The following is the full-text translation of the message sent by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing to the ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) of Mon State Day, today.
Esteemed ethnic national brethren in Mon State,
I make best wishes for Mon ethnic people in Mon State and other parts of the nation and all national brethren nationwide to enjoy physical and mental well-being with good aspiration and auspiciousness on the significant 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) of Mon State Day, which falls on 19 March 2024.
The day of 19 March 2024, when Yamanya land was designated as the Mon State, turns 50 years. So, a record has been set for observing the Golden Jubilee celebration. Before designating the Mon State, Mawlamyine and Thaton districts of the previous areas of Mon State were formed as Taninthayi Region No 1 and Dawei and Myeik districts as Taninthayi Region No 2. According to the Constitution (1974) of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma,
Taninthayi Region No 1 was renamed Mon State on 19 March when Mon State Day was designated, and such a significant day has been celebrated in traditional culture and customs of ethnics for 50 years.
Mon ethnics resided in Myanmar at the earliest, and it was located in Thudhammawady state near the Thaton area before the Gotama Buddha had been enlightened. Language, religion, literature, culture, and fine arts flourished in that state, and these good historical events are honourable for the state.
Mon State has fine traditions with the emergence of eminent kings, wise Samgha and laymen, scholars and brave and gallant heroes. Moreover, Mon State possesses a fine tradition in language, literature, culture and fine arts sectors.
Mon State is located in the south of the country and to the north of the Taninthayi coastal area. The state shares borders with Kayin State, Taninthayi Region, Bago Region, the Bay of Bengal, the Mottama Gulf and Thailand. In fact, Mon State is strategically located at the junction of waterways and land roads.
Mon State is blessed with favourable weather, a natural environment, greening forests and historical cultural heritages. As it is close to sea coastal lines, Mon State is endowed with beautifications, plentiful land resources and water resources, and industrial raw products.
Ancient religious edifices, including marvellous sacred hair relics enshrined in Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, take positions in Mon State. As Buddhist missionary laypersons and monk Shin Arahan strived for the propagation and flourishing of Buddhism, the Suvannabhumi region became a focal point for propagating Buddhism, according to historical records.
Esteemed national brethren,
Currently, Myanmar is on track to initiate a democratic system that flourishes on the deterrent principles such as justice, liberty, and equality that the people aspire to. Unity, disciplinary acts, and abiding by the laws are essential for citizens in the establishment of a democratic nation. It is time to noticeably review that the country and the people are at a far distance in peace and stability as well as suffering due to armed conflicts, different political attitudes, instigations, weak unity, seeking selfishness with lack of State interest, weakness in national and patriotic spirit, and destruction of resources of the State.
Selfish acts and instigations of diverse political forces considerably encroach on the country, harming the interests of the nation and the entire people without farsightedness instead of united cooperation among political, economic and defence forces in building the nation.
Leaders of some ethnic armed organizations brainwash their relevant ethnic groups to be motivated extremely with a narrow racial hatred concept. It is necessary to prevent their attempts to disintegrate the Union.
NUG was declared as a terrorist group, and its subordinate PDF terrorists and varieties of armed terrorist groups under the title of region-wise defence forces emerged after the political change triggered by the voting frauds in the 2020 election. These terrorist groups are committing various terror acts intending to deteriorate the peace and stability of the State and sovereignty.
Hence, now is the time for all citizens to safeguard the State in unison through collaborative efforts based on the Union spirit.
On the other hand, the organizations from the armed struggle line, due to political problems, have to seek the best solution for ensuring durable peace and stability of the nation through the constantly-opened dialogues via the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).
Esteemed ethnic national people,
By upholding Our Three Main National Causes: Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of national solidarity and Perpetuation of sovereignty, the State Administration Council is accelerating the measures of strengthening the genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and building a Union based on democratic and federal systems.
The foundation for the emergence of a genuine, disciplined democratic system the people aspire to is to hold a just, prestigious, systematic general election. All citizens and ethnic nationals have to participate in forging peace and stability, which is essential for implementing the processes mentioned above.
As basic needs of humans such as food, clothing, and shelter are essential for all, the State Administration Council has adopted two national visions: the prosperity of the State and food security and assists in boosting agricultural produce suitable for time and circumstances and successfully beefing up the livestock farming tasks beneficial for all citizens.
Agriculture and livestock-based production are enhanced to improve the socioeconomic life of entire ethnic people, whereas encouragement is being given to micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises (MSME) to produce national products for booming the State economy.
Enhancing the agriculture and livestock breeding sector aims to improve the lives of rural people, who are the majority of the national population. Hence, all people have to strive to boost the state’s production.
In the education sector, the government has set the KG+9 educational scheme for compulsory education as part of implementing the comprehensive education system. In this regard, if efforts are made to learn basic education and step-up learning education as well as ensure the development of human resources, Mon State will have to enjoy the fruits of growth in all sectors.
Individuals have to rationally take care of gaining political profit by utilizing the people as a stepping stone to spreading rumours and misinformation, causing wrong thoughts, knowledge, and jobs among the people and raising extreme pessimism. It is necessary to expose those who make attempts to grasp power without exerting efforts by making the lives of followers and innocent persons sacrificed under the title of resistance and those who seek self-interest by cheating various things under titles.
In conclusion, I would like to send the message in honour of the 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) of Mon State Day with deep wishes to urge all ethnic people, including national brethren from Mon State who really love the State and the people to participate in peace and stability of the State collaboratively and forging the durable peace, prosperity of the nation and food security, socioeconomic development, strengthening the genuine disciplined multiparty democratic system, and building the Union based on democracy and federalism based on the Union spirit and patriotism in their respective sectors as much as possible.
Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu
Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman,
State Administration Council
