Union Day 2003 Message

Shan Democratic Union (SDU) 
Union Day 2003 Message

On this day, February 12th -- fifty-six years ago -- the Union of Burma or "Burma", as it is generally known nowadays, was born. 

It was created by a treaty -- the Panglong Accord -- signed by the founding fathers of the Union: U Aung San, the Yawnghwe prince (Sao Shwe Thaike) and other Shan princes, Chin and Kachin leaders. 

U Aung San represented the AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League) in particular, and the Burmans generally. The Shan princes and the Chin, Kachin leaders represented their own peoples respectively, and as well, the self-governing territories indirectly ruled by the British -- not ruled directly as the colony of Burma (or Burma proper) was. 

Panglong signified the coming together of several and different national states, or "pyi-daung" in Burmese. Hence, the name "Pyidaung-zu", meaning the coming together or union of national states. 

As the name signifies, it was a union of equal national states with no state subordinated to another, and no ethnic group superior or subordinated to others. This is the spirit and intent of Panglong, the core meaning of February 12th, Union Day. 

This spirit and legacy of February 12th -- the Union Day -- has as yet to be honored in full. 

The Shan Democratic Union solemnly reiterate on this noble day of February 12th -- the Union day -- that together with all ethnic brothers and sisters, and hand in hand with Burman compatriots, we will continue along the path pioneered by our founding fathers, to give flesh to their aspirations of diverse peoples living together in equality, dignity, freedom, and solidarity. 

We hear what the military rulers have been saying since 1962 when the master-mind of Burman chauvinisism, the late General Ne Win, usurped power. The military rulers claim to have kept the country together and have repeatedly expressed fear of secession and the breakup of the Union. 

The fact is, no one has the aspiration to break up the Union. The ethnic nationalities forces took up arms as a self-defense measure, to resist unlawful dictatorship, and to restore the Panglong spirit. 

Now that the destructive and lawless Ne Win era has ended, the time has come for all of us to re-examine and learn from the past, and to explore together the shape of our common future. 

It is now time to put aside all the passion and wrath, the violence and the brutalities of the Ne Win era and, as compatriots living on the same earth and drinking from the same river, rebuild the nation and our Union of Burma. 

The path ahead is not difficult for we already have with us a blueprint for a prosperous, harmonious, united nation-state. This blueprint -- the Panglong Accord and spirit -- has been with us since the creation of this country. 

The Shan Democratic Union therefore calls upon all compatriots from all nationalities and from all walks of life, and importantly, the SPDC (the State Peace and Development Council) and members of the armed forces, to join hand and work together to realize the dreams of our founding fathers and U Aung San. 

They have shown us the way, and it is our duty to walk this path, a path that leads all the diverse peoples and cultures of the country from a tragic and ugly past to a beautiful future: a Union of national states where freedom, equality, human-dignity, and the rights of all as human beings and as citizens are honored in both words and deeds. 

Shan Democratic Union

Date: February 12, 2003