February 14th, 2022
The National Unity Government (NUG) needs to implement the pledges enshrined in the Panglong Agreement as the ethincs still adhere to these pledges neglected by the successive governments, said General Gam Shawng, the Chief of Staff of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
On behalf of the central committee of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), he gave a speech at a virtual ceremony held by the NUG on the Union Day which falls on February 12th to mark the 75th Anniversary of signing the Panglong Agreement.
“We need to practically implement the Panglong pledges made among the leaders to merge as a Union. I believe that we can actually implement the set principles. In doing so, the NUG is to lead that move and take responsibility for it. Cooperation among ethnic forces from the hilly regions and other areas are also crucial,” General Gam Shawng said.
In its statement on the 75th anniversary of signing the Panglong Agreement, the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) composed of ethnics including Bamar, which formed the NUG said it would be working to end all dictatorships including the military dictatorship, implement the Panglong pledges and unity and pledges based on the fundamental principles of the federal democracy charter and end the chauvinism.
The NUCC would make relentless efforts to actually build the federal democracy Union aspired by the entire people.
This year’s 75th Anniversary Union Day organized by the NUG is different from the past. It can be regarded as the Union Day which can reflect the pledge and the essence of the Panglong Agreement, General Gam Shawng added.
In his speech, the NUG’s Acting President Duwa Lashi La said “the 75th anniversary Union Day was aimed at annually holding the genuine Union Day with essence. The successive governments held the nominal Union Day ceremonies with the objectives, our three main national causes: non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity, perpetuation of national sovereignty, hiding the pledges and the essence of the Panglong Agreement. This is the designation of ethnics from the hilly regions as the colonial slaves. Although the Union of Myanmar was born out of the Panglong Agreement in terms of the Union, Myanmar became a country which neglected the rights of ethnics in practice,” Acting President Duwa Lashi La added.
“The essence of the future Union is to ensure the emergence of the Union which can guarantee freedom, justice and equality. Our objective is to build up the Union which can guarantee national equality and self-determination. Ethnic minorities lost their self-determination and national equality as the leaders of the successive governments failed to implement the Panglong Agreement. The military coup resulted in the collapse of the democracy system. With the aim of implementing the Panglong pledges and building up the Union based on the federal system, ethnics from the hilly regions such as Kachin, Chin and Shan States which signed the Panglong Agreement neglected by the successive governments in Myanmar are making continued efforts,” Acting President Duwa Lashi La continued.
Along with accountability and responsibility of the NUG, cooperation among ethnic forces is required to build up the Union, General Gam Shawng added.
Sent by the NMG.