Work hard for regional development making best use of favourable conditions and projects of the State Senior General Than Shwe inspects development of townships in Rakhine State

YANGON, 15 April — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by members of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint, the ministers, the deputy ministers, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and heads of departments, left Sittway for Maungtaw by helicopter on 13 April.

Senior General Than Shwe and party toured Maungtaw by car. Senior General Than Shwe met Chairmen of Maungtaw District and Township and Buthidaung Township Peace and Development Councils and members, departmental personnel, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and social organizations and townselders at Thiri Mingala Hall in Maungtaw.

Chairman of Maungtaw District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Yan Myo Aung reported on rainfall, land use, cultivation of monsoon and summer paddy, sufficiency of rice, cultivation of rubber and Thitseint, pepper, physic nut and onion, production, raising of cattle, breeding of deep sea prawn, education and health, GDP of the district and per capita income.

General Thura Shwe Mann said the respective regions are making efforts for development of their regions under the leadership of the State and considerable progress has been made in each region. He said the party led by the Head of State came to Maungtaw to fulfil the requirements. Maungtaw region has developed to a certain degree according to the reports and findings.

Though the percentage of rice sufficiency in Rakhine State is over 149%, there is still insufficiency of rice in Maungtaw. Therefore efforts are to be made for rice sufficiency. The region borders the other country and service personnel in the region are to discharge their duties with sense of duties, loyalty and patriotism. He spoke of the need to establish the strong regional economy and commerce.

He said the State, the people and the Tatmadaw are to implement political, economic and social objectives in accord with the national policy for greater development of the entire nation.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe said he found Maungtaw has developed to some extent and the region has been upgraded to the district level. Administration is the main machinery that contributes toward development of economic and social conditions of a region. Maungtaw which borders the neighbouring country has been upgraded to the district level and power has also been conferred to make the administrative body effective, to deal with other country on equal terms and to undertake regional development effectively.

The Senior General urged those in charge in the regions, service personnel and local people to work hard for the progress of their region politically, economically and socially.

Field trips are also necessary for rural development in the area in carrying out regional development tasks. Concerted efforts are to be made for greater development of Maungtaw like Muse, Tachilek, Myawady and Tamu which border neighbouring countries, he said.

Arrangements are being made for administrative functions and better transport and border area development project and rural region development project are being implemented, he added.

He pointed out that it is important to work hard for regional development making the best use of better foundations and the projects of the State. He spoke of the need for service personnel to work in accord with rules and regulations in the town like Maungtaw.

Afterwards, Senior General Than Shwe cordially greeted those present at the meeting.

Senior General Than Shwe and party paid obeisance to Maha Kyan Buddha Image at Myoma Pariyatti Sarthintaik. Presiding Nayaka of the Sarthintaik Agga Maha Gandhavaçaka Pandita Bhaddanta Ketu explained the brief history of Maha Kyan Buddha Image. Next, Senior General Than Shwe offered alms food to the Buddha Image. Senior General Than Shwe and party presented offertories to members of the Sangha.

Senior General Than Shwe and party went to Wakhokechaung Station in Buthidaung Township , Maungtaw District and met Tatmadaw members and their families.

General Thura Shwe Mann explained building of units and regiments. Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance and cordially greeted the Tatmadawmen and their families.
Senior General Than Shwe and party inspected development of Buthidaung Township . In meeting with the Tatmadawmen of Buthidaung Station and their families at Bandoola Hall, General Thura Shwe Mann spoke at length on equal development in various regions including border areas, the Tatmadaw’s participation in nation-building tasks, importance of unity inside and outside the regiments and units, hindrance and destruction of internal and external destructive elements who begrudge the development of the State.

Afterwards, Senior General Than Shwe cordially met with military officers, other ranks and their families.

On arrival at the local battalion of Rathedaung Station, Senior General Than Shwe and party met with military officers, other ranks and their families of units and regiments and General Thura Shwe Mann gave instructions on observing the military codes of conduct strictly and oneness with people. Next, Senior General Than Shwe clarified the Tatmadaw’s participation in the State’s affairs and the need to build a capable and modern Tatmadaw and cordially greeted Tatmadawmen and their families.

Later, Senior General than Shwe and party inspected the development of Rathetaung, greeted local people and left for Sittway.

State spent large sum of money on  construction of roads, bridges in Rakhine State Senior General Than Shwe meets departmental personnel, Tatmadawmen in Sittway

YANGON, 14 April — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, accompanied by Members of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann, Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Soe Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, the ministers, deputy ministers, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, and departmental heads, arrived at Sittway Airport by special aircraft from Nay Pyi Taw Airport in Nay Pyi Taw City at 11.40 pm on 12 April.

Senior General Than Shwe and party were welcomed there by Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint, Brig-Gen Than Tun Aung of Sittway Station, senior military officers, departmental officials and traditional dance troupe. At the meeting hall of Sittway Station, Senior General Than Shwe and party met members of Rakhine State PDC, departmental officials, local authorities and departmental personnel of Sittway District and Township PDCs.

The commander reported on land utilization, cultivation of 10 major crops in 2005-2006, growing of rubber, Thitseint (Belleric myrobalan), and oil palm, arrangements for planting 100,000 acres of rubber, cultivation of pepper, the plan to put 500,000 acres of land under physic nut in three years, sufficiency of rice and edible oil, progress of livestock breeding, matters related to education and health sectors, supply of power, GDP of the state, and the increase of per capita income.

He continued his report on arrangements being made for construction of Rathedaung-Pon-nagyun Road , Pauktaw-Minbya Road , Myebon-Minbya Road , and the island circular road in Manaung, upgrading of telephone installation in Sittway and requirements of regional development.

Member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann explained cultivation of various kinds of crops on cultivable land for development of the state, enhancement of cultivation capacity, local food sufficiency and surplus production, extended cultivation of edible oil crops for ensuring sufficiency of edible oil, the increase of per-acre yield, efforts to be made for meeting the target production of 10 major crops, and boosting of the production in Rakhine State to have economic development on which the State can rely.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo reported on extension of cultivable land in the state, township-wise food sufficiency, rubber cultivation and distribution of physic nut saplings.

Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein briefed the Senior General on the raising of export products, and prospects for increasing income of the state by exporting pepper, fisheries, agricultural and forestry products, onion and vegetables.

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw presented his reports on improvement of telephone communication sector, hotel and tourism industry in Rakhine State .

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein reported on increased income of the state from breeding prawn, and prevention against spread of disease from animal to human beings.

Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint submitted reports on arrangements being made to fulfil requirements of health sector in the state.

Deputy Minister for Electric Power U Myo Myint reported on progress of hydel power projects being implemented in Rakhine State .

Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi briefed them on matters related to offshore oil and natural gas blocks in Rakhine State .

After hearing the reports, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance. He said that they arrived in Rakhine State to fulfil requirements for more development by reviewing progress of Rakhine State . The State had constructed Yangon-An-Sittway Highway overcoming difficulties for ensuring development of Rakhine State and smooth transportation. Now, local people have enjoyed fruitful results of transport facilities thanks to the highway.

He continued to say that Kyaukpyu-Yangon Motor Road is under construction passing through mangrove forests. Hence, Kyaukpyu-Yangon Union Highway will emerge soon. The State has spent a large sum of money on construction of roads and bridges crossing rivers and creeks in Rakhine State . The roads and bridges in the state were built with the aim of narrowing the development gap among all parts of the Union , and ensuring equitable development of all the regions.

Kawthoung-Bokpyin-Taninthayi-Myeik-Dawei Road was also built in Taninthayi Division similar to that in Rakhine State , he added. Likewise, roads and bridges had been constructed in Ayeyawady Division that relies on waterway transport. Therefore, remarkable development has been made with momentum in Ayeyawady Division. In reality, transport facilities can contribute toward progress of economic and social sectors of all regions, and uplift of living standard of the local people.

The Senior General stressed the need for all to strive for improvement of the respective states and divisions by utilizing development facilities built by the State. Only when they work hard, will the production increase. Hence, all people should respond to goodwill and aims of the State through hard work.

He noted that all parts of the nation are precious regions. Economic prospects can be witnessed in all the regions. For example, Rakhine State is similar to delta region where agricultural tasks meet success. Likewise, physic nut plants from which bio-diesel can be produced grow in Rakhine State . In the country, physic nut plants grow naturally. In addition, they can systematically be grown in all parts of the nation to be able to produce bio-diesel that can be used in all kinds of machines in rural areas.

He said that as rubber can be cultivated in almost all of the regions of the country growing of rubber plantations are to be extended for earning foreign exchange.

In conclusion, the Senior General said that Myanmar is rich in terrestrial and aquatic resources. Therefore, local authorities, State service personnel and local people are to join hands for ensuring progress of the State and strengthening economic development of the respective regions.

After the meeting, Senior General Than Shwe and party met with Tatmadawmen and their families of regiments and units in Sittway Station at Bandoola Hall in Sittway.

Member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence explained the purpose of the inspection tour of Senior General Than Shwe in Rakhine State , and the building of the Tatmadaw to become a strong and efficient one.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance on the important role of organizational task inside and outside the units in building the nation and the Tatmadaw, and strengths of the Tatmadaw and the people. He cordially greeted the Tatmadawmen and their families.

In the evening, Secretary-General of the Union Solidarity and Development Association Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo, and CEC member Minister Maj-Gen Thein Swe who accompanied the Senior General met with secretaries, executives, organizers and members of State/District and Township USDAs at the office of Rakhine State USDA in Sittway.

Senior General Than Shwe, wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing pay homage to Lawkananda Pagoda in Sittway

YANGON, 14 April — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing paid homage to Lawkananda Pagoda in Sittway on 13 April evening.

Accompanied by Member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence and party, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing arrived at Lawkananda Pagoda at 8 pm, and paid homage to Gotama Buddha Image in the Gandakuti Building .

The Senior General and wife made cash donation to the fund of the pagoda through the pagoda board of trustees.

Members of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann and Lt-Gen Aung Htwe, handed over cash donations of those who accompanied the Senior General to the pagoda board of trustees.

Next, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party visited the pagoda.

They paid obeisance to Çakkyamuni Buddha Image being kept in the Aung Çakkyamuni Ordination Hall. Later, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing presented cash donations to the fund of the pagoda through the pagoda board of trustees.