Nay Pyi Taw April 4
Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with members of Magway Region Administration Council and departmental personnel at the region council office this afternoon.
Also present together with the Senior General at the meeting were council members General Maung Maung Kyaw and Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko, Union Minister for Education U Nyunt Pe, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win, Chairman of Magway Region Administration Council U Tint Lwin, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ko Ko Oo, members of Magway Region Administration Council and departmental staff.
First, the Senior General and party were welcomed by U Tint Lwin and officials. Next, members of Magway Region Administration Council introduced themselves individually. U Tint Lwin reported on social, economic and health affairs and regional development tasks in the region, preparations for COVID-19 vaccinations and general matters.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said election is the essence of democracy adding that in school education since their childhood, a class monitor has been chosen through the will of the majority.
It is more important that people’s representatives are chosen by the will of the people. In the time of the previous Tatmadaw government, the Tatmadaw had to shape democratic evolution by studying different patterns of democracy exercised in the international community during the transition period. Then, the country had been put on a right track to democracy as people aspired. The multi-party democracy general election was successfully and democratically held in 2010.
Under President U Thein Sein after the election, the State was able to do democratic reforms and achieve progress in various sectors including political, economic, and social and international relations spheres. But it also had to face challenges. Due to nascent democracy, there was weakness in democracy knowledge.
To enable the opposition NLD to run for election, the election law was amended in 2012. After the election in 2015, a government emerged. During its five-year term, however, lots of criticisms surfaced against the government’s actions.
It was found that they could not perform political, economic, social and other duties as successfully as the people had expected.
As election fraud occurred in the 2020 election, the Tatmadaw repeatedly called for systematic solution to the problem. Voter list fraud is a terrible act. They could win the vote if they acted honestly.
But it is like a student cheating his exam to get highest marks though he could easily pass if he sat for the exam in an honest manner. Instead of solving the problem, they insistently tried to call the third parliament and form a government. Accordingly, a state of emergency was declared and the Tatmadaw had to take over State duties at the request of the acting President. Then, the State Administration Council had to be formed.
In forming the council, there was a balance between military and civilian memberships. Region and state councils were formed with civilians only. The Tatmadaw is controlling the country just for a temporary period to ensure genuine, firm and disciplined democracy. In questioning the officials from the previous election commission, they said their commission was not independent and they had to do what the President said. And the situation has already been clarified in the previous press conferences.
No democratic country will accept the winning of elections by vote rigging and it is a mockery of and an insult to democracy. Currently, the SAC had adopted five future programmes and nine objectives and findings of the probe into voter’s lists are being announced as a priority and plans are underway to release the final findings when the probe has been completed. Tasks for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and relief programs for businesses affected by COVID-19 will be implemented. An emphasis will be placed on implementation of the peace process in accordance with the provisions of the NCA.
After implementing the provisions of the state of emergency, measures will be taken to hold free and fair elections in accordance with the 2008 Constitutions and the State power will be transferred to the winning parties according to democratic norms.
Magway Region is the edible oil hub of the country and it is learnt that the region can produce about 352 percent of its edible oil consumption. Although it is a region that produce edible oil, local residents suffer from diseases caused by edible oil because oil crops are sold to other regions and edible oil is then purchased from them. Moreover, diseases are also caused by consumption of monosodium glutamate and drug abuse. It is learnt that the average life expectancy of Myanmar is 67 years and that is Magway Region is lower than the average.
As rice sufficiency of Magway is recorded at about 67 percent and if cash incomes have to be spent on rice purchased from other regions, the outflow of cash from the region will hamper regional development.
Therefore, efforts must be exerted to increase crop yields in the region. If the total acreage of crops is expanded to increase the yield, there will be extra expenses for the expanded acreage. Therefore, it is important to encourage local residents to study agriculture technologies and knowledge to increase crop yields.
Can a region be prosperous only when it can manufacture regional products and the prosperity of regions and states can contribute to the prosperity of the entire country.
For the development of a country, electricity supply, transportation, communication and human resources in the health and education systems are essential. To nurture qualified human resources, it is necessary to encourage the health and education sectors. At present, plans are being implemented to reopen schools which have been closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. According to statistics, 90 percent of population of the country is literate but most of them completed just primary or middle school education.
It is found that there is land in Magway Region on which crops can be cultivated in the summer, monsoon and winter. Agricultural water supply is essential for the region. Therefore, it is important to implement river-water pumping projects successfully by supplying electricity and solar power. It is necessary to understand that the weather in the region is very hot because forest resources were excessively exploited without planting any trees in the past.
Therefore, it is necessary to plant trees successfully with the anticipation of the new generations of the future. Responsible officials are required to take systematic measures so that each and every tree planted will grow well.
As 70 percent of the population of the country live in rural areas by carrying out agriculture and livestock breeding, it is necessary to establish agriculture and livestock breeding institutes and colleges and universities under long-term projects.
In agriculture, land, water, techniques and seeds are essential and it is necessary to disseminate modern cultivation techniques to farmers.
To enhance the production of the livestock breeding sector, it is vital to adopt healthy and clean livestock breeding systems.
Moreover, efforts to penetrate market for local products manufactured through the one village, one product system by packing them in modern packages can contribute to development of tourism and can attract local and foreign visitors who come to study them. Tourism can contribute to the development of local businesses, which will increase the revenue of the region and raise the living standards of local residents. In conclusion, the Senior General urged local authorities to perform duties based on the desire for the development of one’s region and one’ country as outstanding government employees.
After the meeting, the Senior General and party warmly greeted members of Magway Region Administration Council and departmental personnel.
