10 May 

THE  25th  anniversary  of  the Karenni National Peo-ple’s  Liberation  Front’s  ceasefire agreement  was  commemorated  at  their  headquarters  in  Pankan  village, Loikaw, yesterday morning.

Firstly, dance troupes from nine different ethnic races  performed  com-bined  dances  to  honour  the 25th anniversary, and KNPLF Chairman U Tun Kyaw delivered the open-ing address.

Kayah  State  Chief  Minister U L Phaung Sho then  delivered  a  speech.  He said we need to take the 21st Century Panlong, Na-tionwide Ceasefire Agree-ment route towards peace and ensure it is strength-ened. He said he has heard leaders  of  ethnic  armed  organizations wishing for an end to armed conflicts. He  said  the  people  genu-inely  wish  for  peace  and  only then will there be so-cioeconomic development.

The  Chief  Minister  said  there  must  be  coop-eration  between  every  relevant   organization,   the  Union  Government  and  the  people  to  truly  establish  peace.  He  said  we  must  honour  those  who have strived for peace and  expressed  his  joy  at  this  commemoration.  He  urged  everyone  to  work  hand-in-hand to establish a democratic federal Union.

Next,  Kayah  State  Democratic  Party  Chair-man  U  Poe  Ye  gave  an  honorary  speech.  Follow-ing this, three peace co-or-dinators; Catholic Bishop Sotay  Rofama,  Baptist  Pastor  Reverend  Elisha,  and U Myat San from Mei-sei  Township  conducted  the honouring proceedings and explained the reason for it.

Afterwards, the three peace co-ordinators spoke words  of  gratitude  and  a  civilian representative at-tendee  gave  suggestions  concerning  peace  after  which Central Committee member  Comrade  Rosi-na  delivered  the  closing  speech of gratitude.—Loi-kaw Thar (Translated  by  Zaw  Htet Oo)