Martyrs’ Day Families Call for Unity, Peace and National Progress

RELATIVES of Myanmar’s fallen independence lead­ers paid tribute at the 79th Martyrs’ Day ceremony at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in Bahan Township, Yangon, calling for peace, national unity and continued efforts to build the country.

U Ye Aung Than, a rel­ative of General Aung San, attended on behalf of U Aung San Oo, who was un­well. He said he was proud to belong to General Aung San’s family and urged the public to safeguard the in­dependence for which the martyrs had struggled. “Peace is important,” he said, adding that the coun­try would benefit if all people could live peacefully.

U Ye Myint Aung, a family member of Thakin Mya, said national unity was essential because the independence movement had brought together peo­ple from many ethnic and religious backgrounds, in­cluding Muslims and Chris­tians. He said the martyrs had focused collectively on the goal of independence, and that similar unity to­day could help Myanmar develop.

U Thant Zin Cho, a fam­ily member of Deedok U Ba Cho, also stressed that na­tional progress depended on people of all ethnic commu­nities living together with mutual understanding. He called for peaceful and sta­ble conditions, saying these could be achieved through unity and the absence of conflict. Open discussion, understanding each other’s needs and forgiveness were important foundations for unity, he added.

Sao Kai Hpa, a family member of the late Mong­pun Sawbwa Sao San Tun, said he attends the annual ceremony every year and was pleased to see people gathering in large num­bers to pay their respects. He encouraged everyone to remain united. 

Daw Myint Myint Khaing, a relative of Mahn Ba Khaing, urged the public to work together from their respective roles to realize the leaders’ vision of an in­dependent, developed and peaceful nation. Although many years had passed since the leaders’ deaths, she said shared commit­ment and collective action remained vital to achieving that goal.

Nant Soe Soe Khaing, also from Mahn Ba Khaing’s family, described unity as the country’s most impor­tant need. She expressed gratitude for the legacy of independence handed down by previous generations and for her grandfather’s contri­bution as a Kayin leader. She said unity should be built on love, and that younger generations had a responsibility to carry for­ward what their ancestors had begun.

U Hla Kyi, a family member of U Razak, said ethnic unity had been crucial to achieving inde­pendence and required no further explanation of its importance. He said the martyrs had already shown, through their ac­tions and ideas, how people should work together for the country.

Dr Min Myint, a rel­ative of U Ohn Maung, thanked the authorities for holding the Martyrs’ Day commemoration at the national level. He re­called his father’s role in promoting ethnic unity, including helping to bring Sama Duwa Sinwa Nawng, a Kachin leader, into con­tact with General Aung San ahead of the Panglong Conference. He said his father had worked promi­nently and successfully to advance unity among the country’s communities.

U Aung Ko Ko, a fam­ily member of Yebaw Ko Htwe, said ethnic unity had been the basis for the independence struggle. He noted that efforts to unite the country’s frontier and central regions contribut­ed to the Panglong Agree­ment and to independence for the whole of Myanmar.

He said unity re­mained necessary to protect national stability and sovereignty, particu­larly at a time of political differences and growing geopolitical and economic pressures. Stronger uni­ty, he said, would create a more peaceful domestic environment and allow development work to con­tinue without disruption.

The relatives’ mes­sages centred on a com­mon appeal: honouring the martyrs’ sacrifice by strengthening mutual respect, peace and unity across Myanmar. — News Crew