Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing cordially meets Chairman of Interfaith Friendship Organization (Central) and executives, presents foodstuffs
Nay Pyi Taw December 5
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing this afternoon met Chairman of Interfaith Friendship Organization (Central) U Sein Than and executives at Zeyathiri Beikman on Konmyinttha of Yangon Command and presented foodstuffs.
The meeting was also attended by SAC member General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Mahn Nyein Maung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Joint Secretary of the council Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union ministers, Chief Minister of Yangon Region U Hla Soe, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Nyunt Win Swe, Mayor U Bo Htay, officials, Chairman of the organization (Central) U Sein Than, Vice Chairmen U Hasan Tun from Buddhist Branch, U Zaw Zaw Naing from Hindu Branch, U Moe Zin from Christian Branch and U Aung Zaw Win from Islam Branch and executives, U Aung Cho as representative from the Chinese temples and officials.
In his speech, the Senior General said he met with the chairman and executives from the organization (central) to know the reports of the religious organizations and to attend to the needs at an opportune time while in Yangon and introduced the SAC members and Union ministers to them.
The Senior General continued that they are temporarily serving the State responsibilities depending on the emergence of the situation. The government is on the path leading to the Union based on democracy and federalism the people chose, and they will not derail from the path.
They did not create the situation of political discharging the duty.
The Senior General recounted that he often urged all to hold the free and fair election, to be honesty in the politics and not to commit revenge before the multi-party democracy general election. The elected representatives from the winning party which participated in the multi-party democracy general election have the chance to select the president and form the government cabinet. As the judges are appointed via the president, fairness in the general election is of great importance for the State. Voting frauds were found in the 2020 general election. So, they serve the State duty.
Whatever it may be, they have to walk on the path of multi-party democracy selected by the people. Participation of these religious groups needs in building the Union based on democracy and federalism.
The national causes must be undertaken through the united strength of all. Although the democracy may have different attitudes on the political trend,
it is necessary to accept the wish of the majority as well as consider the wish of the minority.
The government is carrying out the smooth process for convenience in the political trend of the State. In so doing, all participants will be the best.
Although Buddhism is the majority of faith in the country, there remain Hindus, Islam and Christians. They all have been in unison since yore to realize the respective faiths as customs.
The Senior General said he always urges all to avoid religious extremism. As all the people are living in the country for a long time, they all have to harmoniously do anything for the State.
Then, Chairman of the organization (Central) U Sein Than, U Zaw Zaw Naing from the Hindu Branch, U Aung Zaw Win from Islam Branch, U Moe Zin from the Christian Branch and U Aung Cho as representatives from the Chinese temples reported that the organization was reconstituted in September this year under the permission of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. They also discussed undertakings of the organizations, contributions to religious festivals and COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities, cooperation measures of all religions in international relations with the showing of good citizens, situation to dutifully serve the assigned duties on religious and social tasks, successful holding the religious festivals in accord with the guidance of the government during the third wave of the pandemic, and a pledge to successfully implement the objectives of the organizations as it is formed to bring safety and respects based on religions to the people in the nation.
In his discussion, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko said the constitution (2008) also recognizes Christianity, Islamism, Hinduism and other spiritual beings as religions for worshipping in the country. This is why his ministry is responsible for fulfilling the needs of various faiths as much as it can. He then explained the fulfilment of necessities in the reconstitution of the interfaith group and the needs in respective sectors.
The Senior General provided foodstuffs for the religious associations which were accepted by U Sein Than, chairman of Myanmar Interfaith Friendship Organization (Central), U Zaw Zaw Naing from Hindu Association, U Aung Zaw Win from Islamic Association, U Moe Zin from Christian Association and U Aung Cho, a representative from the Chinese temples.
The Senior General said the strength of the country lies within and unity is the strongest.
This is why we are encouraging the domestic economy with a focus on the socio-economic progress of the people. The aim of all faiths is peace, prosperity and unity.
Without unity, there will be difficulties. Prosperity means the socio-economic development of the people. All peaceful countries are the most developed ones. In those countries, the peoples are able to achieve socio-economic progress. Therefore, we are working hard to achieve internal peace, but a common goal is necessary to achieve it.
As regards the COVID-19 outbreak, the country was little affected in the first and second waves.
There were many losses in the third wave due to the high infection rate. However, the outbreak has significantly decreased thanks to public cooperation through
all possible means by religious and social organizations and correct leadership as the saying that goes by “The strength of the nation lies within.” As cooperation between the people and organizations in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment bought down the outbreak, I am very grateful to all. All global countries experienced economic impact caused by the pandemic, and our country’s mechanisms got stagnant. Likewise, huge sums of State funds had to be spent on the purchase of medicines and medical equipment necessary for the prevention, control and treatment. Budgets are being approved as necessary to reduce deaths. The SAC and responsible officials took timely measures for the disease prevention, control and treatment.
As infection decreases, the delayed mechanisms of the State need to be re-run. Now, the Interfaith Group can serve as a driving force in the efforts for national development. All those in their respective fields need to work in unity. We must work to ensure national development. Productivity based on agriculture and livestock breeding, the major business of the country, must be encouraged. the manufacturing industry will be more successful if we can tap human resources such as intellectuals and intelligentsia.
So, we need to encourage all businesses to run in our neighbourhoods. Young people must be trained to improve their economic conditions. Academic education such as basic education must also be taught.
All economically successful countries have educated people.
In exerting efforts for national progress, we must be loyal to our country. All citizens need to cooperate and work with a goodwill attitude. So, various religious organizations need to get the people to seek skills and knowledge in order to facilitate the forces existing in their environs. The development of our country requires the emergence of new generations equipped with skills and knowledge. What we are working in various sectors needs to have goodwill attitude in the interests of the country and the people. Our country’s independence period will reach the 75th-anniversary of the diamond jubilee in 2023. We must work in unity for the good sake of the country by learning lessons from the past. It is better for religious organizations to work for the benefit of the country based on political and national causes, not on religion alone. The desire for how they will work for the country is first and foremost.
Myanmar Interfaith Friendship Organization (Central) vice-chairman U Zaw Zaw Naing from Hindu Association donned the Senior General with a traditional Hindu shawl and a garland.
Later, the Senior General cordially greeted the chairman of Myanmar Interfaith Group and officials.