77th Independence Day: SAC Chairman sends a message on Independence Day

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing sent a message to the ceremony to mark the 77th Anniversary of Independence Day.

The Prime Minister extended his heartfelt greetings to all ethnic peoples of Myanmar for their mental and physical well-being, happiness, and fulfilment. He expressed that Myanmar has stood proudly as an independent nation for many centuries, with its own land, water, territory, crown, monarch, and heritage. Following three aggressive invasions by colonialists in 1824, 1852, and 1885, resource-rich Myanmar lost its independence and sovereignty.

The entire national race people of the Union, with a nationalistic spirit rooted in ethnic pride, united in solidarity to resist and overthrow colonialists and fascists. As a result, on 4 January 1948, Myanmar regained independence and was able to re-establish the country as a sovereign nation.

But the consequences of colonialist instigations continue to resonate to this day. To bring an end to the long-standing armed conflicts, to resolve political issues through political means rather than military solutions, and to establish long-term sustainable peace, the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed on 15 October 2015. The agreement aimed to cease all armed hostilities across the country. Tatmadaw has repeatedly declared ceasefires, and the government has made numerous calls for peace dialogues.

However, it has been observed that some Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) that signed the NCA have failed to comply with its commitments, breaching the terms of the agreement. The groups engaged in armed struggle against the State have been urged to abandon the path of terror and resolve the political issue through peaceful means.

For the sake of “non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty, he stressed that all armed conflicts and differing attitudes should be resolved under the law”. He added that the ultimate goal of the State Administration Council is to successfully hold a free, fair, and multiparty democratic general election.

The nationwide population and housing census was conducted from 1 to 15 October 2024. Efforts are underway to compile an accurate and verified population list to be submitted to the Union Election Commission to facilitate the preparation of voter lists for eligible voters. He urged all citizens to participate in the effort to ensure the emergence of a genuine and disciplined democratic system by holding fair, dignified, and procedurally correct general elections.

He urged all the people to move forward in unity with the State Administration Council under the motto, "Keep Moving Forward to Achieve Our Goal" and to strive in unity with determination, perseverance, and courage to strengthen the political, economic, defence, and national character while fostering a strong sense of national spirit through diligence, industriousness and perseverance.