23 January
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi accompanied by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu and Dr. Aung Thu, Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing, Chin State Chief Minister Salai Lian Luai and officials inspected the Yazagyo multi-purpose dam project in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region yesterday morning.
First Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inspected the main dam by car and at the water drawing building, Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department Director General U Kyaw Myint Hlaing explained about suction of sand and silts deposited in the dam with silt suction pumps and the process of using two air compressors to blow the sands and silts and then opening the water gates to drain away the sands and silts along with the outgoing water.
Next the State Counsellor and party took group photos near the main dam of Yazagyo multi-purpose dam project.
Afterwards the State Counsellor and party went to Haka Lay (little Haka) North village, Siabok Village Tract, Tonzang Township by Tatmadaw helicopter and were welcomed upon arrival with traditional dances by the local people.
Next, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi inspected houses in the village built by the arrangement of the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation and then attended a meeting with the local people.
At the meeting State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi first greeted all the people who came to meet her and wished them well. She said “I wanted to come to this place for long because I want to know the status of houses built by Daw Khin Kyi Foundation. Finally I’m getting this opportunity. When I looked at one house I noticed a few requirements.
We’ll try to fulfill these requirements as soon as possible because when we care for the people, we want to give a care that is full and complete. Sometime we are unable to meet the requirements but we still want to do the best we can.
“It is for our people to live safely and securely. That is to be secure both physically and mentally. When I come to Chin State I feel very safe because of the warm ‘metta’ (loving kindness) of the ethnic Chin nationals. If we can provide such mental security to one another, our union will be a very pleasant place. The majority of the people consider the hornbill and Rhodondendron (Taung Zalat) flower as the symbolic bird and flower of Chin State. The hornbill reflects loyalty. It is a symbol of loyalty.
“As for the Rhodondendron flower, it reflects strength and courage by blooming beautifully in the harsh weather and harsh environment. It also represents beauty. A land with such courage and loyalty will succeed for sure. But difficulties and obstacles must be overcome. Our country still has much to develop. Especially in a harsh environment like Chin State we’ll have to conduct special development programs and we are putting much emphasis toward this. For Chin State, we are working towards providing water, improving road and communications, electricity, education, and health care. We’ll strive to provide practically every requirement of the people as quickly as possible. However, in some cases, we have the will but were unable to follow through. It is not because we are not bodily unable but we don’t have enough money. However, we’ll do as much as we can afford to monetarily. However, I believe that we’ll succeed because we have a strong will for it.
“While I met with the people I would like to remind about the four keys to achieve success. They are to have a will, strong determination, correct attitude and knowledge. I’m saying this repeatedly because it must be remembered. Only when there is a will can we start doing something. We dearly want this country to be a peaceful, developed democratic federal union. We have a strong will for this. I think our people have an equally strong will on this. But having a will alone is not enough. The will needs to be implemented with efforts. The attitude also needs to be right because if the attitude is not right we’ll be pushed onto a wrong path that would be dangerous for all. The knowledge of how to do things to achieve what we want is also important.
“When we say knowledge, it is basically to view a situation correctly and based on it to do what is necessary. The courage to do is not included in the four keys to achieve success. However, we can say it is within it. Courage is required in doing something new. It is not sufficient to have a will, make an effort, and have a correct attitude or knowledge only. Courage is very important in facing something we haven’t faced before.
“Even though Haka Lay (little Haka) Village is a small village, for us it is equally important like a town. Even though we have to do many things for many people living in a town, we gave equal importance to the people in the little village. It is not true that we care less for villagers because they live in a little village.
“We came here to Haka Lay Village to show that for our government, a small village, however small it may be, is important for us. However, even though it is important, it is not practical to say that we’ll do everything that is required. We’ll try to do everything step by step. We want the people to participate in this and all our villagers to participate. You all have strengths. First, build up your mental strength.
“We are family members of a union. Each and every family member of the union is to put in their individual efforts. Everyone is valuable. There is no one that is not valuable. There is no one that didn’t have any strength. Use whatever you are worth correctly and for sure, our country will develop.
The development needs to be quick too because we have lagged behind our neighboring countries. We have to put in more efforts because we lagged behind. Even though we lag behind, the ability of our people aren’t low. If we nurture and strengthen these abilities, we’ll reach our goal.
“I say this repeatedly. Government is for the people. People are not for the government. The government came to be because it was elected by the people from the people. Members of governments are also the citizens of the country like the people. So they are not better or above the people just because they are the government. Especially in a democratic system, a government is elected by the people and it will become a government only when the people elect them. It is not a democratic government if it is not governing according to the wish of the people. The main duty of a government that came to be according to the will of the people is to fulfill the requirements of the people.
“That is why we are always trying to find out what are the wills, wishes and requirements of the people. That is why I want to take this opportunity to urge the villagers to propose and ask whatever they want. I invite proposals and questions”, said the State Counsellor.
The local people in attendance then raised questions relating to development matters and the State Counsellor provided explanations in return. She then provided rice and cooking oils for the local people in Haka Lay North and Haka Lay South villages and cordially greeted the meeting attendees.
Afterwards the State Counsellor and party went to Haka Lay South village by car from Haka Lay North village and inspected the village. While in Haka Lay South village, the State Counsellor was entertained and honored with traditional dances and songs.
From there, the State Counsellor left for Sagaing Region, Kalay town by Tatmadaw helicopter and attended a meeting with the local people in the town hall.
At the meeting State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said it is not wrong to say that Kalay is where the hills and plains meet. “Our country is wide and it is not the same geographically. The ethnic nationals, cultures, religions, languages are also not the same. However, everywhere it is beautiful in its own way. The people also have the responsibility to beautify their places. It is the responsibility of the government as well as the people. Wherever I go, I remind about this duty and responsibility. Because the worth or value of a person is dependent on how responsible and dutiful he/she is.
“I want everyone to be worthy. Whenever I have meeting, I invited children and youngsters because I want to instill in them the mindset that the country’s affairs are their affairs. The future of the country especially depends on the youths. They’ll have to live for long in it as the time for the old to live in it will become shorter as time goes by. Youngsters are more important than us for the future. There are many things that elders need to fulfill for the youngsters. Youngsters in return also need to fulfill things for the elders. It is very important to create understanding between youngsters and elders. Some youth think youths and seniors are different. It is unavoidable that youths will become elders one day. They’ll have to go down the same path. Elders were also once youngsters. It is important not to forget this.
“Understanding can be created only when we are truly sympathetic towards one another. We want our ethnic nationals to be like this. Compared to Sagaing Region, the terrain of Chin State is very difficult. They have to lead a difficult life there. But Chin nationals live in a dignified manner just like the people from the plains.
“Everyone, where ever they may be, live well and healthily in a dignified manner. That is why when we greet with a wish for a healthy and wealthy life it is quite complete. But when I wish for someone, I want to say may you have peace of mind and body.
Without peace of mind and body there wouldn’t be happiness. Both young and old have worries. Some say elders have more to worry but a youngster’s worry about an examination is a valid and important worry for the youngster. We are striving towards an education system that is not only beneficial for our country but also beneficial and appropriate for our youngsters. An Education system that makes a person become fully developed in everything. We must establish such an education system.
“When I tour Chin State, I found water is scarce in some places. Water is the main requirement. Not having water or adequate water is an immense suffering. The second thing is road transport. Every village wants a clinic. Why, because the road transport is bad. If it is good, travel from one village to another is easy. If road transport is good, a clinic need not be in your village. The same applies to a school. Because road transport is not good, every village wanted a clinic and school.
“So road transport is very important. We must build roads so that we can contact one another. We also must instill in everyone so that they contact one another. Our country is a union. Although it isn’t a true federal union that everyone wanted. We all have to work together towards this.
“This is not a purely political matter. It is also social and economic. Kalay is where the hills and plains meet. Here they know the situation of our ethnic nationals in the hills and people in the plains. The people here have an important role to play. I want Kalay to be bridge that connects. We want this place to be the birthplace of union spirit and where it is developed. To do this, we’ll have to start with the children. We must instill in them to do things for the majority. We’ll not be good for long if we are good alone while the surrounding is not good.
“I want the children sitting in the front to think about this. Think how you can be valuable for others. If you are valuable for yourself alone, this isn’t much of a value. Only when you are valuable for others can you be a valuable or worthy person. Through instilling such spirits they will become grownups who are beneficial for their country.
“The roles of the state/region governments are important for the states and regions. State/Region governments have more relations with the people compared to the union government. It is not wrong to say that state/region governments can do more effectively for the people than the union government. It is an important duty of the state/region government to develop the people with whom they are in close contact every day. The people are to consider the stage/region governments as their family members and request what is required. Don’t request what is not required as it isn’t good for anyone.
Another thing is to discuss openly. And discuss in a balanced and fair manner towards both sides”, said the State Counsellor.
After her speech, the local people presented requirements for regional development and the State Counsellor responded to their questions after which she greeted them cordially.
Later in the afternoon the State Counsellor met with the Sagaing Region Chief Minister and region government members in the Kalay Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department guest house and discussed regional development matters. After the meeting the State Counsellor and party left Kalay by special flight and arrived back in Nay Pyi Taw in the evening. — MNA
(Translated by Zaw Min)
