Myanmar is striving to hold elections in all parts of the country including ethnic regions so that the national brethren cannot lose their democratic rights, while efforts are being made to restore peace, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

He made the remarks in his New Year greetings for 2023, which was published in the sate-run newspapers. 

“We are striving for holding elections in all parts of the nation without any vacant areas including ethnic regions in order not to lose the democratic rights of the national brethren. Now, efforts are being made for ensuring national peace as before,” he said.

The national brethren had tried their best in overcoming the various difficulties and challenges in 2022 with unity, patience, tolerance and magnanimity, the SAC chair said adding that all had proudly passed the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee Union Day in the previous year through their united strength.

“Our country’s independence is going to be 75 years old. Throughout the independence period, our brethren have not fully enjoyed the essence of independence yet. We endeavoured as much as we could to end the armed conflicts that emerged together with the independence. I myself extended the invitations to all for holding peace talks. So, we have reached fruitful agreements from the peace talks held together with the ethnic armed organizations. In this regard, it is important to serve the interests of our region as well as our ethnic people with genuine goodwill and compassion. If we could address the armed conflicts, we would be able to give greater opportunities to ethnic nationals and ethnic regions,” the Senior General commented.

The year 2023 turns 75 years, which is the diamond jubilee (75th anniversary) of the country to regain independence. Such a year will be an initial step for the whole nation to enjoy the fruitful results of development and peace. As it is a year for the ethnic national people to grasp a good chance to create a good historic event in a political turning point of Myanmar, all the ethnic people would have to secure such a chance, he urged.

“We all have to move forward with a greater unity to strengthen the genuine, disciplined democratic system we all aspire to walk along together and to build the Union based on democratic and federal systems. To do so, the State Administration Council welcomes all by opening its doors in all aspects.

We have to review some international issues which the world witnessed in 2022. All our national brethren have to take greater care and conscience in 2023. So, we have to overcome these challenges through united strength in accord with the motto: “the strength of the nation lies within”, he added.

He said leaving ideas and undertakings that did not benefit the State and the people over the past 75 years and carrying on constructive acts beneficial to the State in unison with forging the Myanmar spirit, the goal the people aspire would be achieved for sure.

We all have to build a better socioeconomic life for our new generation youths by focusing on the interests of the State and the national people. I’d like to urge all responsible persons to work together to efficiently utilize valuable human resources of new generation youths for the State, the SAC chair said in his New Year greetings.