International Democracy Day 2019
was held at the Thabin Hall of Hluttaw Building in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday
afternoon, and it was opened with speeches by President U Win Myint and State
Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
First, President U Win Myint, State
Counsellor, Vice President U Henry Van Thio and the invited guests looked
around the displays to mark the event, and the presentations of previous
celebrations of Hluttaw anniversaries, oath-taking ceremonies, the meetings
between Hluttaw speakers and delegations, meetings of Hluttaw joint committees,
ATPA meetings, IPU meetings, Myanmar Hluttaw buildings, documentary photos of
Myanmar Hluttaw patron, chairmen and vice chairmen, foreign visits of Hluttaw
speakers and deputy speakers, visitors’ signing, award-winning poems, essays
and paintings to mark International Democracy Day 2019, field trips of Hluttaw
affairs committees, capacity building programmes for Hluttaw representatives
and staff members, delegation visits to Hluttaws, supporting talks for Hluttaw
held in 2017 and 2018, high level delegation trips arranged by federal
countries, forums of federal countries, federal system workshops jointly
organized by Regions/States Hluttaws, and the forum of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
President U Win Myint, State
Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat
delivered speeches at the ceremony.
Ms June Kunugi, the UNICEF
representative for Myanmar, read out the message sent by the UN Secretary
General, followed by the screenings of documentary videos to mark 130th
anniversary of International Day of Parliamentarism and the relations between
Myanmar Hluttaw and the IPU.
The paper reading session continued
with the presentations by students, social communities, Wa Democratic Party,
National Unity Party, Kokang Democracy and Unity Party, Kachin State People’s
Party, Tatmadaw’s Hluttaw representatives, Lisu National Development Party,
Pa-O National Organisation, Zomi Congress for Democracy, Ta’ang (Palaung)
National Party, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Arakan National Party,
Union Solidarity and Development Party and National League for Democracy.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun
Myat, Amoytha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Deputy
Speaker and Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Tun Hein, Amyotha Hluttaw
Deputy Speaker U Aye Thar Aung and members of parliament presented awards to
the winners in the competitions of essays, poems and paintings to mark the
International Democracy Day at university and basic education levels. The Pyithu
Hluttaw Deputy Speaker presented certificates of honour to Shwe Than Lwin Co.,
Ltd. and Three Swallows Construction Co., Ltd.
In his concluding remarks, Amyotha
Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than said in a democracy, the minority follows
the decision of the majority, and the majority respects the will of the
minority. A democracy prefers welfares of others to own interest, and it also
protects human rights. Good characteristics of democracy value human rights in
practicing righteousness, freedom and fairness.
Moreover, democracy is
people-centered, and it defines that sovereignty of the state is collectively
owned by people; the administration is based on the decision of people who
elected the government; the strength of legislative bodies could strengthen democracy.
He also remarked that efficiency of
the Hluttaw could lead to democracy, and the country is required to march
towards the democratic goal through united strength and common desire.
The Speaker also said Myanmar
started to organize the International Democracy Day since 2011, and this was a
significant year as it has coincided with the 13th anniversary of
Inter-Parliamentary Union. This year’s theme was ‘Participation’ that calls on
all-inclusiveness of public by establishing democratic institutions.
In accordance with the slogan of
the Hluttaw ‘People’s Voice, Hluttaw Voice; People’s Will, Hluttaw’s Will;
People’s Expectation, Hluttaw Implementation’, Hluttaw representatives were
advised to fulfill the needs of the people. The State Counsellor was quoted in
his speech as sayings to focus what one can give, rather than what one can
receive..
Then, the attendees were
entertained with performances of artists from Myoma Music Band and Myoma
Anyeint Troupe.
The Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker, the
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker, the Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker and the Pyithu
Hluttaw Deputy Speaker presented floral baskets and cash.
The ceremony was attended by
President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U
Henry Van Thio, Pyidaung Hluttaw and Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat,
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Union Chief of Justice U Htun
Htun Oo, Constitutional Tribunal of the Union Chairman U Myo Nyunt, Pyidaungsu
Hluttaw and Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Tun Hein, Amyotha Hluttaw
Deputy Speaker U Aye Thar Aung, Union Ministers, Union Attorney General,
Chairman of Union Civil Service Board, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council,
Chairman of Myanmar Human Rights Commission, Speakers of States/Regions
Hluttaw, Deputy Ministers, Chairmen of Hluttaw Affairs Committee, departmental
heads, representatives of political parties, diplomats, representatives of
world parliaments and IPU, UN organizations, Hluttaw partner organizations,
teachers, students and the invited guests.
MNA
(Translated by Aung Khin)
Photo: MNA
Ref; The Global New Light of
Myanmar
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