Hence, the Shan State Day is a significant day concerned with the whole Myanmar national as well as all ethnic national people as the pledges of the Panglong Agreement, the basis of the historic Union Day, were adopted.
The Shan State is a state blessed with land and forest scenic beauties where Shan tribes such as Shan, Palaung, Pa-O, Wa, Danu, Kokang, Lahu, Arkha, and Inntha ethnics reside together with Kachin, Kayah, and Lisu ethnics preserving own culture and customs in unison.
Participation of Saophas, patriots, public leaders, and all ethnic national people from the Shan State in fighting against colonialists and in the independence struggles as well as anti-Fascist activities and resistance periods together with political leaders and nationalistic activists across the nation were noble traditions and honorable historical records of the state.
In the history of Myanmar’s independence struggles, national leader General Aung San held meetings with Saophas and representatives of Shan State separately in Taunggyi on his tour of meeting with ethnic national leaders in order to regain the Independence of Myanmar. General Aung San went to London in January 1947 and held meetings with the British government and demanded the independence of the whole of Myanmar including hilly regions.
A preliminary meeting was held with the participation of Shan Saophas Council executive member Saophas and public leaders of the Shan State on 3 February 1947. All Shan and Kachin delegates held a meeting on 6 February, and one more meeting took place with the participation of Shan, Kachin, and Chin representatives on 7 February. They all formed the subcommittee and signed the meeting decisions.
On 7 February 1947, Shan, Kachin, and Chin ethnic leaders adopted the decision to take independence together with the mainland of Myanmar in Panglong of the Shan State. As a gesture of honouring 7th February when the decisions were adopted to take the independence of the whole of Myanmar together without dividing the hilly regions and the mainland, the Shan State Day has been celebrated for 76 years.
All need to rebuild solidarity and understanding among the ethnic national brethren similar to that built at Panglong in 1947. They all have to strive for showing national unity at present similar to that of Panglong in the last 76 years.
All in all, all ethnic national brethren are to join hands in marching towards the goal of building the democratic federalism Union including the whole Shan State to enable the people to enjoy peace and prosperity.
