Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of Union of Myanmar Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing sends 77th Anniversary of Shan State Day message
7 February 2024
Esteemed nationalities of the Shan State,
I wish you and all the people of the entire nation health and happiness and peace and prosperity from the 77th Anniversary of Shan State Day, which falls on 7 February, onwards.
Shan State is the largest in terms of land area among all the regions and states of the Union and also a home to the largest number of ethnic races.
Ethnic Shan are the majority and they have been living in unity with other Shan ethnic races, Palaung, PaO, Wa, Danu, Kokang, Lahu, Akha, Intha and so on, and Kachin, Kayah and Lesu races. It is a land where all those ethnic peoples have been living in harmony since yore, and the landscape is decorated with beautiful geographical features.
It is also a stunning state that has fair weather and a number of hill stations.
Pyadalin Cave, Lwewun Cave and other limestone caves where stone-age civilization can be found stand witness to its long history of civilization. Shan State is a perfect land area with a rich cultural diversity.
The emergence of Shan State Day has connections with the history that showed the country’s unity during the independence struggle. The British tried to leave out hill regions under its divide-and-rule policy even if it had to grant Myanmar independence in an inevitable situation.
In 1947, the British invited a Myanmar delegation led by General Aung San to London and discussed Myanmar’s future. During the talks, General Aung San demanded the inclusion of all the states including Shan State in granting independence to Myanmar. The executive committee of Shan State Feudal Council objected to the demand by saying that General Aung San was the representative of Shan chieftains. But leaders of Shan People’s Freedom League organized a mass rally in Taunggyi and made a resolution that General Aung San was the representative of hill regions and gave full support to him. Aung San-Atlee Agreement could be signed only after the resolution and support were sent by a telegram.
The council member chieftains and representatives of Shan public held talks from 3 to 6 February 1947, and on 7 February Shan, Kachin and Chin representatives set up a subcommittee and signed the agreement to achieve independence together of the Myanmar proper.
Shan State Day is observed annually in honour of the Day (7 February) on which Shan, Kachin and Chin leaders in Shan State made a decision to gain independence together with the proper and this year marks the 77th Anniversary.
So, Shan State Day is a special moment that is also unique and profound for all the people of Myanmar as covenants of Panglong, the foundation of Union Day, could be adopted.
The time has arrived for the country to take the lessons of the past and march in harmony and unison on the correct path for the perpetuation of sovereignty and national development. A diverse array of national brethren had lived in solidity and dignity among the world countries for a long time. But the country was unjustly exploited and put under divide-and-rule administration by the colonialists for over 100 years after they had waged three aggressive wars.
The country is still facing the evil legacy of the divide-and-rule policy of the colonialists till today although it regained independence over 70 years ago. The entire country including Shan people fought back the colonialist administration with patriotism and by sacrificing lots of blood, sweat and lives and restored independence. But unity broke out in the Union and armed conflicts continue till today because of the evil legacy of the divide-and-rule policy. All must be aware of this fact.
National races including those from Shan State are facing a lot of hardships because of the armed conflicts, battles, disturbances, terrorism. All must understand that peace and stability is deteriorating and the country can be in danger. In addition to concentrating only on their interests, terrorist insurgents are destroying regional peace and stability, pagodas, roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and buildings. Their acts are causing a lot of suffering for the people.
All the stakeholders and people should make serious efforts to restore peace and stability and perpetual peace. The delay in realizing the situation may cause immeasurable losses and eventually it may lead to create a dangerous situation for the country.
The State Administration Council is now giving priority to national peace, socio-economic development, restoring perpetual peace in the whole country, and setting up a Union based on democracy and federalism. In doing so, it is implementing a two-point political vision -- consolidation of a true and disciplined multiparty democracy and building of a Union based on democracy and federalism.
All the nationalities of the Union should realize the Union based on democracy and federalism with mutual understanding, forgiveness, mutual help and Union spirit, without any disunity among them. As nationalities of the Union have built the country with the Union system, national unity is its core. Hence, all must nurture Union spirit, the most important element of national unity.
The true wish of national races of Myanmar is peace and prosperity, rule of law, socio-economic development, and food sufficiency. The government has set “the national prosperity and food sufficiency” as a national goal. It is developing the all-inclusive farming sector with modern methods and is striving for all all-round development of other economic sectors. The main requirement is the further development of farming-based MSMEs. Hence, national races in Shan State should try to achieve socioeconomic development by concentrating on the progress of MSMEs.
Esteemed national races,
The entire people including youths must be imbued with intellectual and technological knowledge and vision in building a Union based on democracy and federalism. The government is implementing a well-rounded education system that can bring about human resources to build a modern and developed country. As education is the cornerstone of national development, the government is making efforts to ensure education for all school age children, completion of KG+9, and inclusion of technical and farming knowledge in high school lessons.
Educational opportunities are low in regions of national races, especially the rural areas and border areas. Hence, the government is launching the education promotion campaign in the entire country. The task of promoting academic and technological knowledge, fostering patriotism of youths, developing their intellectual power to differentiate between good and bad and right and wrong,
nurturing them to become valuable posterity is so important. Hence youths must be developed to become the new generation that can safeguard the future State.
As the armed conflicts, attacks and destruction are leading towards national disintegration and pushing the national people towards a hell-like situation, all should protect the nation and people with patriotism and Union spirit, and nurture new generation youths to become valuable human resources. And As for Shan State, I wish for peace and prosperity, all-round development and socioeconomic development. With this I conclude my message.
Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu
Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman of State Administration Council