7 Feb
President U Win Myint left Nay Pyi Taw by a special military flight and arrived in Heho, Shan State (South), yesterday morning. He was accompanied by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr Aung Thu, U Ohn Win, U Win Khaing, U Ohn Maung, Chief of Myanmar Police Force Police Lt-Gen Aung Win Oo and officials.
The President and his entourage were welcomed at Heho airport by Shan State Chief Minister Dr Lin Htut, State Hluttaw Speaker U Sai Lone Sai, State Chief Justice U Kywel Kywel, state ministers, Hluttaw representatives, and departmental officials; a Shan traditional dance performance ‘Keinari-Keinara’ presented by local ethnic races.The President and party then proceeded by a motorcade to Taunggyi.
Next, the President met with Shan State cabinet members, Hluttaw representatives, departmental officials of state, districts and townships, and town elders at the Shan State government office.
At the meeting, the President said: “I have much pleasure to address you while I came here to attend the Shan State Day ceremony. February 7 was designated as Shan State Day in accordance with the constitution after the country had regained its independence on 4 January 1948. Moreover, the first President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was Shan Sawbwa Sao Shwe Thike.
The Government is, in firm determination, building a Federal Union. All stake-holders should be well aware of it with profound significance. Democratic principles are embodied in the Panlong Agreement regardless of highlands or planes as the Government laid down policies to build a democratic nation.
Enjoying democracy throughout the country, all ethnic nationals within the Union attain equal rights; it can foster fairness and justice in politics, economic, social and religious sectors; it enables them to have equal rights and rule of law.
Those who perform the duties of the administrative pillar, the legislative pillar, and the judicial pillar should administer and manage their responsibilities without discrimination and prejudice upon ethnic nationals. That is the fundamental principle of democracy. When democracy flourishes, all ethnic nationals can enjoy human rights and rule of law. Lack of democracy may lead to human rights violations without rule of law. Democracy, human rights and rule of law are three basic principles and they are inter-related with each other. Officials and organizations concerned must pay a good attention in this regard. During the course of their responsibilities, they should perform the State’s policies accurately and precisely. They should assist in solving the difficulties of ethnic nationals.
Differences and mistrusts will be mitigated through the attainment of democracy among all national races. Thus, we will achieve what we desire – internal peace.
Our nation is composed of various national races. Bearing in mind that their languages, literacies, cultures and customs are our Union’s gifted beauties, we can develop our Union with the collaborative strength of their diverse concepts and ideas. The Government is supporting to preserve, promote and sustain the languages, literacies, cultures and customs of the ethnic people.
Three pillars of administration, legislation and judiciary are the Government’s policies and they need to be synchronized to build a Federal Democratic Union. Those who are taking responsibilities of three pillars are not rivals but they should be partners or co-partners.
Any ideas and concepts which are appropriate and beneficial to any states/regions should be accepted and collaborated to develop the states and regions.
The government’s policy is to implement the development of all states and regions concurrently. All-round development can enhance stability and peace in the whole country.
In legislation, it is necessary that the existing laws and acts should be suitable for the states and regions without any contradiction to the Constitution. It is also necessary legislators should raise questions and tabling motions in line with Hluttaw laws, by-laws, rules and regulations.
In the judicial pillar, judges can exercise fair and independent justice system. It is necessary that the administrative and legislative pillars should not get involved themselves. The practice of checks and balances should be exercised only.
In our major aim of building a Federal Democratic Union, departmental personnel need to review their work and make changes in accord with the transitional process. It is also necessary that all departmental pers onnel and staff should perform their respective duties in a manner of justice. Democracy can sustain in the society where justice prevails. When democracy sustains we can build a Federal Union and then attain peace within the Union like “No democracy, no Federal Union”, “No Federal Union, no peace”, No peace, no modernization”. Therefore, all should work together to build a Federal Democratic Union in harmony and in unity,” he urged in conclusion.
Afterwards, the President cordially cheered the attendees.
Also present on the occasion were Union Ministers, Shan State Chief Minister, State Hluttaw Speaker, State Chief Justice, State Hluttaw Deputy Speaker, State Advocate-General, State Justices, State Auditor –General, Hluttaw representatives, members of the legal aid, leading members of “Wa” Self-Administered Division, “Pa-O” Self-Administered Zone, and “Danu” Self-Administered Zone, state, district, and township departmental personnel, leaders of the ethnic literature and culture associations and town elders.
In the afternoon, the President and party arrived at the upper Keng Taung Hydropower Project site and Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy briefed the project implementation work with a project miniature. Next, the President inspected around the project site.
Then, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win explained the major points of the Keng Taung Hydropower Project, the yearly expectation of electricity production and actual production, the cost per unit of the electricity generated by the Keng Taung Hydropower Plant, distribution of electricity to nearby towns and villages, the project objectives and its feasibility survey, capital investment in the project, procurement and use of funds, major work programme to be carried out and the measures undertaken already.
The President instructed the electricity distribution should be prioritized to local areas and regions; the project should be completed in time; and finance should be handled in order.
The President then made an inspection tour around the upper Keng Taung Hydropower Project site, posed for a documentary photo with the staff, and gave them a fruits basket. In the evening, the President went to the Sulamunilawkachangtha Pagoda and gave a donation of 5 lakhs to Pagoda’s Trustees.—MNA (Translated by Aungthu Ya)
