Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races holds work coordination meeting 1/2023; Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers address
NAY PYI TAW May 5
The Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races held work coordination meeting 1/2023 at State Administration Council Chairman’s Office here this afternoon addressed by Chairman of the Central Committee Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were Vice Chairman of the Central Committee SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC member deputy prime ministers Union Minister Admiral Tin Aung San and Union Minister Lt-Gen Soe Htut, Deputy PM Union Minister U Win Shein, SAC members Daw Dwe Bu, Poe Rei Aung Thein, Mahn Nyein Maung, Dr Hmu Htan, Dr Aung Kyaw Min, Dr Kyaw Tun, Khun San Lwin, U Shwe Kyein, U Yan Kyaw, union ministers, Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Min Naung, U Hla Moe, U Thaung Han, Dr Nyunt Pe, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, Dr Thet Khaing Win, Jeng Pheng Naw Taung, Chief of General Staff (Army,Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, deputy ministers and officials. Region/state chief ministers attended the meeting through video conferencing.
The Senior General said it is the first central committee meeting held by SAC.Over 130 nationalities had lived in unity throughout the history. Unity broke up when the nation fell under enslavement for over 100 years. Border areas lacked behind in development due to armed conflicts broke soon after the country restored independence.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council first established the central committee with five members on 25 May 1989. Beginning that year, the central committee, work committees and subcommittees were formed for development of border areas. Ministry for Development of Border Areas and National Races was formed in 1992, and it became Ministry of Border Affairs in 2011. The Border Areas and National Races Development Law was enacted in 1993.
SAC reformed the central committee with 22 members, and work committee with 37 members to develop the border areas with added momentum.
The central committee is implementing six tasks. Peace and stability is the most important factor for development of border areas. The work of restoring peace and stability should bebased on national unity. Since the assumption of duties, SAC has been giving priority to national prosperity, food sufficiency, socio-economic development of the entire country, restoring perpetual peace in the entire country, transport facilitation and safety in the entire Union, socio-economic infrastructures and human resources development programs for progress of education, health, transport, communication, farming and economy included in the border area development task, and counternarcotic programs.
Border area development and peace and stability have interrelations. Transport plays a vitalrole in developing mutual trust and love among national races. Rapid progress of education,health, farming sectors that underpin socio-economic development alongside transport development of border areas is required. Hence, instead of Border Affairs Ministry doing the work alone, all other ministries should lend a helping hand.
Education plays a pivotal role in national development. During the period from 1999 to 2014,19,441,711 children enrolled at schools and 11,137,318 or 57.29 percent reached 5th standard. Hence there was 42.71percent decrease. Of them, 7,787,412 or 40.06 percent reached 8th standard showing the 59.94 percent decline. The percentages of students who reached 5th standard and 8th standard in Kachin State were 76.81 percent and 58.11 percent respectively, Kayah State were 73.6 percent and 48.29 percent respectively, in Kayin State were 53.53 percent and 31.1 percent respectively, in Chin State were 57.93 percent and 37.45 percent respectively, in Mon State were 59.5 percent and 37.8 percent respectively, in Rakhine State were 41.55percent and 29.77 percent respectively, in Shan State 48.28 percent and 30.9 percent respectively, in Taninthayi Region were 56.2 percent and 31.33 percent respectively. This figures call for greater efforts of education promotion of border areas. The government should pay attention to the education promotion of all national races to reach the minimum KG-9 target for all school age boys and girls.
Life expectancy of Union was 63.4 years for men and 72.2 years for women and average life expectancy 67.7 years in 2022. In Life expectancy for men was 62.7 years, women 72.2 years, and average life expectancy 67.4 years in Kachin State; life expectancy for men was 62.5 years, women 73 years, and average life expectancy 67.6 years in Kayah State; life expectancy for men was 61.3 years, women 70.1 years, and average life expectancy 65.6 years in Kayin State; life expectancy for men was 61 years, women 67.5 years, and average life expectancy 64.2 years in Chin State; life expectancy for men was 61.8 years, women 72 years, and average life expectancy 66.8 years in Mon State; life expectancy for men was 64.6 years, women 72.2 years, and average life expectancy 68.3 years in Rakhine State; life expectancy for men was 63.7 years, women 72.3 years, and average life expectancy 67.9 years in Shan State; life expectancy for men was 65.1 years, women 71.9 years, and average life expectancy 68.4 years in Taninthayi Region. Hence, healthcare undertakings should be carried with added momentum. Farming is the nation’s main business, and abundant food supply and local food sufficiency are the government’s goals. Efforts should be made to ensure sufficiency of basic food items and to produce farming-based value-added goods to support regional progress. All should strive to improve quality and increase quantity of goods. As most border areas are mountainous regions with only a few plain parts and the majority of residents carry out hill-side cultivation, highland farming and orchard cultivation, measures must be taken for application of systematic cultivation methods and for improvement of double harvesting capacities. The elimination of shift cultivation can reduce environmental pollution dramatically. Similarly, it is necessary to help establish living stock breeding farms for chicken, pigs and cattle which are suitable for the region to increase the incomes of local residents. Therefore, efforts must be made to teach agriculture and livestock breeding techniques at agriculture and livestock breeding high schools to be launched in most districts energetically, to nurture technicians, to enable local residents to continue to study at institutes, colleges and universities to become intellectuals and to conduct agriculture and livestock breeding research which is suitable for respective regions effectively for the development of the sectors.
Transportation and communication play an important role in regional development. As improved communication can contribute to development of regional economy, health and education, measures must be taken to improve communication networks and to establish a communication network that covers the entire country. Further efforts must be made to implement small- and medium-size hydropower generation projects in respective regions that will contribute to socio-economic development.
Successive governments in successive eras implemented strategies for development of border areas but it can be learnt that there are still many sectors in which several further tasks must be carried out for socio-economic development of border areas where our national brethren and the people reside.
The government has placed special emphasis on human resources development tasks of national race youths under the leadership of the ministry. In doing so, 47 training schools for development of border areas and national race youths have been opened and 33,007 youths have been trained in the basic education sector as of 2022-23 fiscal year while measures have been taken to enable them to continue to study higher and vocational education.
In the higher education sector, the University of Development of National Races of the Union have nurtured 14,058 students to study the M.Ed, M. Phil. Ed, B.Ed, teaching diploma, middle school teaching diploma, special primary school teaching diploma and primary school teaching diploma courses as of 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree Colleges in Yangon and Sagaing have nurtured 4,701 students to study for B.A, B.Sc, AGTI and B.Tech degree courses and they are performing their duties as government employees in 19 ministries, the Union Civil Service Board and state/region development affairs committees.
In the vocational education sector, nine technical training schools have nurtured 6,077 trainees in construction, mechanic, electric, welding, automechanic, handphone repairing, aluminium installation, EFI engine courses as of 2022-2023 fiscal year and jobs have been created for them. Moreover, 47 vocational training centres for women have trained 95,022 trainees, who have joined the workforce in garment factories or set up their own businesses.
Development of border areas is a very important sector which is concerned with all citizens and the government. Expansion of development of border areas can improve mutual understanding and trust among national races and will contribute to stability, tranquility and the rule of law.More development tasks can be carried out when the rule of law and stability and tranquility have improved. Although development tasks are being carried out, it would amount to losses for the country if benefits cannot be enjoyed due to destructive acts and reconstruction tasks have to be implemented. Destruction of bridges by blowing them up, arson attacks against buildings, blows-up of communication towers and warmongering are hideous acts that should not exist completely. It should be seriously noted that stability and tranquility of the entire country and national unity, which are indispensable for building a union based on democracy and a federal system desired by the entire national people, can be achieved by expansion of development tasks for border areas.
During the assumption of its duties, the SAC designated the year 2022 as the peace year and invited EAOs to hold talks in person for ending internal armed conflicts and to restore sustainable peace. As a result, talks are being held with representatives of 10 EAOs including seven signatories and three non-signatories to the NCA so far and results that will enable the country to move forward in political stability and tranquility. It should be reiterated that the government has always welcomed and opened the door to dialogue without any preconditions for EAOs, which have not turned up at peace dialogue.
It can be seen that development tasks for border areas have been successful because of the noble aim of achieving equitable development in unity and solidarity in the entire union by narrowing the development gaps in the entire union including border areas.
As the SAC has firmly adopted the five-point roadmap and twelve objectives, effective and serious implementation of development tasks for border areas will contribute to the success of the tasks and objectives.
While measures are being taken for development in the education, health, transportation and economic sectors in border areas, efforts must be made to establish stability, tranquility and the rule of law in border areas. It should be borne in mind that development tasks can be effectively carried out when tranquility and stability and the rule of law can be maintained.
The central committee and work committees at different levels are urged to continue to carry out their tasks with added momentum in accordance with objectives of achieving constant development of socioeconomic life and infrastructures on national races in border areas and nurturing outstanding human resources among national race youths in border areas and to seriously implement tasks for stability and tranquility, the rule of law and strengthening of national unity.
Then, secretary of the central committee Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung reported on formation of the central committee, tasks and policies, objectives, measures and implementation of development tasks for border areas and national races.
Afterwards, members of the central committee deputy prime ministers and union ministers and state/region chief ministers discussed implementation of development tasks for development of border areas and national races and future tasks for respective sectors.
Then, members of the SAC made suggestions on development of border areas and national races. Afterward, members of the central committee the Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy, and Air) made a supplementary report on participation of the Tatmadaw in development tasks for border areas and national races.
Then, in the discussion, the Vice Chairman of the Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister exhorted members of the Central Committee, ministries concerned and chief ministers of regions and states to effectively take action, act to ensure development among the ethnic peoples without gap, carry out regional development tasks through ensuring development of MSMEs and actively and thoroughly act for development of human resources.
Regarding the reports, the Senior General said it is seen that education in border areas is weak. It is necessary to give priority to make education infrastructure better in border areas and to cooperate with the relevant ministry to fulfill the need of teaching aids and staff. As communications is important for border areas, it is compulsory to ensure that the areas will have access to communications. It is necessary to extend air and water transport routes to the areas having difficulties on the land route. It is necessary to train and nurture students from university and institutes of development of border areas and national races to systematically handle rural administration and regional development tasks. Doing so will ensure that the youths of national races could take part in administration and regional development fields of their regions.
The ministry concerned needs to take responsibility to widely conduct research work to ensure that agriculture and livestock farming businesses will meet natural conditions of regions. It is necessary to take educational measures on the use of modern technology in carrying out the businesses through forming rural cooperative societies. It is also necessary to make plans for building small hydroelectric power plants and generating power from solar energy in the rural areas. As improvement of education is primary for a nation, it is necessary to appoint qualified teachers to train and teach students so that they will become really educated. Ministries concerned need to cooperate and coordinate in nurturing youths in order that the youths will complete learning technology and vocational education and join MSMEs. Priority must be given to fully appoint nurses, deputy health assistants and health assistants in rural areas. It is necessary to provide doctors to at least township level places in remote areas.
This meeting is for the first time after changing the political system to in the multi-party democracy. It is unhappy to see that outlying areas of regions and states in our country including border areas lagged behind development due to various reasons. The nation is included in the four ASEAN countries lagging behind development. It is seen that mainly, there is low development because of no peace and stability. According to the analyses, our nation’s poverty rate is high. Due to those points, we need to do much for the development of the nation. Therefore, it is necessary to successfully operate MSMEs and agriculture and livestock businesses as well as to ensure growth in manufacturing products. If the Central Committee achieves success in implementing tasks for development of border areas, will there be the nation’s development. It is to work to ensure the nation’s development based on the rural sector. The policy we have to implement could be made through reviewing the discussion at the meeting. Tasks for ensuring good transport and communications and peace and stability of regions must be taken. It is necessary for us to act in order that the youths of national races having full patriotism will emerge. We have to make efforts for the brighter future of the nation. In his concluding remarks at the meeting, the Senior General said it is seen that suggestions on tasks being taken by the working committee and ministries concerned and regional working committees for development of border areas and matters on cooperation with international organizations were made at the meeting.
Discussions and suggestions will be much helpful to the tasks for development of border areas and national races in the country. The State has spent much on development of border areas and human resources of national races living in the areas with good attention. It is important to ensure improvement of living standard and socio-economic life of all national races living in border areas as the State expects. Development of border areas and peace and stability is interrelated. Development cannot be achieved in the regions having no peace and rule of law and it is to be aware that there will be no peace for long term without any development. Border areas are wide but their population density is low. Roads and communications were expanded much in those areas as they have difficulties in interrelations with the Mawgun members, 10 honorary certificate holders, one Thray Sithu title recipient, five Wunna Kyaw Htin title recipients, 10 industrial economic outstanding award winners, 23 management outstanding award winners, 36 social outstanding award winners, three Thiha Bala medalists, one Ye Thiha medalist, 16 Ye Thura medalists, 55 Ye Bala medalists, 72 Ye Thurein medalists, 75 Ye Kyaw Swa medalists and 45 Ye Kyaw Thu medalists.
The remaining other core and auxiliary firefighters are also praiseworthy for their sacrifices for the State and the people although they have not been awarded such medals and titles.
While we are trying to build up a peaceful, developed and modern nation, the fire brigade members are urged to work hard in their respective roles for the successful implementation of the five-point roadmap and 12 objectives adopted by the SAC.
Today, Myanmar is striving for the development of all sectors such as health, education, transport and communication, electric and energy, rural progress and media in accord with the democratic norms. With increasing hotels, motels, industrial structures, high-rise buildings and apartment blocks plus changing lifestyles, the people will surely face disasters including fires that will come together with such changes and development.
As such, it is the duty of firefighters to save the people from those dangers. Therefore, the role of the fire brigade will become higher in the urbanization sector.
Myanmar Fire Safety Code 2020 was approved and adopted on 30 December 2020 so as to reduce fires, loss and damage and other dangers that can emerge in fighting a fire.
Global climate change has caused more natural disasters every year in various global countries. Loss and damage is huge. According to its climatic and geographical conditions, Myanmar may face various natural disasters such as fires, floods, strong winds, quakes,Tsunamis, landslides and draughts as well as other dangers of chemicals, bio-chemicals and radioactivity wastes. That is why, firefighters are to try to improve their capacity in order to overcome challenges and catch up with their counterparts of the international community.
They also worked together with the Tatmadaw, the people and relevant organizations in fighting against the global COVID-19 pandemic. They participated in various tasks such as fumigation, education, facemask distribution, liquid oxygen distribution and other related tasks such as technical help in preventing fires and accidents and giving EMs services.
Provisions of hundreds of gallons of water in the first to third waves of the pandemic are memorable records for the fire brigade. According to such records, we have seen that today’s fire brigade has reached a statuswhere nothing is impossible.
Every action of the firefighters is invaluable for the State and the people from security to nation building. They will become those on whom the people can rely only if they are able to realize their four objectives: fire safety, disaster prevention, search and rescue and public welfare in line with the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of the regions they are assigned to. Then, they will see public cooperation. With public participation, the ultimate aim of the fire brigade to create a safe environment free from danger of fire can be realized, and their image will improve.
Therefore, it has become necessary to have the ability of the fire services department to mobilize the public and the power that the people can rely on and trust. Fire prevention and firefighting activities are not something that can only be done by firefighters, but that if the public cooperates and helps, it is necessary for the people to see and understand that they will be successful, and that it is necessary to have the ability to motivate and organize with all their abilities.
Today, the firefighters must have a high level of vision physically and intellectually because they are working with advanced technologies in every field and everywhere. They must fully understand the concepts of chemistry and physics, and calculation and verification capabilities of engineering and mathematics and try to respond quickly and solve them.
In addition, as it is necessary to study to gain expertise in firefighting and search and rescue in accordance with the modern system, we would like to instruct that the "International Search and Rescue Advisory Group - INSERAG" which will be able to deal with the new challenges of fire and natural disasters with advanced technology in the firefighting industry, should be prepared for regional group training.
We want the firefighters to continue to preserve the good historical tradition of the Myanmar Fire Services Department.As members of the fire services department, we want them to live and act in accordance with the ten ethics that they must act towards the public and fulfill the needs of the public on the one hand.
We want people to be protected from various disasters that may befall the public without delay. For the country's prosperity and food security, where the government is working tirelessly to develop people-centered development activities for the development of socio-economic life,it is necessary for the fire services department to participate in their respective roles. A good firefighter must have a firm spirit, the spirit of bravery and adventure and the need to serve the people with the spirit of trying to be rich in experience and technology.
It is necessary for them to constantly study and learn about the international firefighting industry, which is always changing and make an effort to be able to use it again for their own citizens.
It is necessary to realize that striving for high performance of individual is promoting the honor of the entire force. They need to be complacent and not needy to serve in fire safety work and search and rescue activities for their citizens. Firefighters, in particular, have to put their lives and bodies on the line to save everyone who is facing disaster and danger. On Fire Brigade Day, which falls today, those who have been injured while serving for all ages, while paying his respects to the glorious honor of the firefighters who gave their lives, he said that he wished them to overcome the challenges of fire and natural disasters that they may face in the future.
After that, a video clip was shown to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Myanmar Fire Brigade Day.
After that, famous singer U Tun Shwe performed the classic fire safety awareness song "Beware of Fire".
Next, the Vice- Senior General presented honors and awards to U Tun Shwe (aged 90), a famous singer who sang the song "Beware of Fire", Auxiliary fire brigade company commander U Wan Thaung (aged 94) and retired solider and firefighter Sergeant U Tun Kyi (aged 92) from Paungde Township auxiliary fire brigade who are volunteering firefighting activities in Bago Region.
Then, the Union Minister for Home Affairs presented a souvenir to the Vice- Senior General to commemorate the 77th Myanmar Fire Brigade Day.
After that, the Union Minister for Home Affairs presented awards and honorariums to the retired fire brigade officers and their family members who were awarded honorary titles by the SAC.
After that, the Vice-Senior General along with the participants of the ceremony toured the display of the antique fire vehicles and modern fire vehicles/equipment, Myanmar Entrepreneurship and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) that manufacture fire safety equipment locally and fire equipment from import and distribution companies displayed in the Fire Services Department's gallery.
After that, the Vice- Senior General and members inspected the fire trucks of all ages displayed in front of the hall, and watched and congratulated thepractical driving demonstration of a Daihatsu (Pyi Taw Tha) three-wheeled fire engine by U Wan Thaung, the 94-year-old auxiliary fire brigade company commander of the Paungde Township auxiliary fire brigade for Bago Region.
The Daihatsu three-wheeled fire engine was produced in Japan in 1954 and arrived in Myanmar in the same year. It is a fire truck that has been responsible for the big fires that occurred during the parliamentary democracy era. It is a fire truck that can enter narrow streets and lanes to put out fires where large fire trucks cannot enter.
Auxiliary Fire Brigade Company Commander U Wan Thaung has been serving the duties of the Auxiliary Fire Brigade since he was 25 years old based on the hobby and spirit of charity
through self-sacrifice, he is now 94 years old and has been serving his duties with full strength and health for 69 years.
In the evening, the 77th Myanmar Fire Brigade Day honor dinner was held at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC-II) with the Vice-Senior General and council members, Union Ministers, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Deputy Ministers, Members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Permanent Secretaries, Officers and other ranks from the Myanmar Fire Services Department Headquarters, retired fire brigade officers representatives of auxiliary fire brigades from various regions and states, award-winning firefighters and invitees attend.
Before and during the celebratory dinner, it has been reported that the fire brigade singers, famous singers and fire brigade dance group (Dancer) gave a full and perfect performance along with the music played by the Pyi Taw Aye Nyein drum circle from Myanmar Fire Services Department and modern music band.