CNI News

17 October 2025

The Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stated that although Myanmar has been independent for over 77 years, it is necessary to review what fruits have been enjoyed.

He delivered the speech at the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15, 2025.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said, "It has been over 77 years since we gained independence. In 2028, it will be 80 years. What have we fully enjoyed from our independence? We need to look back at this. Since independence, due to various interferences, the ethnic people of this country have faced various kinds of suffering and hardship. We can compare ourselves with stable and developing countries, including our neighbours. If we compare ourselves with countries of similar power—in other words, similar population, similar land area, and similar economy—we can see that we have been left behind. Why is this? It was mentioned in my earlier speech as well. We see that this has happened due to various internal and external interferences."

Myanmar gained independence from British rule on January 4, 1948.

However, just three months after independence, on March 28, 1948, the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) began an armed revolution, and in 1949, the Karen people began their armed revolution.

Since then, ethnic groups within Myanmar have formed armed organizations under the principles of equality and self-determination, and they have been fighting and revolting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw up until today.

Nevertheless, on October 15, 2015, the NCA agreement was signed between the Myanmar Tatmadaw, the government, and ethnic armed organizations to end the armed conflict.

Subsequently, on February 1, 2021, the Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government, claiming that it was attempting to form a government without resolving the dispute over the 2020 General Election voter lists, and declared a state of emergency.

As a result, people have opposed and protested against the Myanmar Tatmadaw, and there are ongoing attempts to overthrow the Tatmadaw through armed conflict.