Message of Greetings sent by President U Win Myint to the 71st Anniversary Celebrations of Chin National Day
Dear esteemed brothers and sisters of Chin ethnic people,
On this auspicious day, the 20th February 2019, which is the 71st Anniversary of Chin National Day, I wish to send my Message of Greetings to all Chin ethnic people who are living in Chin State, other parts of Myanmar and abroad, to be blessed with good fortune and auspiciousness.
After annexing entire Myanmar in 1885, the British colonialists practiced the divide and rule policy between the hilly regions and plain regions of the country.
Chin nationals have strived to liberate themselves from the British colonialists by sacrificing their lives, blood, sweat, homes and possessions. After independence, on 20th February 1948, a people’s conference was held in Falam Township, where a decision was made to change from an administrative system ruled by Chieftains to a democratic administrative system. Also on 9th October 1950, at the 7th Chin Traditional Council meeting held in Yangon and it designated 20th February, the date on which this people’s conference was held as “Chin National Day”. Chin National Day which has been celebrated since 1948 is now in the 71st year. This Chin National Day is an auspicious day in the sense that this day brings together all the Chin tribes which have the same language, culture, history and traditions.
Chin State is a place with mountain ranges stretching from north to south and rare plants. Besides, the state is rich in natural resources including the Mt. Khaw-nu-soum teeming with rare plants, the beautiful Reed Lake, the Kaladan River, the Manipur River, the Bwenu River and the Nontalar waterfalls. By the time the transport access to the state has improved, the state would see booming of its tourism sector.
Hence, our government has been building and upgrading roads giving it as a priority as part of efforts for making the transportation smooth in the hills of Chin State which was not easily accessible by road.
Similarly, our government has been working for the ethnic people living in the Chin State, for their future social-economic development. In order to do this, we have been opening new basic education schools, upgrading schools, repairing new education buildings and building new ones, and appointing new teachers; in the health care area we have been opening new hospitals and health clinics, and appointing new doctors as needed.
Besides, our government has been making efforts to provide electricity to all places in the Chin State from the national grid, to build the first ever airport for the state and to bring about the Kaladan River Basic development in Palatwa and the Chin State has seen visible and significant developments in each sector. In undertaking regional development works, it is important for the ethnic people to join hands with the Union government and the State government.
Chin ethnic leaders such as Boh Khaing Baik and Boh Khaing Kam who led the Chin ethnic people in our revolutionary struggle against colonialists, Chin representatives such as U Hlur Hmone, U Htaung Zar Khoke and U Ki Yo Manh who signed the Panglong Agreement, Chin ethnic man U Vum Thu Maung, later Thado Maha Thayay Sithu title and Independence Mawgunwin (First Class) title was conferred on him, who tabled the motion on the Independence of Myanmar at the Naythurein Conference at Kandawgyi in Yangon and demanded the independence without discrimination between the central plains and the hilly regions at the Pha-Sa-Pa-La Conference on behalf of the Pha-Sa-Pa-La and Capt. Thura Aung San Thuriya Taik Chun who was conferred the country’s highest bravery title of Aung San Thuriya for his excellence sacrifice and performance for the country are leaders whom Chin ethnic people can be proud of them.
Taking lessons from bitter experiences we faced throughout our history, our government has been holding political dialogues at the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong with the strength of the peoples as part of efforts for achieving internal peace and building a democratic federal Union inspired by the peoples from different nationalities of the Union. It is a matter of pride for the Union that we held a national-level political dialogue with Chin ethnic representatives and secured their cooperation in the peace conference.
In conclusion, as I send this Message of Greetings, let me solemnly urge all Chin ethnic people to continue to cooperate with us with firm Union spirit, in building a future democratic federal Union which can guarantee the democracy, equality and self-determination inspired by all the peoples from different nationalities of the Union.
Sd/-
(Win Myint)
President
(Unofficial Translation)
