EN 
MYN 
State of the Union Address by the Acting President on the Second Anniversary of the Formation of the National Unity Government
16 April 2023
First and foremost, on the occasion of the Myanmar New Year, I extend my greetings and wish peace of body and mind to all ethnic nationalities and all Myanmar people—across every corner of our country and wherever you reside around the world.
Since the unlawful seizure of power by the terrorist military, countless individuals have given their lives resisting tyranny in various ways. Many others have lost their limbs, their homes, and their possessions. Civil servants who bravely joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), along with everyone who continues to steadfastly support and contribute to the revolution in countless ways up to this very moment — to each and every one of them, on behalf of our entire Government, I bow my head with deep respect and honor.
At the same time, I must also once again express my profound grief over the mass killing of civilians in Pazigyi Village, Kanbalu Township, on April 11, when the terrorist military carried out an inhumane aerial bombing and assault. To date, as a result of the airstrike by the terrorist military, a total of 168 innocent civilians have lost their lives. Among them were 40 children, 24 women, and several pregnant mothers. On behalf of our Government, I affirm that we have been taking timely measures on the ground to provide emergency rescue, medical treatment, and other necessary assistance to the victims. Furthermore, as long as we are not yet fully able to defend effectively against the junta’s air attacks, we will intensify public education and protective measures for civilian air-defense, so that no more innocent lives may be taken in this way.
Because the military continues to use its air force to bomb across the country, and because we are not yet able to fully prevent and block such attacks, innocent civilians are being forced to give their lives day after day. Therefore, I earnestly urge and appeal to international organizations, as well as domestic civil society groups and NGOs, to expand and strengthen public education programs that can help civilians defend themselves against the terrorist military’s aerial assaults.
At the same time, we call upon the international community to take urgent and effective measures to stop the terrorist military’s deliberate war crimes of aerial attacks against innocent civilians. In particular, we urge immediate sanctions and action against arms suppliers and aviation fuel providers who enable these crimes, and we strongly appeal for timely support in providing our government with air defense weapons to protect the people. Furthermore, because the terrorist military’s village burnings and massacres have forced millions to flee their homes and become displaced, we urgently call for swift and effective humanitarian assistance to be delivered to those in desperate need.
Now, our National Unity Government — formed to resist and overthrow the terrorist military junta — has reached the two-year mark of its tenure. During this period of two years, there have been achievements in our efforts, yet there also remain many challenges.
As the National Unity Government, we are an administration that has emerged out of the needs of the State and its citizens. Therefore, I must emphasize that we always place the interests of the nation and the people at the forefront. At the same time, we fully acknowledge that in striving to fulfill the needs and aspirations of the public, there have been shortcomings and delays due to various circumstances.
For example, in our efforts to ensure that displaced people across the country receive the humanitarian assistance they so urgently need—from raising relief funds to making sure that aid reaches directly into the hands of the people—we have faced many difficulties. The realities on the ground require us to overcome numerous layers of obstacles, and as a result, there are times when we cannot deliver support as quickly as we would wish.
There remain significant challenges in the area of arms support for the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and local defense forces that are bravely resisting the military dictatorship. Together with our allied ethnic armed organizations, our government has been making every effort to enhance the production and supply of weapons and ammunition. Yet, across the country, difficulties persist in procuring, stockpiling, and distributing the arms and ammunition necessary to sustain all these battalions. We must continue striving to ensure that every member of the People’s Defence Forces is properly equipped. In this regard, the contributions and donations from the people play a vital role in sustaining and strengthening our capacity to arm the resistance forces.
At the same time, our government is exerting every effort to cut off the resources that primarily sustain the enemy’s campaign of violence. In particular, we are focusing on severing the financial lifelines of the enemy. Working hand-in-hand with democratic partner nations, we have coordinated with civil society organizations and activists to impose sanctions and block the enemy’s sources of profit. Thanks to the effective participation of the people in boycott campaigns against terrorist military's products, we have already succeeded in significantly reducing their revenues. I urge all our revolutionary citizens to continue these campaigns with unwavering determination and renewed energy.
To ensure that the Revolution can continue to improve and adjust to the needs of the moment, I would once again encourage the people to offer us constructive criticism, feedback, and suggestions. These contributions—whether directed at me personally or at our government as a whole—are invaluable. At the same time, our government is working to establish channels through which the voices of the people can be directly heard, so that the real hardships and concerns being faced on the ground may be shared openly and addressed effectively.
During these two years, as you all know, we have also been preparing and striving to bring the leaders of the terrorist military and their associates before international courts of justice. In addition, together with our allied resistance forces, we worked tirelessly to ensure that the Burma Act of 2022 was incorporated into the United States National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. We have also successfully drafted the Federal Democracy Charter and continue to steadfastly carry out the interim programs of our National Unity Government.
As a government, we engage daily with both state and non-state actors in the international community, while striving to administer and oversee all national affairs effectively.
Every effort we make prioritizes the interests of all citizens, including ethnic minorities. When the terrorist military council inflicts suffering on innocent people, it is the same as inflicting suffering on us all. In Chin State, Karen State, Shan State, and Myanmar’s central regions, people have endured the military’s human rights violations. At the same time, atrocities like the military’s crimes in Kachin State’s Mung Lai Hkyet camp, Chin State’s Waibula massacre, and Sagaing’s Pazigyi massacre reveal the scale of the terrorist military’s crimes across the country. Those responsible for these war crimes will all—without exception—be held accountable in accordance with their actions. There will be no impunity for their crimes.
The terrorist leader has already openly declared with his own mouth that he will continue his acts of violence. He will be cruel to the very end, and afterwards, shamelessly lie. This is the kind of work they have always done. On our side as well, in line with the convictions we hold, we will work to unearth the terrorist junta’s crimes and bring them before international courts. We also pledge once again, here and now, to do everything possible to swiftly provide the necessary weapons and support.
Our government is tirelessly implementing the One-Year Revolutionary Plan, a comprehensive strategic program we have laid down. At the same time, we are achieving significant progress in political and military cooperation with our allied revolutionary forces.
To ASEAN leaders and the international community at large, I wish to say this: Please open your eyes to the suffering and hardships that our people are enduring. We ask you to truly see what our citizens are going through, and to provide practical and effective assistance that meets their urgent needs.
To the soldiers who still serve out of love for the nation, to members of the people’s police, and to civil servants across all departments, I would like to offer a final word of caution. Since the military coup of February 1, 2021, led by Min Aung Hlaing and his clique, more than 3,200 innocent civilians have been killed. Over 60,000 homes have been burned and destroyed due to the military’s brutal acts, along with countless places of worship. Some 1.3 million people who only wished to live in peace have been forced from their homes and now live as displaced persons in forests and mountains. Young people have lost their right to education, leaving their futures uncertain. Meanwhile, skyrocketing prices, inflation, and widespread unemployment have made daily survival a hardship for the people. Crime and lawlessness have spread across the country, and ordinary citizens are enduring endless insecurity. Therefore, I urge you not to continue standing with Min Aung Hlaing’s military council. Instead, step away immediately, and place the people’s welfare above all else. Do not cling only to your own interests. Place the interests of the nation first, and join hands swiftly with the National Unity Government and with the people.
In conclusion, what I want to say is this: the enemy will continue doing what they do. As for us, we must continue our work—bringing down the dictatorship and building a new federal union for the sake of those who have died, fallen, and sacrificed so much. Therefore, I urge our people to continue giving your support, contributions, and encouragement, just as you have done over the past two years.
Revolution must prevail!