National League for Democracy's central executive member and secretariat member Nyan Win has called for opposition to chauvinism and narrow-minded nationalism.
Nyan Win declared so during the celebration of the 72nd anniversary of Union Day at the NLD headquarters in Yangon on February.
"General Aung San and other ethnic leaders conceived Panglong spirit by bringing nationalism and union spirit together. We need to know the prevailing historical conditions of our ethnic groups without dogmatism and racism. We must oppose chauvinism and bigoted nationalism," said Nyan Win.
He said that today (February 12) was the 72nd anniversary of Union Day on which independence architect and military founder General Aung San and 23 ethnic leaders signed the historic Panglong Agreement with mutual understanding and respect after coordination and negotiation.
Freedom and equality from the then 20th Century Panglong Conference ushered Myanmar's independence. Likewise, the ongoing 21st Century Panglong Conference led by Aung San Suu Kyi is marching towards a federal democratic union based on national reconciliation, unity and peace, he added.
"Union Day is crucial in Myanmar's independence struggle. Without Union Day, Panglong Conference or Panglong Conference, we could not have achieved our independence. Without them, we could not achieve national unity," NLD's central information committee secretary Monywa Aung Shin told the media after the celebration.
