Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win honoured victorious soldiers in Nawnghkio, inspects People’s Hospital and schools destroyed by terrorist insurgents, meets departmental personnel and local nationalities
Nay Pyi Taw July 21
Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, accompanied by Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, deputy ministers and officials, this afternoon went to Nawnghkio in Shan State (North), that is now under control again after launching counterterrorism operations for the people to in live in peace and tranquility. There, he honoured the victorious soldiers, inspected the People’s Hospital and schools destroyed by terrorist insurgents, and fulfilled the needs of locals and departmental personnel through coordinated measures.
The Vice-Senior General and party arrived in Nawnghkio, attended a ceremony to honour the victorious officers and other ranks and delivered a speech.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General said Tatmadaw members after regrouping and restoring the command in the surrounding areas of Taunghkam launched the counterterrorism operation, during which they charged and fought and crushed the enemy with unyielding spirit while overcoming any kind of difficulties and dangers with firm determination in accord with the noble traits of the Tatmadaw, and finally they were able to recapture Nawnghkio. The Vice-Senior General, on behalf of the Tatmadaw and the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, thanked and honoured them, as they had further improved the Tatmadaw’s image. All must preserve and maintain those noble traits.
The degree of trust placed on the Tatmadaw by the local nationalities, who were temporarily displaced by the terrorist insurgents is visible to all. In this regard, security forces should take area security and control measures with added momentum for ensuring a peaceful life and working environment and socio-economic development for the people. They must turn advantages into extra strength and shortcomings into lessons and must effectively apply them in the battlefield. As good soldiers they must abide by the issued directives, conduct morale-strengthening drills, be loyal to the State and Tatmadaw and improve the image of their families and that of the Tatmadaw.
Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice- Senior General Soe Win and Lt-Gen Naing Naing Oo from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) pinned new insignia onto the uniform of the soldiers, who were promoted at the battle field for their brilliant efforts in the battleground. The Vice-Senior General presented foodstuff for officers and other ranks through an official.
The Vice-Senior General and party proceeded to a temporary hospital jointly run by the Tatmadaw and Ministry of Health at Myanantawwin Mingala Hall in Nawnghkio and cordially asked after the health of locals receiving treatment there. They also present financial aid to patients and cash awards to health staff.
The hospital was launched on 20 July and currently, it has 160 patients. Arrangements are under way to administer vaccines and the mobile treatment vehicles will arrive soon for emergency cases. The Vice-Senior General looked around the hospital and brought a 15-year-old malaria patient and the parents to the military hospital in PyinOoLwin for treatment by helicopter.
The Vice-Senior General and party paid respects to monks led by principle Sayadaw Bhaddanta Ingusa, at Hawtaung Monastery in Taung Ward, Nawnghkio, and presented donations in cash and kind. In his supplications including religious matters, the Vice-Senior General promised progress and prosperity for Nawnghkio that is greater than the degree when the town was enjoying peace and progress. The Sayadaw expressed pleasure for the restoration of Nawnghkio and prayed for further victories and safety for soldiers.
The Vice-Senior General and party then met local nationalities at the Nawnghkio town hall.
During the meeting the Vice-Senior General delivered a speech, saying the Tatmadaw and members of security forces had to retreat from Nawnghkio temporarily due to various reasons. Tatmadaw personnel are responsible to perform their duties round the clock and to protect the people from dangers they might face. However, there were advanced technical assistance, encouragement, and support from behind the scenes during the acts of terrorism. The Tatmadaw had to retreat to Taungkham and the border areas between PyinOoLwin Township and Nawnghkio Township phase by phase. As the Tatmadaw is responsible for rehabilitation of socio-economic lives of local residents safely, reorganization tasks were carried out in Taungkham station and launched the counter-terrorism operation codenamed Aung Zeya and personnel were able to reoccupy Nawnghkio as they make four pledges to sacrifice their live for their country, their citizens and their Tatmadaw by using their chests as bunkers every morning and night and fought the battle out of relentless perseverance and diligence. The first instruction of the Prime Minister after retaking Nawnghkio was to take measures to reopen basic education schools, which were closed for nearly one year to enable students to study peacefully and happily as today is the age of education and they will receive education only when they go to formal schools. As a result, the Ministry of Education of the government has taken measures to reopen schools as soon as possible and plans are under-way to accept school admission applications starting from 22 July. We would like to request the residents to send new generation students that lead the future country without fail. Teachers are required to teach lessons to students on some holidays to enable them to actually acquire education as the school opening date is late. Secondly, the Prime Minister gave an instruction on the needs to repair the 25-bed Nawnghkio Township People Hospital as soon as possible as the hospital was destroyed by terrorist insurgents and to provide regular health-care services to residents. Thirdly, the Prime Minister gave an instruction on measures for security and the rule of law for stability and sustainable development of Nawnghkio Township. Therefore, steps must be taken to restore the security and the rule of law in Nawnghkio and surrounding villages to resume operations of government mechanisms. In doing so, local residents are required to cooperate with the Tatmadaw and departmental officials. Moreover, the free and fair multi-party democracy general, which is scheduled in December this year will be held successfully. Staff from relevant ministry departments will take measures to reissue citizenship scrutiny cards and household registration lists as soon as possible if they were lost due to various reasons to enable all eligible voters to cast their votes. As government staff are responsible to serve the people, they are required to perform their duties out of goodwill toward the people. As it is necessary to rebuild the town and villages, residents are required to cooperate with departmental officials to repair damaged houses, departmental offices and roads and bridges as soon as possible in addition to carrying out repair works by themselves. In conclusion the Vice-Senior
General prayed for the recovery of Nawnghkio region to its normal situation and better socio-economic lives, urban and rural development.
Then, the Vice-Senior General presented foodstuffs including rice, cooking oil and salt and family kits which include 16 different items of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement for local national residents to two town elders, who received them on behalf of local residents. It was reported that different items and rations provided by the SAC and regional governments of Mandalay Region and Shan State had been supplied to residents by the chief minister of Shan State and senior military officers on 17 July.
Afterward, the Vice-Senior General cordially greeted local national residents, who attended the meeting, and spoke words of sympathy.
Then, the Vice-Senior General and accompanying members visited the public hospital in Nawnghkio and inspected the damage, including the emergency surgery room destroyed by terrorists. He instructed officials to promptly clear the damage inside and outside the hospital, reassess and reuse salvageable
materials, restore cleanliness, and im-prove the water, electricity, and sewage systems.
After that, the Vice-Senior General and members arrived at the Nawnghkio Township Fire Department Office. They met with fire department mem-bers, instructing them to collaborate with government departments and local residents in rehabilitation efforts and guiding them on other necessities, then presented them with cash rewards.
Subsequently, the Vice-Senior General and members arrived at No.(1)Basic Education High School in Nawnghkio .They inspected the Ruby Hall, class-rooms, and the principal’s office within the school. The township education officer and teachers explained their plans to begin student enrollment from July 22 and resume class-by-class instruction. In response, the Vice-Senior General instructed that the school’s appearance be improved through clean-liness efforts when it reopens and that damaged classrooms be repaired as quickly as possible. He also coordinated with relevant officials to ensure the teachers’ food and accommodation were convenient and presented them with financial support.
Next, the Vice-Senior General and members arrived at the Nawnghkio Township Police Station. They inspected the damage to buildings within the police station compound, which had been destroyed by terrorists, and observed the strongly fortified defensive posit-ions established by them. Meeting with police force members, the Vice-Senior General instructed them to faithfully and diligently work with relevant organizations on security and rule of law during the rehabilitation period, em-phasizing loyalty to the state and their own organization, and provided guid-ance on other necessities, along with presenting cash rewards.
The Vice-Senior General and accompanying officials arrived at the Nawnghkio Municipal Development Office, where they met with district- and township-level departmental personnel to discuss measures related to security and law enforcement aimed at restoring public trust in Nawnghkio . In efforts to promptly reestablish government administrative functions, directives were issued to reorganize administrative structures at the township, ward, and village levels. Additionally, instructions were given to make necessary preparations in advance to ensure that all eligible voters can exercise their voting rights in the upcoming multi-party democratic elections. Officials were instructed to carry out rehabilitation and public welfare duties with integrity and without corruption. Departmental buildings destroyed by terrorists and damaged buildings of local people should be inspected at Level I/II, classified into orange and red levels, and the work plan issued by the Buildings Restoration, Utilization, and New Buildings Construction Supervision Committee should be implemented as soon as possible. Priority should be given to the immediate commencement of work on schools and hospitals. The Nawnghkio Township Administrative Committee also appealed to local ethnic residents who wish to live peacefully under the state government’s administrative authority, religious institutions, and the rule of law within Nawnghkio Township’s neighborhoods and villages, and who are committed to honest work for their socio-economic well-being, to return to their homes as soon as possible. He instructed that systematic arrangements for resettlement be reviewed and implemented, rehabilitation work plans be developed, and weekly coordination meetings be held to ensure timely completion while meeting all necessary requirements.