Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, On the auspicious occasion of Diamond Jubilee Union Day, I extend greetings with a wish to all ethnic national brethren to be physically and mentally healthy and happy in prosperity.
First and foremost, I’d like to express my delightedness and to take pride in observing the gala ceremony in honour of the significantly historic Diamond Jubilee Union Day together with all ethnic national people.
As you know, our country was aggressively invaded by colonialists for more than one hundred years. During the 19th century, powerful countries aggressively invaded small countries in competitiveness, so Myanmar, similar to other small countries, fell under the rule of colonialists.
In looking back at the situation of Myanmar, it can be seen that the country has been standing tall as sovereign and firm territorial water and landnation with firm histories of nationals and the country for many thousands of years. It is obvious that all ethnic nationals have been living in the country through thick and thin based on the Union spirit along with the history of the country since yore. So also, they all joined hands in fighting against the colonialists in the independence struggles in the colonial era.
In reviewing history, whenever the ethnic nationalities could amicably build the united strength, the country showed off strong capabilities. Nonetheless,whenever the ethnic nationalities lessened unity due to various reasons, the strength of the country was weak. Finally, all ethnic nationals faced the bitter experiences that the country fell under servitude.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, In analyzing the three aggressive wars over Myanmar to be occupied by the colonialists, our forefathers did not easily give up on the colonialists.
Everybody knew that they all waged against the colonialists with the patriotic spirit and the spirit to never surrender by holding any arms.
Despite unaffordable living under colonial rule, all our ethnic national people in unison with patriotic spirit and the nationalistic spirit could have striven for freedom from the servitude in various ways and means.
The worst brutality in the slavery life was wedging the instigation among the ethnic national brethren. Colonialists committed the long term existenceof their governing by sowing various suspicions among the ethnic national people between the hilly and plain regions. They had been attempting to cause disintegration among the ethnic national people through the divide-andrule policy and the instigation until they unavoidably granted Independence for Myanmar.
No matter what colonialists committed instigation in governance, our forefathers regained Independence based on the patriotic spirit by fostering the Panglong Spirit and the Union Spirit. Nonetheless, as the consequence of the colonialists’ instigation has been existing among the ethnic national people till today, I’d like to notice that all the people need to take special care of protecting thecountry not to cause disintegration.
On 12 February 1947, the ethnic leaders led by General Aung San signed the Panglong Agreement with a firm vow to unanimously regain Independence without discrimination of hilly and plain regions. Such a significant day when the Panglong Agreement was signed wasdesignated as Union Day, and now it turns 75 years in honour of Diamond Jubilee Union Day.
On the occasion of Diamond Jubilee Union Day, I’d like to urge all again to unitedly implement the further strengthening of the Union Spirit sowed by the ethnic national leaders and the perpetuation of the Union the ethnic national leaders inspired.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people,In reviewing the changes in the international community, some powerful developed countries emphasized their national interests and committed various forms of conflicts and regional small wars among the developing small countries during the cold war period after the Second World War.
In consequence, territorial changes of countries happened on the world map. Some countries split into two parts and some large countries collapsed into pieces while many countries are still facing religious and racial conflicts as well as civil wars.
In the late cold war period, some big countries were influenced by developing countries as their stooges and puppets.
They attempted to subjugate those small countries under their influence with internal and external conspiracies for racial and religious reasons in the initial stage and then democracy and human rights.
The countries formed under the Union system across the world need to take international lessons with a deep contemplation that if they cannot protect their unions in unison, they may face disintegration.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, I’d like to point out that the Union spirit is of great importance and essential for the country based on the lesson taken from the international community and the actual situation of our country. Hence, all ethnic national people haveto forge the Union Spirit for ensuring the perpetuation of the Union.
The Union Spirit is a firm concept for the whole Union as a family as well as a house.
It is identified as a spirit to accept that all ethnic nationals are national brethren; they all are living in the same place in unison; they all are keen to unitedly solve problems of any others without evasion, and they all are residing in the country together in oneness without discrimination of hilly and plain regions.
Moreover, the spirit to defend the State and the noble, genuine patriotic spirit wishing to serve the interests of the State based on the spirit of adoring thenational prestige and integrity and the nationalistic spirit can be defined as the Union Spirit.
Although there are eight major ethnic nationals in our country, more than 130 ethnic tribes are residing in the country.
Some ethnicities are populous and some ethnicities are in the lesser population.
Despite the existence of large and small states and different amounts of population and tribes, all ethnic nationals have equal rights and no one has the excessive right. In the democratic nature, it is necessary to follow the wish of the majority under the law whereas it is necessary to emphasize the wish of the minority. It is a democratic practice.
If all the people sow the suspicions and emphasize selfishness without unity among them, it will be very dangerous.
Hence, I’d like to urge all to place emphasis on the Nondisintegration of the Union, the Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and the Perpetuation of Sovereignty.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, As strategically located in the Southeast Asian region, our country is of great importance in geopolitics. As the northern part of the country is teeming with snowcapped mountains,the central area with abundant cultivable plains, and the sea and islands in the southern part of the nation with favourable weather, fertile soil and water sources in addition to the sufficiency of food and natural resources, Myanmar is an invaluable country endowed with natural gifts.
Nowadays, some big countries interfere in the internal affairs of small countries for various reasons with attempts to be unstable and to disintegrate the unity in various ways and means.
Especially, it can be seen that those big countries pose coercion and pressure, criticism and sanctions against our country in the important role in the geopolitics for shaping our country as they like and to extend their influence in the region.
On one hand, as they attempt to sow the suspicions among the ethnic national people for causing disintegration, instability and delay in development, I’d like to urge all Union people to lend a helping hand to each other in line with the theme “The strength of the nation lies within” so as to emerge the Union based on democracy and federalism.
We all need to review the current situations without attachmentand suspicion. Everybody knows that as some attempted to seize the State power by committing voter fraud in the election in November 2020, the Tatmadaw urged them to solve these inappropriate issues.
But, they ignored it. So, the state of emergency was declared, and the Tatmadaw is taking responsibility for the State. Thefree and fair general election in the democratic system is of importance. If it was a correct, free and fair election, it is noreason to cause so. The forcibly seizing the State power in dishonesty brings consequences to current situations.
In the democratic system, it is necessary to accept different opinions and attitudes. But,the riots and terrorism such as murdering, setting fire and blowing up of mines causing sufferings to the ethnic national people are unacceptable. The Tatmadaw is discharging duty entrusted by the State Constitution for giving a helping hand to the State and the citizens when they face internal and external dangers and natural disasters.
Hence, I’d like to notice that it is time for terrorist groups, supporters and followers who commit illegal and unlawful perpetration triggered by electoral malpractices to understand the realities and amend the wrongdoings for the interests of the State and the people. Some ethnic armed organizations are invited to stop the acceptance, encouragement and cooperation in riots and terror acts and to take a position on the NCA track for ensuring peace and stability and development of the State. We have decided to accomplish the mission and vision however we face difficulties during the period we take responsibility.
The State Administration Council on duty is striving for ensuring peace and stability of the State, unity among all ethnic national people and development of their socio economic life and building a Union based on democracy and federalism during the duty assigned period.
In building the Union we expect, no matter how different the opinions of democracy and federalism is, we all need to notice that we have to choose the system to conform with our country.
So, our country arranges observance of the ceremony to mark the Diamond Jubilee Union Day on a grand scale as much as possible for ensuring a strong and dynamic Union Spirit. It is portraying the capability of the Union the people reside together under its shelter and security. It is shaping the nation-building endeavours but political stance. We all are striving for impressing the theme “We all are Myanmar”.
Consequently, we are building a modern, developed democratic nation the entire ethnic national people aspire through the united strength.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, On 4 January 2023, our country has regained Independence for 75 years. The internal armed conflicts triggered by the divide-and-rule policy of the colonialists brought a terribleloss to the development of the country and unity. Our resources, strengths and capability were lost in the conflicts. We all are responsible for avoiding losses anymore. Hence, we all need to participate in ceasing the armed conflicts and restoring sustainably perpetualpeace.
To do so, we, the government and the Tatmadaw gave two offers that are unprecedented in the history of the Myanmar peace process. The first one is to implement the one-sided ceasefire and the second is to extend an invitation to all to the peace talks without pre-limitation leading to the restoration of perpetual peace. The Tatmadaw one-sidedly implements the ceasefire from 21
December 2018 to the end of 2022. On 6 February this year, the State Administration Council released a statement on “the invitation to the perpetual peace and the Diamond Jubilee Union Day ceremony.” It is best to solve the proposals that the Tatmadaw should implement the one-sided ceasefire if it wishes to restore peace, and the government and the Tatmadaw should not pre-restrict the talks with ethnic armed organizations. Everybody can see that it is an unprecedented endeavour in the peace process and the peacekeeping history of global countries.
I’d like to urge all ethnic armed organizations and the entire ethnic people to grasp the opportunity.
It can be seen that the political parties, civil society organizations and religious associations wishing to see good results of the State expressed their welcome and support to the statement. The ceremony is being attended by seven NCA signatories and four non-NCA signatories. So, the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar thanks all organizations for their efforts to serve the interests of the ethnic national people. We all will march forward to the goal of peace through the democratic process based on the dialogue to seek solutions. I’d like to further extend the invitation to all stakeholders for their participation.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, The prevention of COVID-19 is of importance in enhancing the health and fitness of the entire nation. As nothing is moreimportant than human life, wecontacted various countries for seeking the vaccines, and then arranged vaccination for more than 50 percent of the population of the nation at the end of December 2021. The actual mindset of Myanmar such as a will to help, donate and cooperate much affected the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks to friendly countries for their encouragement and help, efforts of health staff and participation of the entire people, infection of the pandemic is under control at present.
Hence, I’d like to express my thanks to all for their participation.
Moreover, the people must have nutritious foods and healthy daily life to increase the life expectancy of the country.
Regarding the enhancement of educational qualification of the entire nation, it is necessary to encourage learning education for raising the percentage of students and the literacy rate of the country. By nurturing the children to come out a larger number of educated persons with skills and knowledge, the development of the nation must be undertaken through the strength of the people.
Handing good literary legacy to new generation youths can help implement their individual ambitions as well as contribute to the development of the country.
As today’s youths are to take responsibility for the State, thecorrectness of their attitudes, concepts and works are very important. It is necessary to nurture the youths to have capabilities
and to become reliably good and able persons. We allshould give encouragement to them to improve the education standard of the State, and those youths should be under teaching for actually having the knowledge.
Currently, not only basic education schools but universities, degree colleges and colleges are open under the restrictions of COVID-19 in order to develop the human resources of the State.
Arrangements are being made to teach applied subjects to the youths for fulfilling the needs of respective regions, extend lecturing the law and economic subjects at the universities which are important for building the disciplined democratic country in the future, and upgrade the teaching of agriculture and livestock sciences for ensuring food sufficiency in the future.
The government is striving for easing the loss of socio-economic lives of the ethnic national people during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and soonest developing their socioeconomic lives in the post-COVID-19 period. Likewise, we all need to enhance production based on agriculture and livestock through modern techniques and strengthening allaround development in other sectors of the economy. We will invite international investments, encourage local businesses and create job opportunities.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, The strength of the countrylies within. We rely on internal strength. Based on the actual situations, we need foreign aid but most of the issues can be implemented through internal strength. To be able to build the strength of the Union-
• Our country has abundant natural resources and human resources. As encouragement emphasizes import goods but production at home, improvement of socio-economy of the people gains lesser development.
For the first point, we will enhance the local economy through internal strength.
•In line with the theme “The strength of the nation lies within”, for the second point, we will raise the capability for internalpolitics. If we build the Union based on democracy and federalism as well as the multi-party democracy, the politics will be strong.
•For the third point, it is necessary to raise the defence capability with the participation of entire ethnic people. We all will build the State defence capability with the modern, capable army, navy and air force through the united strength.
I’d like to urge all ethnic national people to participate in these missions for uplifting the prestige of the nation.
Distinguished guests and esteemed ethnic national people, In conclusion, in accord with the national objectives of the Diamond Jubilee Union Day which falls today, as follows-
1. All ethnic nationals to safeguard the non-disintegration of the Union, national unity and sovereignty forever
2. To perpetually ensure strengthening and dynamic Union Spirit which is a genuine patriotic spirit
3. To further strive for the perpetual existence of the country through strong and united strength of the ethnic national brethren
4. To build the Union based on democracy and federalism in the realization of the genuine, disciplined multiparty democracy
5. To equalize development of all regions and states while making efforts for enhancement of health, education and job opportunities of the ethnicnationals, I’d like to urge the entire ethnic national people to strive for building a new Union based on democracy and federalism to be able to perpetually stand tall among the global countries.