Vice Chairman of State Administration Council DeputyCommander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivers speech to district/township level officials in Kawthoung, present foodstuffs to members of Salon national race
NAY PYI TAW May 1
Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win met with district and township level officials at the Myintzuthaka Hall in Kawthoung and delivered a speech this morning.
Also present at the meeting were members of the SAC U Moung Har, Saw Daniel, Dr Banya Aung Moe, Chief Minister U Myat Ko of the Taninthayi Region, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, Lt-Gen Aung Soe of the Office the Commander-in-Chief (Army), senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Coastal Region Command, deputy ministers and district and township level officials in Kawthoung.
First, the Vice-Senior General heard reports on administrative, economic and social affairs presented by Chairman U Soe Aung of the Kawthoung District Administration Council with the use of the Power Point and the additional reports presented by the chief minister and the Vice-Senior General raised questions on salient points before attending to the needs.
Then, attendant district and township level officials introduced themselves to the Vice-Senior General individually.
Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General delivered a speech, saying he visited the region to learn the implementation of the guidance of the SAC on administrative, economic and social affairs and to coordinate necessary measures. As districts were redesignated in necessary places due to the needs for administrative, economic and social developments of the country, Bokepyin has been redesignated as a district and region development and administrative activities will be carried out more effectively.
The SAC has been assuming the responsibilities of the state in accordance with five future tasks and nine objectives for one year and three months on 1 May. The prime minister has been exerting efforts for the prosperity of the State and food security as a national objective and establishment of the union system based on democracy and federal system as a political objective. As conspicuous achievements, the third wave of COVID-19 could be overcome within a short period and the Diamond Jubilee of Union Day was successfully held as a symbol of national unity. During the third wave of COVID-19, attempts were made from various fields to create crises with the aim of the destruction of the health system and the toppling of the government. At the same times, some public staff including health workers were participating in the CDM movement due to various propaganda schemes and intimidations carried out through the media by local terrorist groups which did not want to see stability in the country. Despite the various challenges, the third wave of COVID-19 could be overcome within a short time due to the cooperation of loyal public staff and the people under the guidance of the prime minister that nothing is more important than human lives and the international community including the WHO was surprised by the achievement. Moreover,
it is to be proud that the VMIS system, which documents vaccination against COVID-19, is recognized as the one of the best in South and Southeast Asia. Similarly, the Diamond Jubilee Union Day, which was celebrated on 12 February 2022,could express the unity and cooperation of regional and state governments, government staff and the people. The union spirit could be displayed with distinct symbols, products and traditional music and dances. In other words, it was a milestone that highlighted the unity amidst the intimidation of terrorist groups.
COVID-19 preparedness, prevention and control measures for the fourth wave are being taken based on the experiences gained from the third wave.
Efforts were made to complete vaccination of all the people aged 18 and above by 30 April this year. Efforts were also made to buy vaccines through the foreign exchange reserves and assistance was received from our friend countries. Despite continued daily cases in some neighbouring countries, our country saw only 19 cases on 30 April, 0.22 percent positivity rate, and no death cases. This is thanks to the vaccination. Plans are being made to vaccinate children aged 5 and above.
Regarding the matters of the election commission as stated in the five-point roadmap, inspections were carried out in line with the law. For the efforts to fix the economic collapse caused by COVID-19, our country was also affected by the pandemic that affected all the global countries. Ministries concerned are doing their best to keep GDP progress to a certain degree. Status quo can be restored through concerted cooperation by making best use of the nation’s land and water resources. Preparatory measures are being taken to hold a free and fair election in 2023. The 2020 election was unfair due to vote rigging such as voting without national scrutiny cards, casting more than one vote. Consequently, we have reached today’s situation.
All need to cooperate in the Pankhin project to ensure a free and fair election. Every eligible voter needs to have a national registration card and this project is a must. The Immigration and Population Department, Union Election Commission, local computer experts, security forces and all responsible officials are cooperating to ensure correct voter lists and voters. It is a task that cannot be carried by a person alone and inclusive cooperation is necessary. As for the national economy, it is necessary to improve the three sectors—agriculture, industry and service. About 70 percent of the population live in rural areas mainly relying on agriculture and livestock breeding. Taninthayi Region mainly grows oil palm.
But the region government and relevant departments should acquire strains, technology and inputs to engage in mixed cropping like coco that can get extra income. In oil production, it is necessary to domestically manufacture crude oil to finished oil. Likewise, Kawthoung region has favourable conditions in the economic sector such as large fish stocks and coral reefs for marine industry and tourism. In exporting its products, the region needs to manufacture value-added products rather than raw materials.
Only then, will the per capita income increase, thereby contributing to the State revenues.
Then, the needs of the region and state governments and service personnel can be fulfilled, and regional development tasks can be carried out. Due to the global political issues, oil prices are unstable and high. As the country cannot produce enough fuels, they have to be imported spending foreign exchange reserves. It is therefore necessary to practise thrift. Regarding edible oil also, domestic insufficiency forces the country to import.
Taninthayi Region must try to grow oil palm and produce palm oil to meet the domestic consumption. As to the education sector, all school-age children need to complete KG+9. Then, they will be able to receive vocational training for their professions.
Regarding health, educational measures are to be taken for public awareness in accordance with the food safety policy and the existing distribution practice on domestic and imported products in order that individual living and eating style will meet health standards. The year of 2020 is designated as the Year of Peace, and the Prime Minister will hold in-person dialogues for peace and has offered an invitation for that on April 22 to hold the dialogues without setting prior conditions so that the dialogues could be held sincerely and frankly. Peace is required to be able to hold a free and fair election. As Kawthoung is the southernmost border town of the nation, civil servants and the people in the town need to live, act and behave in accordance with the habits of good citizens. It is necessary to avoid acts hurting the bilateral relations. It is required for departmental personnel to know and follow the State’s foreign policy under Section 41 of the 2008 Constitution. The civil servants need to cooperate with locals in the measures being taken not to waste the region’s natural resources in illegal ways. They need to correctly and quickly render services to fulfill the needs of the people without having a sense of self interest in the framework of legal producers. That will be a way of repaying the gratitude of the people for the civil servants, who enjoy salary through tax paid by the people. Kawthoung is a region enjoying rapid development and a region that could be developed as much as efforts are made. Therefore, successes will be surely achieved if collective efforts are made through profitably using resources of a good region.
Next, the Vice-Senior General and party met the town’s senior people and discussed measures being taken by ministries concerned for speedy, smooth and smart operation of businesses, requirements for operating businesses in the legal framework, production and sales of value-added goods instead of manufacturing raw ones, efforts through a cooperative system for development of the region, and the need to promote attractiveness of the airport and jetties of the town to have a rebound in tourism industry.
In the afternoon, the Vice-Senior General and party visited Zadetkyi and Salon islands, met local elderly and families there and presented nutritious food-stuff and rice to them. An official gave a traditional souvenir of Salon back to the Vice-Senior General who cordially greeted the Salon people.
Later, the Vice-Senior General and party went and paid respects to the Sayadaw of Zadetkyi Buddhist Monastery and made donations in cash and kind.