The anniversary is observed to honour Shan martyrs and revolutionaries that have sacrificed their lives.

Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) soldiers didn’t carry arms during their 61st Shan Revolution Day commemoration at Loi Tai Leng in southern Shan State.

Col Sai Nguen, the armed group’s spokesperson and secretary-2, said the decision not to carry their guns during the anniversary this year was because the Myanmar Army announced a six-month unilateral ceasefire.

“We welcome it and that’s why we don’t carry weapons in this commemoration today. We are trying to build a genuine federal union through the peace process,” he said. “There were nearly 1,000 soldiers participating in the military parade but they didn’t carry their weapons.”

Sai Nguen said the anniversary is observed to honour their martyrs and revolutionaries that have sacrificed their lives for the Shan people. “We are proud of them and this is why we hold this commemoration every year.”

“Another reason is we are trying to achieve our rights” according to the Panglong Agreement, he said. “We want our new generation to be patriotic and keep on the same path started by our martyrs.”

On the same day as the RCSS/SSA anniversary, the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army celebrated Shan Revolution Day in their Wai Hai headquarters in northern Shan State.