17 Aug

 

DAW Aung San Suu Kyi, Head of Myanmar Scouts Federation and the State Counsellor, met with girl guides and scouts at the Mandalay City Hall yesterday morning for the first time after she was sworn in as Head of the Myanmar Scouts Federation on 20th July this year

 

During the visit, she was accompanied by Union Minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Dr Myint Htwe, U Thaung Tun, U Kyaw Tin and officials. They left Nay Pyi Taw by special flight and arrived at Tada U Township in Mandalay.

 

They were welcomed at the international airport by Union Minister U Ohn Maung, Mandalay Region’s Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung, ministers of the regional government and departmental officials.

 

Daw Aung Suu Kyi attended the ceremony to meet with Myanmar girl guides and scouts at the Mandalay City Hall.

 

Before the ceremony, the Head of the Myanmar Scouts Federation and the State Counsellor looked around the display of activities by Myanmar girl guides and scouts before she enjoyed the song ‘Moe Lone Hmine’ sung by Myanmar girl guides.

 

The ceremony was started with singing of the Myanmar National anthem and saluting the National Flag before the scouts opened the ceremony with ‘Prestige of Scouts’.

 

Then, the guides and scouts presented their rope knotting skills applying first aid bandage, followed by the performance of young girl guides who sang a song entitled ‘Flowery Garden’.

 

the Peace Commission, presented awards to the winners of the rope tying, poems and paintings competitions.

 

Then, the members of the cub scouts performed with the song ‘We Are Capable Scouts’, and the Blue Bird girl scouts with ‘Owners of Prestigious Hearts’.

 

In her speech, the State Counsellor and Head of the Myanmar Scouts Federation said that one of the reasons she wanted to meet with the scouts in Mandalay was because she wanted to give a message for unity.

 

She added that every member must be loyal to the organization they have joined, work in unity, and observe the rules and disciplines of the organization.

 

The activities are the strength of that organization. Everybody has their own choice individually. However, after someone has been a member of an organization, they need to follow the rules and disciplines of that organization. This practice must be developed since childhood to be able to serve for the community and the country.

 

restricted to be a member of a certain organization. Every organization seriously takes into account its rules and principles. Some members prefer working freely and individually. In this regard, the meaning of “free” should be considered, as they ignored the organizational rules and principles and neglected the organizational values in consid eration of ‘free’. It was important to fully understand the term ‘free’.

 

She continued that no one could enjoy total freedom as everybody has grown up in the world. The needs of the whole community and individuals have forced the people to get interdependent in society. The world Girls Guide song has defined the genuine independent person, although almost every one might not hear it. It was not available in Myanmar translation.

 

She also interpreted the official song of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) for the lyrics of “ All those who loved the true and good; Whose promises were kept; With humble minds, whose acts were kind, Whose honour never slept; These were the free and we must be Prepared like them to live; To give to all, both great and small; All we can give, all we can give.”

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also suggested that the meaning of ‘free’ in the WAGGGS song should be contemplated as this song pointed out it was possible to be true and good only when all love the true and good, and otherwise, they would derail from the right path and that it was important to develop self-confidence and morality. The pure and free mind were very essential for everybody.

 

She also emphasized the importance of keeping promises to avoid debts. She said a person who was not under a debt burden can enjoy ‘freedom’.

 

The State Counsellor also advised to live with honour all the time as it could support a way in life which leads to freedom. She also drew a conclusion which says that genuine freedom was the possession of a free mind.

 

She then suggested to perform organizational tasks to enjoy genuine freedom, followed by the freedom of others. She also advised the young guides and scouts to seriously consider the term ‘free’ that involves a kind heart, and a humble mind without conceit which should be practiced among the guides and scouts.

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reminded them to treat each other fairly without considering the backgrounds of families or schools, and to develop team spirit and unity which were the behaviours of humble minds.

 

She also remarked the importance of kindness for the guides and scouts to be able to keep their promises, to help each other and to be kind to others, even to the animals. It was one of the codes of conduct for guides and scouts. She added that this organization would help children to understand good morality and to understand genuine freedom.

 

The State Counsellor also noted that the reasons for propagation of scout activities were due to those values because the scouts enjoyed this organization not for opportunities, but for its aims and beliefs. In some cases, the children joined it due to the persuasion of their parents.

 

She frankly recounted that she joined the group of girl guides due to the advice of her mother who was the Commissioner of Girl Guides, and she stressed the importance of following rules and disciplines in any organization.

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also said that admiration could only be gained through respect for others and observing the disciplines, without notice from others. She remarked a person with genuine freedom controls himself not to breach the disciplines. She advised not to let “honour” go to sleep in society. It was important not to live alone in honour, but to live in it as part of society.

 

She also urged to thoroughly study the promises and the duties of guides and scouts, and contemplate upon them. Otherwise, they would be mere members of any organization without strong devotion to it, and it is would become act of tricking oneself or lying others and the community. She also concluded it was very fundamental not to lie to oneself to become an honourable person.

 

She remarked that honour was the basic need for a guide and scout, in addition to the spirit of friendly cooperation with others.

 

She also expressed her high hope for citizens whether they were children or adults to become valuable persons, and it could be realized with a firm determination.

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi advised the young guides and scouts to develop themselves as a valuable person for the organization, although they have joined the group due to the persuasion of their parents or their own decision.

 

She also suggested that the parents should teach their children this ideology, and to work seriously in their tasks.

 

She gave the example of Dr Zaw Myint Maung, Chief Minister of Mandalay region and herself who were scouts/guides in their childhood. She also confirmed that both of them joined the organization of guides and scouts as they wanted to share their experiences as scouts/ guides.

 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi concluded her speech with suggestions to propagate the values of guides and scouts across the country, and to always keep in mind the reasons to join this organization.

 

Then, the university girl scouts presented a performance entitled ‘Peace Envoys’ to conclude the ceremony.

 

After the ceremony, the Head of Myanmar Scouts Federation and the State Counsellor posed for documentary photos with the attendees, and the scout music band troupe saluted her.

 

The State Counsellor then visited the State School of Fine Arts (Mandalay) and looked around the students as they were practising, posed for documentary photos and signed the visitors’ book.

 

The school is conducting the courses of aesthetic art (Fine Art), commercial art, Myanmar traditional art, basic carving and sculpting, carving and sculpting animal and human forms, and Myanmar traditional Kanote (Floral Design) academic subjects, and producing a new generation of artistes.

 

Major subjects at the school are dancing, Myanmar orchestrator, oboe, violin, piano, harp, basic painting, commercial arts, aesthetic art, sculpting and literature.

 

In the afternoon, the State Counsellor visited Mandalay Hill and offered water, flowers and oil lamps to the Buddha Image, and signed the visitor’s book. She also donated cash funds for the pagoda to the Board of Trustees, and looked into the greening programmes and development works of Mandalay city from Mandalay hill.

 

The ceremony was attended by Union Ministers U Min Thu, Dr Myo Thein Gyi and Dr Myint Htwe, Chairman of Peace Commission Dr Tin Myo Win, Mandalay Region’s Chief Minister, ministers of the regional government, rectors of universities where scout teams have been formed, chairpersons of university scouts, Chief of Myanmar Boy Scouts Dr Tin Nyo, Deputy Chief Commissioner Daw Khin Saw Ohnma, heads of Myanmar girl guides and invited guests.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)