Nay Pyi Taw February 1
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief(Army), Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Teza Kyaw and officials, arrived in Khaunglanphu town, Putao District, Kachin State this afternoon, and was welcomed by departmental officials, local elders, local people and members of local people’s militia.
The Senior General met local elders,local ethnics, and departmental officials and discussed regional development undertakings.First, the town administrator presented a report on salient points of Khaunglanphu region, transport situation and regional requirements. A local elder also expressed thanks for the joint efforts of the government and the Tatmadaw to facilitate transport for the progress of Khaunglanphu region and presented requirements for the region.
In response, the Senior General said as Khaunglanphu is a region with poor transport,a proposal to build an all-weather road was presented to the government. At present a road has been constructed from Magweza to Hsanlutchet, which is only 30 miles to reach Khaunglanphu. Transport development will pave the way for the development of other sectors. As communication was poor in the region, a MEC Tel CDMA telephone system was installed, and it can be launched soon. District and township administrative bodies and Tatmadaw engineering unit will coordinate efforts to draw a town plan for the development of Khaunglanphu. Required machinery will be transported by Tatmadaw helicopter. Cooperation of local people is necessary to make efforts for the development of Khaunglanphu town. They also need to help ensure community peace and stability and safeguard above-ground and underground resources. The Senior General called for the emergence of educated locals in the education sector, ensuring that teachers and students have the level of knowledge equivalent to their educational levels so that they can protect their own region, the need for not allowing drug problems that can hamper regional development efforts to enter the region and cooperation between town elders and departmental personnel in ensuring local sufficiency in rice and manufacturing foodstuffs and consumer goods.
A town elder spoke words of thanks and presented requirements for water supply. The Senior General assured that the Tatmadaw would help Khaunglanphu region to get water supply.
For the local ethnics, the Senior General presented packets of Biryani and fried noodles,Union Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San,Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief(Army) presented foodstuffs such as eggs and instant noodle, MEC Tel handsets and SIM cards to departmental officials and local people. The Senior General, wife and party cordially greeted the local people and posed for a documentary photo together with them.
The Senior General and party inspected the shop being opened by the Northern Command Headquarters for the welfare of local residents and paid homage to Kawmala Wunnanna Pagoda.
In the afternoon, the Senior General and party inspected construction of Magweza-Khaunglanphu road where Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung reported on construction of four sections on 65/4 miles long Magweza-Khaunglanphu road by Ministry of Border Affairs and difficulties in construction tasks due to massive rocks and the senior engineer on progress of road works.
In response to the reports, the Senior General gave instructions on systematic placing of gravels for long-term strengthening of the road, and systematic digging of drains to ensure long-term existence of the road as it is a rainy region, and fulfilled the requirements and presented cash awards to workers from the Ministry of Border Affairs and officers and other ranks from the Directorate of Military Engineers who participate in road construction. The Senior General and party viewed progress of road construction and participation of Tatmadaw members and officials of the Ministry of Border Affairs in the pilot team in road works, and attended to the needs of officials.
Khaunglanphu Township is northernmost located in Putao District of Myanmar, close to the People’s Republic of China in east and north parts. Khaunglanphu Township formed with four wards and 144 villages of 23 village-tracts, surrounded by snowcapped mountains with natural scenes, is home to over 13,500 people of Rawang and Lesu ethnics. At present, the Ministry of Border Affairs and the Directorate of Military Engineers join hands in building Magweza-Khaunglanphu Motor Road for development of Khaunglanphu region.
Now, the existing point is just 30 miles to Khaunglanpyu. A 33 miles and six furlongs long gravel road from Putao to Hsanlutchet has been built for use all the year round. An earthen road, two miles from Hsanlutchet has also been completed. The pilot team is carrying out clearing of axis, exploding mines at rocks and seeking the new axis along the eight-mile route from Hsanlutchet difficultly with earnest efforts for completion of the road construction during the target period.
