NAY PYI TAW June 15
Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win met members of Township Administration Body and township level departmental officials at Shwe Antaung Hall in An this morning.
Also present were SAC members Daw Aye Nu Sein and U Shwe Kyein, Rakhine State Chief Minister Dr Aung Kyaw Min, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Western Command commander, and deputy ministers.
The chairman of TAB presented a power-point report on regional situation including administrative, economic and social issues. The Vice-Senior General asked for more information and looked into the requirements.
The Vice-Senior General said An became a district level town in 30 April 2022. Hence, the town can now facilitate the administration functions. As the district has more powers, An has been entrusted with decision-making powers in court affairs. It needs to complete the works soonest to run its district-level functions. An is the gateway between central parts of the country and Rakhine State.
It is also a hub where roads to Taungup, Kyaukphyu, Sittwe and Minbu meet. Officials should join hands with the locals to terminate all illegal activities and improper administrative functions.
Area-wise pace and stability is essential for progress of a country and region. Normally, developed countries are peaceful and stable, while most of the developing countries are facing armed conflicts more or less. The country regained independence in 1948, and the successive governments starting from AFPFL government applied various means to achieve peace.
The past successive eras saw successes as well as failures.
The first government under multi-party democracy signed the NCA with eight EAOs during its term from 2011 to 2015. The second government could sign with two more groups, so the number of NCA signatories has reached 10. At the invitation of the Prime Minister six groups, which accept multi-party democracy and understand the wish of great majority, have already held talks with the Prime Minister and National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiate Committee. More will come to the peace negotiation table.
The main goal is to achieve perpetual peace and to totally end arms conflicts. Union based on multi-party democracy and federalism will be set as the framework to continue peace talks with the goal of restoring perpetual peace.
Federalism is a system of division of power among the union and states and varies in forms depending on individual countries. It is necessary for the country to implement federalism that is compatible with it based on regions, national races and history. Making requests at peace talks instead of making demands by taking up arms and making requests as representative of the people at Hluttaw meetings are the correct means of making requests desired by the people. Invitations are still being made for peace talks aspired by the people. In addition, regional stability is essential for the free and fair general elections, which is stated in the last future task of the SAC. Without regional stability, it is impossible to hold free and fair elections and true representatives of the people cannot be elected. Measures must be taken to send back temporarily displaced persons as a consequence of past armed conflicts to their original places and to provide them with proper jobs during the time of peace and stability like now.
As for the economic sector, businesses that are compatible with the geographical location of An, which is a strategic land transportation hub, must be encouraged. The township has a population of more than 120,000 and possesses 60,000 acres of
agricultural land. Therefore, it has enough agricultural land and crops including rice can be produced not just for local food sufficiency but also for exports to other regions by boosting their yields. As goal yields must be achieved for food security and prosperity of the country in accordance with the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of agriculture is responsible to give advice and knowledge on quality varieties and modern techniques.
As for livestock breeding, fishery businesses can thrive in southern and coastal areas of the battalion and breeding of crabs and prawn can be carried out on an economic scale by applying modern technologies and scientific techniques instead of traditional methods. It is important to study the technique used in other regions that are successful in livestock breeding.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation is required to offer assistance.
As for health and education, both sectors have been prioritized during the assumption of duties by the SAC and it is important to adopt healthy lifestyles and eating habits as socio-economic lives will be convenient only when one is healthy.
As An Township has completed 64.5 percent of COVID-19 vaccination against children aged between 5 and 12, continued efforts must be made to have full percentage. The State is taking measures to vaccinate the entire national people as
the pandemic affects not only economy but also human lives.
So inclusive cooperation is required.
In the education sector, almost all the teachers are shouldering their duties in the township. It is encouraging to see students learning thanks to the teachers’ effort to motivate them. A greater effort is necessary to achieve a high matriculation pass rate.
An ambition must be set for every school-age child to complete at least KG+9.
Fuel oil prices are instable across the world due to the ongoing global issues. Similarly, high edible oil prices have compelled consumers to save consumption. The State is pushing for mixed oil cropping in various regions including the central part where sunflower can thrive and boosting production of palm oil in Taninthayi Region.
Leadership role is important for improving the economy of a region or township. They need to organize departmental personnel and local people to cooperate in regional development tasks. Then, the leaders will win the trust and reliance of the region. Department staff are urged to provide services to the local people to address their difficulties as quickly as possible.