The 8th Anniversary of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was observed at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II (MICC-II) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning, with an address by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Chairman of National Solidarity and Peacemaking Central Committee Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC member Union Minister Chairman of National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, ethnic leaders Saw Mutu Say Poe, General Yawd Serk and JMC representative Sai Myo Thant cut the ribbon to launch the 8th Anniversary of NCA celebration.
The Senior General unveiled the signboard of the 8th Anniversary of NCA.
The Senior General and guests visited the commemorative booths of the 8th Anniversary of NCA at MICC-II.
In the second session of the celebration, they all saluted the flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Then, a video clip on emergence of NCA, peace process and development was presented.
On the occasion, the Senior General delivered a speech to mark the 8th Anniversary of NCA, mentioning the emergence of NCA, armed conflicts, multiparty democracy and federalism, PR system, endeavours of the State Administration Council and the Tatmadaw for forging peace, and implementation of national and political visions of SAC in respective sectors.
Kayin ethnic leader Saw Mutu Say Poe and RCSS/SSA Chair General Yawd Serk who signed the NCA, representatives from the countries which witnessed the NCA signing ceremony — Mr Deng Xijun, the Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr Vikram Misri, the Deputy National Security Adviser of India, Vice Foreign Affairs Minister of Thailand Sihasak Phaungket Keow, and representative of local witnesses Union Minister (Retired) U Aung Min spoke words of honour respectively. (Their speeches are reported on Page 7,10,11, and 12)
The commemorative ceremony was also attended by the SAC Joint Secretary and council members, Union-level officials, Union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers, chairmen of political parties, leaders of EAOs and witnesses who participated in signing the NCA, officials from UPCC, UPWC, UPDJC and JMC, special envoys from neighbouring countries, foreign diplomats, representatives from international organizations and cultural troupes.
Cultural troupes of ethnic people from MRTV under the Ministry of Information performed songs and dance entertainments.
The Senior General hosted a luncheon in honour of the attendees to the 8th Anniversary of NCA celebration.
On 15 October 2015, the NCA was signed by representatives from the government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw and eight ethnic armed organizations in the presence of international diplomats including the United Nations and international and local witnesses. New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) signed the NCA on 13 February 2018. The NCA was drafted through aspirations and proposals of EAOs and several meetings of the government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw and EAOs.
The anniversary celebrations of signing NCA were held in four successive years. Due to outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the 5th anniversary of NCA could not be held in 2020 but messages of felicitations were sent to honour the NCA anniversary celebration.
Such kinds of celebrations resumed in 2021 and 2022. The 8th anniversary of NCA celebration was marked on a grand scale in accord with the guidance of the SAC Chairman Prime Minister yesterday. — MNA/TTA
