It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of our brother and comrade U Khun Htun Oo who passed away peacefully today at his residence in Yangon. This tragic news has taken us all by surprise and we are all deeply saddened at this loss. A loss not only personally, but a loss for all Myanmar. We send our thoughts, our prayers, and our best wishes to U Khun Htun Oo’s family, and more broadly, to all the people of Shan for whom U Khun Htun Oo fought so ardently and tirelessly.

U Khun Htun Oo will be remembered by all of Myanmar not only as a leader of the SNLD, but moreover as a fighter. A trailblazer cutting a swathe to the federal democracy in which he so fervently believed. His passing is made all the more tragic by the fact that he was unable to see and living in the federal democracy Myanmar could have been, and will be. A Myanmar where rights and freedom flourish for all the people of Myanmar, regardless of race, religion, culture, gender, ethnicity, or language. This was U Khun Htun Oo’s vision; a dream he would never let go. Force of will embodied in one man, U Khun Htun Oo was never one to back down in the face of adversity or hardship. His whole life, until the very end, he did all he possibly could, taking every task to the maximum to make his dream a reality.

U Khun Htun Oo has cemented his legacy as an indefatigable and impassioned Shan leader. A warrior for freedom and democracy. An inspiration to all the people of Myanmar. This legacy is U Khun Htun Oo’s gift to our nation, and now it is on us to look within ourselves, and find the courage and strength to continue his work and finally finish this decades-long fight. Today, we, the people of Myanmar, as writing our nation’s history. A history written in the blood of our fallen, on the barren and burnt fields of our homeland. We give our lives today so that tomorrow we may see a federal democratic union. We are doing everything we can to bring an end to this nightmare which the genocidal junta have visited upon this nation. We will not be deterred from this mission. We will bring about a new chapter in Myanmar’s history, we will see the Federal Democratic State of Shan born and enshrined in law, just as U Khun Htun Oo always wanted. After all he has given to our country, and all he dedicated his life to, it is only fitting that we should see his life’s work through to the end.

Even on a day as dark as this, we must turn to the light before us. The light of federal democracy. U Khun Htun Oo’s legacy will be honoured, and his dream will be a reality. This we swear. May God bless you all. May God bless Myanmar. And may God bless the family and friends of our dear brother, leader, and hero U Khun Htun Oo.

Thank you and Sincerely,

H.E. Dr. Sasa
Union Minister of Ministry of International Cooperation
Spoke Person of Nation Unity Government
Former Special Envoy to United Nations