Myanmar celebrates 67th Union Day

Our friends in Myanmar is celebrating their "Union Day" today, February 12, 2015 as a memorial to The Panglong Agreement which pronounced full independence in internal governance and was the sole reason on why the county achieved its centralized system of government. Union Day commemorates the day in 1974 when Myanmar (formerly "Burma") was unified by Burmese nationalist leader Bogyoke Aung San.

Before Britain came to the shores of Burma and annexed the entire country in 1886, it wasn't unified yet. Central Burma was inhabited by Burmese people, while the outlying areas were inhabited by ethnic minorities.

History of Myanmar’s Union Day

The Panglong Agreement was signed and passed on February 12, 1947 after which on January 4, 1948, Myanmar achieved its full independence under the British colony for more than a century. One of its aims was to promote equality between the Burmese plain people and the non-Burmese hills tribes in Burma.

The passing of the Panglong Agreement depicted unity from its people and made them whole as a nation despite the racial abuse and discrimination that they underwent from the British colony.

The Panglong Agreement was signed by the most powerful officials of the government who pioneered the law to make the country a democratic government which was led by the leader of the nation, General Bogyoke Aung San and his followers. However, shortly after the signing of the agreement, General Aung San was shot and killed leaving the country grieving for the loss of the father of the nation.

Myanmar’s Union Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

To date, the Panglong Agreement is being honored by Myanmar as Union Day each 12th of February to make the people especially the officials of the government realize that the true meaning of the celebration is by recognizing and imposing the principles of the Panglong Agreement. The remembrance includes the yearly participation in the actions and movements of more than 7000 people representing the different tribes that the country claims.

Source: aglobalworld