Agreement in which the unity of ethnic nationals conceived was signed.
In fact, Union Day shows the unity of Union ethnic people residing in Myanmar to the world. In accord with the motto “Unity is Victory”, entire ethnic people escaped from colonial rule on 4 January 1948, and the country regained independence as a sovereign country. Celebrating the victorious ceremonies for independence as a heritage of the Union has been held on a grand scale as the Diamond Jubilee Independence Day on 4 January 2023. Currently, the Union heritage based on the solidarity of the ethnic people turned 76 years.
Only when all ethnic people of the Union are to safeguard the independence with the Union spirit in successive eras with the Union spirit will it be perpetual. Hence, I would like to urge all to strive for the perpetual existence of national unity and Union through internal strength.
Esteemed ethnic national brethren of the Union,
As a consequence of the instigation of the colonialists, all ethnic national brethren did not fully enjoy the essence of independence, and controversies in attitudes and armed conflicts are happening until today. All ethnic people are join hands and honestly and transparently hold negotiations among themselves to restore perpetual peace, cease armed conflicts across the nation and fully enjoy the essence of peace.
It is necessary to take lessons from the disunity and conflicts among the ethnics and the people due to racism, personal cult and dogmatism in the history of the country in building the Union based on democracy and federalism. Discriminating, setting aside and attacking persons as enemies for different attitudes and concepts are not in conformity with the democratic system. Likewise, localism and personal cult may cause disunity and harm the country to disintegrate, so I would like to urge all to deeply consider integration for harmonizing diversity.
The State Administration Council since its assumption of the State responsibilities in accord with the State Constitution (2008) has been emphasizing the ending of local armed conflicts for ensuring national unity and peace which are actual needs for the State. It will strive to secure success in a point of the five-point road map: “Priority will be accorded to work aligned with the agreements set out in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, in order to achieve enduring peace for the entire nation.” Tatmadaw one-sidedly suspended the ceasefire from 21 December 2018 to the end of 2022 for implementing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) through talks with ethnic armed organizations. Moreover, as the ceasefire was suspended for the whole of 2023, it is necessary to make efforts for ceasing the internal armed conflicts through the talks for the sake of the nation and the people.
All citizens are to participate in initiating two political objectives such as exercising the genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and restoring peace which plays a crucial role in building the Union based on democracy and federalism.
The State Administration Council is striving for filling the basic needs and creation of situations in order to hold free and fair elections in accord with the last point of the five-point roadmap “Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair multiparty democratic elections will be held in line with the 2008 Constitution, and further work will be undertaken to hand over State duties to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards”. To do so, the year 2022 was set as the year of peace, and efforts were made to end the internal armed conflicts and restore durable and perpetual peace through talks with ethnic armed organizations. Nonetheless, as the country is still far from peace and stability due to local and foreign interferences and the needs of stakeholders in considering the interests of the nation and the people, it is regrettable for the nation. Hence, relevant organizations and persons and ethnic people are to join hands among them to participate in relevant roles for marching towards the goal they inspire to in accord with the motto: Keep Moving Forward to Achieve Our Goal.
Esteemed ethnic national brethren of the Union,
Knowledge and genuine goodwill of all ethnic national people in the entire nation are crucial for building a new peaceful, tranquil, modern, developed democratic nation. They all are to consider serving the interests of the whole Union, rather than their self-interests. Only when they objectively analyze their stances whether there are right or wrong will their activities benefit the State and the people. It is necessary to bring about correct ideas and concepts, disseminate knowledge and forge the spirit loving the State and the Union spirit for the youths who will shoulder the responsibilities of the future State and the entire people. Hence, I would like to urge all to nurture their offspring and youths to become able persons of the future.
In our tenure, we have adopted and are implementing two national objectives: “prosperity of the nation and food security”. Improvement of socio-economic life and strengthening of the economy of a country is a basic root cause to ensure peace and stability of the State and development. Our country, formed with the majority of the population from rural areas is primarily engaged in agriculture and livestock farming businesses and the development of other sectors.
The government is prioritizing and encouraging the successful operation of agriculture and livestock farms as well as micro, small and medium scale enterprises, creation of more job opportunities and increase of income. The development of human resources is very important for the economic development of our country blessed with abundant natural resources and a sound foundation of the economy. Hence, the government plans to teach agriculture, livestock and mechanical subjects to the students at each basic education high school in 50 districts in order to contribute to the rural economy and MSME businesses and makes arrangements for outstanding students to continue higher learning. As such, officials and responsible persons concerned from the government and private sector are to strive for the improvement of the socioeconomic life of the ethnic people and the development of the State economy. Similar schools will be opened in all remaining districts.
As the government is fulfilling the requirements in relevant sectors in order to develop all parts of the nation including ethnic regions without vacancies, ethnic national brethren are to grasp such an opportunity to thoroughly utilize it.
Esteemed ethnic national brethren of the Union,
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a Union where all ethnic people have been residing together through thick and thin. They all have to exercise the genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system through their fraternity, solidarity and united efforts so as to build the Union based on democracy and federalism.
The State Administration Council has adopted the five-point roadmap and 12 objectives and is implementing them to have success.
However, internal and external destructionists and terrorist groups wadge instigations into the citizens and ethnic people for losing the interests of the State and ethnic national people at present and persuade the people of committing wrong attitudes, opinions and acts. Moreover, the entire people are to carefully consider possible dangers for the State and the people triggered by external interference of neo-colonialists making attempts to cause disunity and deterioration of peace and stability of the nation and selfishness of some persons. I would like to notify all the people of the time to make collaborative efforts with might and main for ensuring the non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.
Hence, while implementing the National Objectives for the 76th Anniversary of Union Day 2023 which are as follows: –
– to strive for the perpetual existence of national solidarity and perpetuity of the Union through the internal strength
– to make collaborative efforts of all ethnic nationals to restore perpetual and durable peace
– to join hands in harmony for ensuring the prosperity and food sufficiency of the nation as two national plans through the Union spirit
– to help develop all regions and states on equal terms and increase employment opportunities with ensuring the health and fitness of the entire National people
– to practise the genuine, discipline-flourishing multiparty democratic system through fraternity, solidarity and united endeavours of all ethnic national brethren for building the Union based on democratic and federal systems,
I send this message by urging all ethnic national people to successfully implement these objectives through the united strength with the Union spirit so as to enjoy the fruits of the Union.
Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu
Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman, State Administration Council
