2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 6th regular session 9th day meeting

 November 6, 2017

2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 6th regular session 9th day meeting was held yesterday morning in Amyotha Hluttaw’s meeting hall.

At the meeting Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win responded to a question by Dr. Kyaw Ngwe of Magway Region constituency 10 on plan to amend the instruction on collecting 25% forestry tax on the value of Thanakha tree and Thanakha blocks that are classified as small scale forest product. As per notice no. 931/2017, Thanakha and other non-forest products produced outside of forest areas (private land and plantation land) by a person or business are exempted from registering in Forest Department and did not require a recommendation or an approval letter in transporting and trading these products said the Union Minister. As for exemption from collecting forestry tax, Section (254) schedule (a), 12 (b) of the Constitution specifically stated this to be under the management and administration of state and region governments answered the Union Minister.

Union Minister U Ohn Win then responded to a question raised by Dr. Khun Win Thaung of Kachin State constituency 11 on plan to release forest lands on which houses, primary school and village administrator office of Kyauksakhan Village, Momauk Township, Kachin State were located. In 2013, a combined team was formed to conduct a nationwide survey of long term settlements without permission in forest areas but Kyauksakhan Village in Momauk Township Momauk reserve area was not surveyed due to security situation. Without conducting a survey, Kyauksakhan Village could not be released from forest land answered the Union Minister.

However, because of Kachin State Chief Minister’s guidance and instruction after receiving requests from local populace during the Chief Minister’s and Kachin State Hluttaw Speaker’s tour of Bhamo District for regional development, Kyauksakhan Village being a village listed in (Ministry of) Home Affairs and application made by director of Kachin State Forest Department to Director General of Forest Department to conduct a survey of Kyauksakhan Village after it was unable to do so in 2013, head office with its letter of 14 July 2017 had informed Kachin State government to coordinate with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation on releasing Kyauksakhan Village from forest area and to conduct a survey of long term settlements without permission in forest areas in Momauk Township reserve area said the Union Minister.

Therefore, for the primary school land, Ministry of Education that is utilizing the land needs to review and apply to the Union Government. For houses, hospital, ward and village office etc. review and application must be made through Kachin State government to the Union Government. Upon receiving instruction from the Union Government, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will conduct a survey and report back to the Union Government said the Union Minister.

Next, questions by U Kyaw Ni Naing of Shan State constituency 11, by U Bwe Khane of Chin State constituency 3 and U Soe Moe of Ayeyawady Region constituency 1 were answered by Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe.

Afterwards, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe tabled a bill to amend the Myanmar Red Cross Law to the Hluttaw and member of Amyotha Hluttaw bill committee U Lal Min Htan read and explained the committee’s report on the bill.

Enrollment for discussing the bill was then announced by Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than. 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 6th regular session 10th day meeting will be held on 8 November it is learnt.

By Aung Ye Thwin

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar