Following is the speech delivered by President U Win Myint at the 3rd Anniversary of the Second Hluttaws.
First of all I wish to send metta good wishes for the health and well-being of the State Counsellor, present and former Speakers of Hluttaws, Union Government members, members of union level organizations, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives and honorable guests.
Today is a day that will be recorded in the annals of Myanmar’s transition to democracy. It is the third anniversary of the Second Hluttaws. As the Hluttaw is a sovereign entity formed with elected representatives of the people who were also given the sovereign authority by the people and it thus has enormous prestige and power. In the same way, the pomp and splendour of the Hluttaw building where these representatives have come together to discuss the country’s affairs is also huge.
As described in our law related to the Hluttaw, Hluttaw representatives are respectable persons who have outstanding features. In order to be outstanding, they must be distinctive and well versed in laws and rules related to the Hluttaw. In the same way, as it is a Hluttaw that is in a democratic transition, it must understand the features of democracy. For the Hluttaw representatives to be respectable for the majority, they are required to serve the country and its people.
In addition to this, at one point it was prescribed that Hluttaw representatives are persons with unique characteristics with whom regional authorities and departments consult with respect and thus they must have wide ranging general knowledge.
They are required to have regional and international views and knowledge in addition to political, economic, social and security views and knowledge.
Hluttaw representatives are described as persons with whom the regional authorities and departments ought to coordinate with on projects in the constituencies if it is not against the Constitution.
An important thing to note is the word “ought to coordinate” is the fact that it must not be against the Constitution. The administrative, legislative and judicial pillars must not interfere in one another but must be segmented in their own parts doing their own works while checking and balancing the works of others. This is an enactment to prevent deviation from the path of democratic transition.
Furthermore, Hluttaw representatives were granted with duties, rights and responsibilities. In other words, Hluttaw representatives were granted with these to conduct matters according to the law freely on one hand while they have limitations, rules, regulations and ethics that they must follow on the other hand. These limitations, rules, regulations and ethics are there so that the Hluttaw representatives are dutiful and responsible. In other word it is a dual prescription to use the freedom and rights correctly dutifully and responsibly without abusing and misusing.
On top of all, Hluttaw representatives come from all walks of life. So there will be different ideas and opinions with one another and one group from another which is natural. But these differing views and ideas must be overcome through discussion with understanding, restraint, forgiveness, and optimistic views that are part of the 12 pillars of democracy. As discussions mature and strengthen, a culture of democracy will come into existence, and the capability of the Hluttaw representatives and the dignity and honor of the Hluttaw will rise.
Our motherland Myanmar is a union formed with all ethnic nationals. All must bear in mind that although our geography, forests and mountains may be different, all states and regions are part of the union. In the same way, although ethnic nationals have different languages, literatures, cultures and practices, all must consider themselves to be the sons and daughters of the union.
In the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives should look towards the interest of the Union and unify their differences. I wish to conclude by saying that only the ability to unify in this way signifies the strength of the Union. I thank all of you.
(Unofficial Translation by ZM)
