Nay Pyi Taw October 19
For regional peace, stability and development, all must work together by sidelining localism, racism and religiosity. Race and religion must be safeguarded while local customs, traditions and dialects must be accepted and encouraged, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told the town elders, departmental personnel and war veterans at Amazing Kengtung Resort in Kengtung, Shan State (East), this morning.
Also present at the meeting were Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), Triangle Region Command Commander Maj-Gen Khin Hlaing, town elders from Kengtung, departmental staff and war veterans organization members.
Discussing regional development, the Senior General said he came there to discuss and share experiences in regional development tasks. Shan State (East) is an important region and for its development, electricity supply is crucial. Power can be generated from water sources and coal in the region. However, such projects have yet to be implemented due to technology and opposition. Electricity can be generated through hydroelectric technology with little environmental impact. As electricity is important for regional development, the people in the region should try to generate electricity. Abhaya Raja Muni Buddha Image in Buddha Park near Pankwe Village is built for the peace of eastern Shan State and propagation of Theravada Buddhism. Moreover, the Thatta Thattaha Maha Bawdi Pagoda and the Four Samvejaniya Places of Lord Buddha will be built of mar-ble like the design of Maha Bawdi Pagoda in Bodh Gaya in India. Constructing and keeping Buddha images and religious edifices will attract local and foreign visitors, thereby contributing to regional development and economy. Sale of local products will be more successful if they are good in quality and systematically packed. Cultivation and production of quality products in their regions rather than buying and using of foodstuffs from other regions will contribute towards development and wealth of their region. He stressed the need to produce the products with the concept that their products must be cheap if products are the same, and the products must be quality if the prices are the same.
With regard to education, the Senior General noted that it needs to teach not only school education but also environmental knowledge to the students. Although people may face difficulties in languages based on regions and areas, they must have skills of Myanmar literature and language which are official language of the Union and must preserve the languages, literatures and culture of ethnics. Having skill of education and having skill of knowledge are different. Knowledge is experiences they have passed in their lives. Skill is to learn the arts. As universities were established for students to be able to have skills, it needs to systematically teach the students in order to turn out the persons with intellectual power and skills. Nutritious meat, fish, vegetables and eggs produced from the agricultural and livestock farms of regiments and units are sold to educational staff, other departmental personnel and local people at cheap prices.
The Senior General continued to say that past is to take lessons, and those at present are responsible for shaping the better future. The Tatmadaw gives first priority to ethnics and the second to citizens. Just saying as citizen is not ethnic. He urged all to culture Myanmar spirit so as to make efforts for development of their regions and the country without racism and localism. As Kengtung region possesses sound foundations, it needs to prioritize education for having greater development of the region. As people should understand legal and economic affairs in the democratic era, it needs to turn out legal experts and economists. If they desire development of their region, they must try hard in all. He stressed the need to fulfill technological requirements based on intellectual power and skills. Political stability and peace and tranquility on the security trend are of great importance in development of the region. He urged all to strive for their region, town and country in unison.
Town elders and officials reported on progress of regional development, electrification, smooth transportation, and prevention of narcotic drugs. The Senior General cordially gave advice.
The Senior General presented gifts to town elders and departmental officials and cordially greeted them. Afterwards, those present were served with refreshments. And, the Senior General cordially conversed with them.
