Aung San Suu Kyi calls for keeping Myanmar's independence spirit alive

Chairperson of the election-winning National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi Monday urged all ethnic groups to continue to work together to keep the spirit of independence alive.

In a statement marking the country's 68th Independence Day, Suu Kyi reiterated that Myanmar won independence, thanks to the cooperation of all ethnicities.

"In the previous election, the NLD was given a chance to govern thanks to the hope, trust and overwhelming support of the people," the statement of the NLD Central Committee said, adding that amongst this optimism, the NLD is aware that unforeseen challenges, public expectation and bitter legacy of recent history has placed a huge burden on the new government.

Nevertheless, the statement continued to say that the NLD will try to build trust through cooperating by applying its basic principles of national reconciliation, peaceful means and general harmony, stressing that it is time to go forward and build a peaceful, democratic federal union together.

The statement urged the country's people to safeguard and promote the principles of National Independence in paying tribute to the forebears who gave their lives during the independence struggle.

On early Monday morning, a ceremony to salute the state flag was held in Nay Pyi Taw's City Hall.

Myanmar regained independence from the British colonialists on Jan. 4, 1948.