All esteemed national brethren-I wish you all auspiciousness such as physical and mental wellbeing on the occasion of New Year’s Day of 2021.
On New Year’s Day last year I said the year 2020 was crucial. Our country as well as the whole world faced difficulties and challenges in 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic started in December 2019 spreading across the globe including our country. Since the outbreak, the Tatmadaw has been keeping track of COVID-19 from all angles and helping the State and the people through coordinated preparedness and farsightedness for the prevention and treatment.
We cannot take it lightly although COVID-19 cases are falling in our country. Following the guidelines adopted by the Ministry of Health and Sports will contribute much towards the COVID-19 control, mitigation and elimination measures.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had great impact on the socioeconomy of various global countries. With a global population of over 7 billion, all countries and humans are struggling with measures of food supplies.
As ours is an agro-based country, I would like to say that our hard work in all available fields such as agriculture and livestock breeding for global food security will benefit all human beings and improve our socio-economy as well.
The Tatmadaw has announced ceasefire in five military commands for two years from 21 December 2018 to 31 December 2020 with the aim of achieving eternal peace by avoiding any act that can harm the peace process. It will also continue to a most possible extent.
In the post-2020 period, the ethnic armed organizations must take the NCA path without fail so that we can continue marching towards our political goal of building a State based on democracy and federalism.
We must envisage that with lasting peace, our country will be peaceful, paving the way for improving the social life of our own regions and our children of new generations.
Promising that the Tatmadaw side by side with all national brethren will continue to try its best for enteral peace and national development, I wish you all again to have your blessings and needs fulfilled.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
