Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Tatmadaw personnel planted Sandal wood trees near Sin Phyu Taw Guest Hall in the compound of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services yesterday, in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior General said Myanmar and India share a similar history, culture and customs and are very close with one another. He said hearing the name Mahatma Gandhi brings to mind the nonviolent resistance he successfully led for India’s independence and as a beacon for world peace.
The Senior General mentioned that on 2 October, Gandhi’s birthday would reach its 150th anniversary since his birth in 1869. He said his visits to Myanmar in 1902, 1915 and 1929 during Myanmar’s struggle for independence was a source of strength for the nation.

Mahatma Gandhi personally led the mourning of Bogyoke Aung San’s assasination in July 1947, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. He said this commemorative event values Gandhi’s nonviolence approach, preserving history and his way of living is something to model after. He also wished for continued bilateral relations between Myanmar and India and to become a support in achieving world peace.

Next, U Khin Maung Cho, member of the Mahatma Gandhi 150th Commemoration Organizing Committee, spoke words of thanks concerning planting the Sandal wood trees. The Senior General and Tatmadaw personnel then planted the trees together with padauk trees.

In related news, the Senior General and wife planted a tamalan tree during the 4th Monsoon Tree Planting Ceremony of the Families of Defence Services (Army, Navy, Air) for 2019, held near Yezin dam in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, in the morning.

Next, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice Senior General Soe Win and wife, union ministers and their wives, Tatmadaw officials and wives from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, and officials, military personnel and families then planted teak, tamalin, mahogany and manjanshar trees at the designated locations. The Senior General then observed the attendees planting the trees.

The 4th monsoon tree planting ceremony planted 1,458 young teak trees, 330 tamalin trees, 700 mahogany trees, and 2,074 manjanshar trees. In addition, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief announced that the military commands across the nation collectively planted 375,344 plants for the 4th monsoon planting ceremony. —MNA

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)