STATE
Counsellor and Chairperson of Central Committee to Implement the Development of
Border Areas and Ethnic Nationals Daw Aung San Suu Kyi accompanied by Union
Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu and U Ohn Win, Deputy
Minister U Hla Maw Oo and officials left Nay Pyi Taw by special flight and
arrived to Putao, Kachin State yesterday morning. The State Counsellor and
party were welcomed at Putao airport by State Chief Minister Dr. Khet Aung,
State Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Khan Lin, state ministers, Hluttaw
representatives, representatives of political parties, ethnic national cultural
troupes and officials.
The
State Counsellor and party went by motorcade to Malikha Lodge Hotel and at the
hotel hall, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung explained about
the status of constructing Maggwayza-Ngalondam-Ridam-Khaunglanphu (65 miles 4
furlong) road in fiscal year 2017-2018 and FY 2018-2019, road construction plan
for FY 2019-2020 and FY 2020-2021. Chief Engineer U Khin Maung Latt explained
about engineering portion of Maggayza-Khaunglanphu road. Next State Counsellor
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inspected a scale model of the construction of
Maggwayza-Ngalondam-Ridam-Khaunglanphu (65 miles 4 furlong) road.
Afterwards
the State Counsellor and party accompanied by State Chief Minister and state
ministers reached the Maggwayza temporary pandal in Nagmon Township by Tatmadaw
helicopters and attended the opening ceremony of Maggwayza-Mt. Sanlutchat (33
miles 6 furlong) road section. At the opening ceremony State Counsellor and
Chairperson of the Central Committee to Implement the Development of Border
Areas and Ethnic Nationals Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, “I am honored to be able
to attend the inauguration ceremony for this road.
I
am even happier to have the chance to meet with the local residents of our
country. It’s not easy to come here, but I do feel much closer with everyone
after arriving nonetheless. Paving roads such as this one is mainly for our
regional development. But more importantly, it also brings all ethnic nationals
closer to each other. It’s not easy to meet one another without any roads
connecting us. Development is important for a country but even more important
is the strength gained from unity. This is why I would like to extend my
sincere appreciation to the workers who built this road.”
“I
believe all the workers in the country are here. What I mean to say is every
person from every region needs to participate in developing our nation. Also
the lesson we can take from here is that this road was very difficult to pave.
And no matter how difficult it was through perseverance and strong will we
managed to complete the task. Then there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”
“I’ve
noticed that most of the ethnic nationals are small in stature. I think you all
require more nutritious food. I’m sure this road would allow much more
nutritious food to be transported to you. Everyone needs to help so that the
Young Generation can grow up strong and healthy. Now that the road is finished
we will be seeing more opportunities for development.”
“All
of our regional development efforts are for the benefit of all ethnic nationals
so that they may grow both mentally and physically. We want everyone to enjoy
the equal living standards. It is also the national pride to see every citizen
living life at the same standard. It is not right for there to be a sizable
disparity in the distribution of wealth in the country. This is related to
transportation too, it’ll be difficult for development to come if there are not
good enough roads for a selected area. That’s why I believe paving roads is a
very honorable work.”
Use
the new road to build closer relations with each other
“In
my travels around the country I have seen workers building roads everywhere.
However many of the workers are from very far regions. For example, in Kachin
State we saw a lot of workers from my father’s homeland, Magway Region. Seeing
ethnic Nationals going to other far away regions and states to help in any way
they can is very inspiring for me. Likewise, it is equally inspiring to be
gathered like this now. Thank you everyone for attending. I did not expect so
many people to be gathered here today. Because I know it is still difficult to
travel around here. But now we can see that motorcycles can access the roads
more easily and people can move around quite easily too. I kindly urge all of
you to use this opportunity to build closer relations with each other and to
help each other more than you have before.”
“You
must strengthen your community so that you can strengthen yourself. No one can
survive on their own. This is why I want you all to have a mindset of helping
other regions in their development once we are developed. Each of us must
protect our rights; but we must also carry out our responsibilities. We cannot
just look out for one side.”
“Similarly,
all governments receive their authority from the people and have the
responsibility to perform the duties they have been entrusted with. Only by
collectively taking responsibility will our nation develop. I feel energetic
seeing the lush forests of Kachin State surviving till now. We can see the
beauty and preciousness of our country. Each of us is responsible for
protecting this beautiful country. We must be careful not to become indifferent
to our surroundings we have stayed in for so long. We must cherish and
safeguard it. It’s true that it’s not easy living here. But the difficulties
that you overcome here will strengthen you.”
That’s
why, it is important for us to conserve our country which owns beautiful
natural resources. Sometimes, when development comes, natural environment goes
some times. That’s why, when we start to go for development, we must think
about how to conserve the environment. We are responsible to teach our children
to love and conserve the natural environment. Whether the parents are rich or
not, have high-ranking positions or not, the best legacy they can pass down to
their children is the right attitude. Everybody can do it.
Right
attitude is a good legacy for next generation
If
we cannot give a good legacy of right attitude, the children would not become
helpful ones for others and finally they cannot be beneficial for themselves.
Therefore, I would like to urge our citizens of the Union to do right and to
have right attitudes so that we can give the right legacy to our children. Our
country is home to a diversity of ethnic people, with different languages.
But,
we don’t need to be afraid of diversity. Diversity is a very interesting thing
we own and is helpful for each other to give strength. The collective strength
from different people is more powerful than the individual.
The
quality to strengthen friendship by embracing diversity must become the
strength of our country, said the State Counsellor.
We
found the community of different ethnic people in this far-flung area and it
shows the dignity and quality of local ethnic peoples for coexistence. Please
conserve this quality because the quality to strengthen friendship by embracing
diversity must become the strength of our country.
Today,
we can see that communities which attach great attachment to loving kindness
are decreasing in the world.
If
we build a community which can work for development based on loving kindness,
we can enjoy peace which is more valuable than others. We need to train
ourselves to be spiritually developed and mature. At the same time, we need to
work for enjoying physical development to a certain extent. Only when we can
work taking a balance between the said two things, can our country be
developed.
We
inaugurated the road today. It means, we have shown the road to development.
The road would be beneficial for the region only when there are road users.
That’s why please use this new road so that it becomes valuable. I would like
you all to make the best use of this new road to know each other and to bring
about unity, to carry out the development works in this region as much as
possible and to use this new road so that this new infrastructure would benefit
the local people. ”
Following
the speech of the State Counsellor, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye
Aung, Chairman of the Work Committee to Implement the Development of Border
Areas and Ethnic Nationals Chairman explained about the construction of
Maggwayza-Mt. Sanlutchat (33 miles 6 furlong) road section and road section to
be constructed in the future.
The
opening ceremony of Maggayza-Mt. Sanlutchat (33 miles 6 furlong) road section was
then continued at the start of the road section where State Counsellor Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu and U
Ohn Win and Chief Minister Dr. Khet Aung cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the
road.
After
posing for commemorative group photos with the attendees the State Counsellor
inspected the Maggayza-Mt. Sanlutchat (33 miles 6 furlong) road section and
road by cars and cordially greeted the local people.
Later
the State Counsellor left Maggayza for Khaunglanphu Town by Tatmadaw helicopter
and met with Hluttaw representatives, political parties and departmental
officials and local populace in the Khaunglanphu Town hall.
All
ethnic nationals must have equal rights
At
the meeting State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, “We are placing much
emphasis towards development of far and remote places. It is important that
there is equality everywhere. It is more important for difficult places.
Support must be provided for less developed areas to develop quickly. In doing
this it must be looked at from all angles of economic, social and politics. As
our country is a union all ethnic nationals must have equal rights.
We
are here to attend a road opening ceremony. However, we are taking this
opportunity because we want to engage with the people as much as we can. Among
the people, children are the most important, because the children are the ones
who will serve the country for the longest. Only when the children are educated
can our country’s future be good. That is why we are placing emphasis on
education and health.
Only
when our people area healthy and educated can they serve for the good of the
country. Much effort must be placed towards making the children in this region
fully nourished. Only when they are nourished, strong and healthy can they
serve the duties of the country. Only when they are educated can they help
others.
As
we meet with the local elders, let us know the main requirements of the region.
Please discuss how and in what way the government can support and help. Forest
reservation matters submitted by the locals are to preserve the nature for
future. In conducting the preservation and conservation works, it will be
coordinated with the economic and social requirements of the people. It is
heard that the trees and plants in this region have medicinal values. We must
think and do in such a way that such valuable matters support the locals.
Just
as in the saying “don’t let the snake die and don’t let the stick break”, it
must be beneficial for both sides. The trees and plants must not become extinct
and the livelihood of the locals must not be affected. The Ministry of Border
Affairs had said that bridges are required to have a good road connection. We
will place much emphasis to fulfill the bridge requirements as quickly as
possible by coordinating with the Ministry of Construction.
I
think the reason for the low success rates of youngsters in basic education
level is the requirement to give trainings to teachers. We will make
arrangements to conduct refresher courses for teachers so that they can teach
the youngsters to attain higher success rates. We will also provide sufficient
amounts of teaching aid materials.
I
agree that a new hospital needs to be constructed for health. We’ll coordinate
with the Ministry of Health and Sports to do this as soon as possible.
Similarly for farm lands we’ll coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Irrigation to develop fallow lands into cultivable lands.”
After
the State Counsellor had delivered her speech a local C Di Htar discussed about
regional development matters.
After
the meeting the State Counsellor presented food and dried goods consisting of
rice, cooking oil, salt, beans, dried fish and instant noodles for the local
people to the officials.
The
State Counsellor and party then left Khaunglanphu for Machanbaw by helicopters.
There, the State Counsellor inspected regional development status and upon
arrival at Malikha Suspension Bridge (Machanbaw) Ministry of Construction,
Special Bridge Group 1 Deputy Director U Saw Zarni Hla explained about the
particulars of the bridge. After the explanation, the State Counsellor and
party crossed and inspected the Malikha Suspension Bridge (Machanbaw). The
State Counsellor and party then continued by car to Putao and inspected the
Mulashidi suspension bridge for jeep on the Myitkyina-Sumprabum-Putao road.
After
inspecting the suspension bridge State Counsellor Daw Aung San Su Kyi met and
was introduced in person to Putao Town people, local people and elders in
Malikha Lodge Hotel. At the meeting the State Counsellor said she came to do
the necessary in basic infrastructure required for the people. In doing so, she
was glad to see the greenery and thriving natural surroundings. The open and
candid comments and suggestions of the locals on peace, stability and
development are requested and the government would do whatever it could to
fulfill their requests.
Peace,
drug eradication, rehabilitation discussed
Local
elders then spoke of the importance of achieving peace in Putao region,
discussed drug eradication and requirements for rehabilitation, requirements
for travel business development in Putao region, requirement of Putao circular
road and bridges and giving priority to employing local graduates in local
positions. The State Counsellor in return explained that matters will be
conducted fairly and equitably in accordance with the government policy.
The
meeting was attended by Lay Yin Kwin Ward Shan Culture Committee Chairman U Tin
Hla, Hokho Ward Shan Culture Committee joint secretary Daw Swe Tun Tun Nwe, Pan
Hlaing Ward Kaungmulone Trustee Board member U Saw Nwe Thaik Shwe who were
Buddhists, Myoma Ward Yawem Literature and Culture Association Chairman U Mayit
Yawshu, Lay Yin Kwin Ward Yawem Literature and Culture Association secretary U
Sayit Dee, Dote Tan Ward Yawem Literature and Culture Association member U Dane
Khan Dawi, Hoko Ward Lisu Culture Committee acting chairman U J Fada, Lone Sut
Ward Lisu Culture Committee secretary U Di Diye, Lone Sut Ward Jinghpaw Vice
Chairman U Sin Wa, Kaukkadaung Ward Jinghpaw Culture Committee secretary U Aung
Kham who were Christians, Hoko Ward township development committee chairman U
Akhiohta, Myoma Ward township development committee member U Khaw Du Sartan,
Kaukkadaung Ward township development committee member U No Kham, Mulashidi
Ward township development committee member U Yilisa, Daw Nan Sai from
Kau-kkadaung Ward, Myoma Ward township election sub-commission member U Malaung
David, Hoko Ward township election sub-commission member Daw Lafigya, U Chan
Gyaung Sar of Lay Yin Kwin Ward and district election sub-commission chairman U
Htam Tan Firam from Lone Sut Ward. Later in the evening the State Counsellor
and Putao town elders attended the dinner hosted by Kachin State government.
MNA
(Translated
by Zaw Min, Zaw Htet Oo)
Ref:
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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