10 November
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi accompanied by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu, Dr Win Myat Aye, U Ohn Win and officials left Nay Pyi Taw by special flight and arrived at the Mandalay International Airport yesterday morning.
From there the State Counsellor and party flew by helicopters to Mogok and were welcomed upon arrival by Region government ministers, Hluttaw representatives, officials and local ethnic people.
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party then attended the opening and merit sharing ceremony of Nyaung Thone Bin Pariyatti Thamanaykyaw Sasana Beikman constructed in the compound of Nyaung Thone Bin Pariyatti Thamanaykyaw Monastery.
First, Mogok Nyaung Thone Bin Pariyatti Thamanaykyaw Monastery Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Tejosara Bivamsa, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu, U Ohn Win, Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister U Kyi Min and donor Htawara Company Limited Chairman U Maung Ko cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the religious building.
After the Nyaung Thone Bin Pariyatti Thamanaykyaw Monastery Sayadaw and State Counsellor had sprinkled scented waters on the commemorative plaque of the religious building, the State Counsellor and guests took the five precepts from the Sayadaw and listened to the Sayadaw and Sanghas reciting parittas.
Next, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min explained religious matters to the Sanghas.
Following this, the State Counsellor accepted cash donations donated by donors for the construction of the religious building and presented documents of honors.
The State Counsellor, Union Ministers and officials then presented offertories to the Sayadaw and sanghas, listened to a sermon delivered by the Sayadaw and shared merits for the donations made.
After the ceremony, the State Counsellor, Union Ministers, officials and donors offered “soon” (day meal) to the Sayadaw and sanghas.

Later the State Counsellor met with Hluttaw representatives, Mogok Township development committee chair and officials, representatives of ethnic nationals and town elders at the King Bridge Hotel.
At the meeting the State Counsellor said she was back in Mogok because she had promised the local people to come back again. A promise is an important matter between the country’s government and the people. It is also important between government representatives and people’s representative. If a promise was not kept, trust could not be built. Without trust between individuals, groups and different levels of the country, there wouldn’t be peace. Unity couldn’t be established. Without unity, there wouldn’t be development.
The aim of the visit was to find out issues and problems in the Mogok region and to resolve them. Mogok was an admirable place because many ethnic nationals live together peacefully. Myanmar must be one that provides security to all who live in it. Regardless of religion, ethnicity and belief, all will be given the full trust and provided with support towards development. Town elders are parent like figures relied upon by the town folks. Therefore, town elders were to think and raise matters for the happiness and long term security for the ethnic nationals and the future of the country. Matters raised are believed to be for the development of the Mogok region. Mogok Town was depending on gem mining and Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation was brought along for the people to raise matters relating to it.
2020 was an election year and it was important for all eligible voters to vote. This was a right provided to the citizens by the Constitution, said the State Counsellor. The State Counsellor concluded her speech urging the administrative organizations to cooperate with the Election Commission for all eligible voters to vote.

Meeting attendees then raised matters concerning enacting Myanmar Gemstone Rule as soon as possible, releasing and registering back to the locals 3,000 acres of unused mining plots out of 15,000 acres confiscated by the State, permitting foreign tourists to visit non-mining places, appointing teachers for ethnic Palaung nationals, improving roads to some Palaung villages, assigning an orthopedist to Mogok Hospital and assigning mine plots for locals.
The State Counsellor responded to the matters raised and spoke of her wish for the Mogok region to become a region that protects and conserves natural resources and surroundings. The government was giving priority to improving road connectivity ever since it came into power and added that matters raised were not insurmountable issues. All will be seriously considered and implemented as soon as possible. If the matters couldn’t be handled immediately, it’ll be noted. The people are more valuable than natural resources and requested the local people to cooperate and work together with the government for the Union and for future generations.
After the meeting the State Counsellor, Union Ministers and party left Mogok by helicopters and arrived back in Nay Pyi Taw later in the afternoon. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)