Conflicts, clashes, unrest, and violent attacks in ethnic areas, including Shan State, bring plights to local ethnic people and deteriorate local peace and stability as well as the development process in addition to harming the State said Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing.

 Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing said these words in his message to the 77th Anniversary of Shan State Day which fell on February 7.

As a gesture of honouring the 7 February when leaders of Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnics adopted the decisions to take independence together with the mainland of Myanmar, such a significant day was designated to hold the Shan State Day. Due to the divide-and-rule policy of British colonialists, all ethnic people in the entire nation, including Shan ethnics, fought against the oppression of colonialists with sacrifice of life, blood and sweat with patriotic spirit and regained independence. However, that policy has been triggering the disintegration of the national unity in the Union, causing internal armed conflicts. Everybody needs to accept and review that such conflicts can deteriorate local peace and stability as well as the development process in addition to harming the State.

Terrorists not only focus on their interests but commit deterioration of local peace and stability and destroy pagodas, stupas, as well as roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and buildings, residents are experiencing myriad hardships. Hence, now is the time for all stakeholders and ethnic people to deeply consider the prevalence of peace and stability and forging durable peace. Senior-General urged everyone that if they do so late, they will face greater disadvantages, and the country will face danger.

Currently, the SAC is striving to forge peace and stability, improve socio-economic life, restore durable peace across the nation, and build a Union based on democracy and federalism. The SAC is implementing two political visions: strengthening the genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and building a Union based on democracy and federalism, he said.

All ethnic nationalities in the Union have to build the Union based on democracy and federalism with the Union spirit through mutual understanding and unity. National unity is very important because our country was built with a Union system. He added that forging the Union spirit is essential for unity among all ethnic nationalities.

In conclusion, he said that as armed conflicts in the country and all attacks and disturbances can lead to the disintegration of the nation and utter devastation of all ethnic people. All stakeholders must protect the State and the people with the patriotic spirit and national spirit and nurture new generation youths of the nation.