HONOURING the day when the leaders of the Shan, Kachin, and Chin ethnic groups within Shan State were able to make a unified decision to join the Union in gaining independence, 7 February is officially celebrated as Shan State Day yearly, and this tradition has now continued for 79 years. The Union of Myanmar regained sovereignty and independence on 4 January 1948, thanks to the unity and strength of its ethnic peoples.
However, the legacy of internal armed conflicts that emerged from the British policy of divide-and-rule continues to affect the country to this day. These conflicts have created narrow political and ethnic perspectives, resulting in ongoing hardships and suffering for both the nation and its people.
Therefore, ethnic unity is not only critically important for achieving peace in ceasing the domestic armed conflicts, but it also serves as a major driving force for a nation’s development. Accordingly, ethnic brethren must work to remove suspicions among themselves, engage in dialogue and negotiation, build trust, and strive to achieve durable peace. The State has allocated billions of kyats to rebuild and restore damage caused by domestic armed conflicts, unrest, violence, and natural disasters.
In this regard, following the major Mandalay earthquake on 28 March 2025, over K147 billion has been allocated to rebuild government office buildings, staff housing, religious buildings and pagodas, hospitals, schools, and the homes of residents in Shan State. The relevant departments, led by skilled professionals, are carrying out these reconstruction efforts. Since our country is built on a union system, ethnic unity is of fundamental importance.
The most crucial and necessary step to achieve harmony among ethnic groups is to cultivate a sense of union identity, instilling in every citizen, regardless of where they live, the understanding that they are an ethnic member of the Union. To ensure the well-being and stability of a nation or an ethnic group, individuals must continuously strengthen their own resilience and enhance their ability to act and perform effectively.
If a country or an ethnic group cannot maintain its long-term stability and security through its own strength and unified efforts, the nation’s authority will weaken, and it may fall under the control of others. To remain a free and enduring country and avoid subjugation, everyone must act in unity. As such, efforts must be made collectively to restore ethnic unity as quickly as possible.
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