Myanmar’s military ruler appeals to restive minorities

By GRANT PECK
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — The head of Myanmar’s military government has appealed for national unity among the country’s restive ethnic minorities as he presided over a parade marking the 75th anniversary of a historic agreement that has failed to ensure harmony. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power last year from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, praised the minorities for signing the 1947 Panglong Agreement, which was supposed to unify ethnic groups following decades of British colonial rule. But Myanmar remains plagued by nearly constant conflict as the minorities seek their autonomy and armed resistance to army rule grows. Opponents of military rule urged a virtual boycott of the anniversary ceremony and told people not to turn on their TVs.