09 March
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Chairperson of the Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races, who was in Monywa paid homage to the standing Buddha image at the Thousand Bohdi accompanied by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu, Dr. Myint Htwe and U Ohn Win, Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing, Deputy Minister U Hla Maw Oo and officials.
After offering flowers, water, oil lamps and scented water to the images of Buddha, she signed the visitors’ book and donated money to the pagoda trustees. The State Counsellor then cordially greeted the local residents.
Next she attended a meeting with the local people held at the Monywa Town hall.
At the meeting the State Counsellor said the first time she visited Monywa was in 1988 and 32 years had passed since then. As there was a power failure at that time it was unforgettable to see everyone coming out with lighted candles in their hands making it brighter and more beautiful compared to electric lights. This showed that with collective effort any challenge could be overcome.
The good thing about the people in Monywa or in any other place was that all were living together peacefully and happily. It was with much happiness and pride to see all of them living together peacefully regardless of differences in ethnicity, religion and languages.
We should all be proud of the fact that we have the power to cope with the differences and live in unity as a union. It was expected for this to continue and for more unity and peace.
In life many challenges have to be faced. It depends on ourselves whether we view these challenges as a problem or an opportunity. No matter how thick the darkness might be, if we overcome it with unity, the problem will become an opportunity.
The country was facing many challenges but progress may be seen in many areas and the people could be proud of those achievements. There still remained more progress to be achieved. Everyone knew that the country was lagging behind in development in the region.
However, lessons could be learnt from those who were ahead of us. What to avoid and what to do. In any situation, there was a need to copy and imitate. Lessons need to be learnt and efforts made so that these things could be seen as opportunities. This was the advantage. There was a need to work hand in hand.
The reason for saying the requirements of the people were the same was due to the fact that all were living on the same land, drinking the same water, travelling on the same boat toward the same destination. Region wise requirements were potable water, electricity, education and farmland matters and wherever the place may be, the requirements were always seen to be the same.
These shouldn’t be thought as the government’s job. It must be seen as everyone’s duty and a problem for all to solve together. Such mindsets will be a good precedence for the future generation. Everyone lived in this world for a short time but if they fulfilled their duties and responsibilities, it would be a great opportunity to leave behind a great legacy for the future generation. The main point was to leave behind a great legacy. Don’t think about how much you can get but think about how much you can give.
We were brief visitors to this world. It would be a duty for all to leave a good situation behind when we leave. I was saying this to people from Monywa because of the faith I had in them. Monywa folks had the ability to think clearly and overcome difficulties. Increase these abilities day after day. Some views things negatively. But the important thing was to view the situation objectively and work together toward progress for all. Once a wrong step was taken, a long time would be required to correct the mistakes. Unity of the people of Monywa was commended and may this quality increase to overcome problems in unity, said the State Counsellor.
fterwards pre-submitted matters and submissions of the people of Monywa were presented: speedy completion of 500-bed Monywa Hospital, appointing sufficient staff to the hospital, surfacing the 4-lane Mandalay-Monywa-Sagaing road with asphalt, completing the remaining section of Monywa and Chaungoo-Amyint village, upgrading Taung Ma Taw-Myayne-Thousand Bohdi road section of Monywa-Ayadaw road, upgrading of of Chaungoo Basic Education sub Middle School, upgrading of 25-bed Chaungoo Township hospital to a 50-bed hospital, allocating Union Budget for Chaungoo Township water distribution project, drilling 8-inch tube well and constructing a water tower for Budalin Town water distribution, construct a two-story market in Budalin, repairing Budalin pond, bank loan for Budalin farmers with form 7, paving more than 40 village roads in Budalin Township with smooth gravels, providing adequate irrigation water for farmlands near Budalin town, upgrading a village connecting road in Ayadaw Township, assigning a new site for Ayadaw town water distribution, support cement to upgrade self-help roads in Ayadaw Township to concrete roads, upgrading Ayadaw Township 25-bed hospital to 50-bed hospital, investigate the ward administrator, improve Minkin-Yoneka-Chaungphya road, eradicate drug, investigate the disappearance of two students, resolve Letpadaungtaung matter, resolve illegal ownership of land, cleaning up Monywa District Court detention cell, reducing the lottery ticket price to Ks 500 from K 1,000, increasing the salary of head of ward administrators and forming support group for hospital when the Monywa Hospital was completed. All the above matters were submitted to the meeting for resolution.
The pre-submitted matters and submission of the people were then explained by Union Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr. Myint Htwe, Region Chief Minister and region ministers. The State Counsellor also provided additional explanations and insisted on the people to be disciplined. Issues raised and complaints made will be resolved in accordance to the law, rules and procedure. She added on the impossibility of having progress without hearing the voices of the people as well as dealing with the people in a straight forward manner to establish trust.
After the meeting the State Counsellor took commemorative photos together with students who attended the meeting and then met with the Region Chief Minister and ministers at the Monywa Airport hall.
The State Counsellor and party then left Monywa by special flight and arrived in Nay Pyi Taw in the afternoon. — MNA
