The Burmese military junta has completely ignored the Kachin State Day. The regime’s military commander addressed the inaugural ceremony with inappropriate words in front of audiences at a special ceremony of the 60th anniversary of Kachin State Day, yesterday, sources said.

Maj-Gen Ohn Myint, commander of Kachin State (northern command) greeted the inaugural ceremony with romantic words “Ngou (wou) Ai Nii” in Chinese and “Nang hpe ngai tsawra ai” in Kachin, meaning “I love you” in English when he started to deliver his speech of about 15 minutes, said a local participant.

The commander’s speech was delivered to thousands of majority Kachin participants at the special ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Kachin State Day in Kachin National Manau Park in Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, Northern Burma, the attendees said.

This is not the first times the Commander Maj-Gen Ohn Myint has spoken inappropriate words. He has already said several unacceptable words related to ethnic identity to native Kachins and Red Shans, said local sources.

He has also tried to divide the Kachin ceasefire groups and militia group-Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), Lasang Awng Wa Peace Group and the Rebellion Resistance Force (RRF) led by a businessman Ahdang since he took over in Kachin State in late 2005, according to Kachin ceasefire group sources.

Before the commander’s speech, Majoi Gintawng Yup Zau Hkawng, head of Kachin Cultural Office gave an hour long special anniversary day speech but his speech was censored by the authorities, according to the sources close to Manau office.

Local analysts said, the speech started with the formation of Kachin State and its culture but concluded by praising the political process following the national convention in the junta’s roadmap to democracy in Burma.

The 60th anniversary of Kachin State Day yesterday was ignored by Burma’s ruling junta and all governmental departments, offices and schools were opened as usual, said locals.
The Union of Burma was formed by the joint effort of Burmans and ethnic nationalities leaders in January 4, 1948 in accordance with the February 12, 1947 Panglong Agreement signed by Burman leader General Aung San and ethnic leaders— Shan, Kachin and Chin.