Necessary laws enacted to hold free and fair
elections as fifth step of State’s seven-step Road Map
Prime Minister General Thein Sein tours townships in Shan State (North)

NAY PYI TAW, 11 March- Accompanied by Lt-Gen Min Aung Hlaing of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of North-East Command Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut, the ministers, the auditor- general, the deputy ministers and departmental heads, Prime Minister General Thein Sein arrived in Kutkai of Muse District at 9.10 a.m. on 9 March.

In meeting with departmental officials, members of social organizations and local people in Kutkai Station and in Namhkam, the Prime Minister made addresses and presented clothes and medicines to townselders.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo touched upon assistance provided for greater development in agricultural sector in all parts of the nation and cultivation of marketable crops that are suitable for the region on commercial scale. Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint gave accounts of extended construction and upgrading of
roads for better transport in Shan State (North) and stressed the need to maintain Namhkam-Bhamo tarred road linking Shan State (North) and Kachin State for durability. Auditor- General Maj-Gen Lun Maung called for collaborative efforts to maintain already-achieved national consolidation and peace and stability.

At Kutkai Township People’s Hospital, the Prime Minister gave instructions on uplift of health standard of the local people and comforted patients.

While visiting Shweli Yadana Yeiktha in Muse, a local presented traditional items to Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Lt-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and the commander.

On his arrival at Hsenwi in Lashio District, the Prime Minister met departmental officials, members of social organizations and local people and presented clothes and medicines to them. The Prime Minister and party arrived back in Lashio in the evening.

While in Lashio yesterday, the Prime Minister attended the opening of three-storey main building of University of Computer Studies (Lashio).

Next, the Prime Minister proceeded to Hsipaw of Kyaukme District.

The Prime Minister visited Hsipaw Township People’s Hospital. In meeting with departmental officials, members of social organizations and local people, Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo briefed them on ensuring durability of infrastructural buildings and Auditor-General Maj-Gen Lun Maung stressed that parents should involve themselves in their children’s education as intellectuals and intelligentsia play key role in carrying out national consolidation and regional development tasks.

The Prime Minister looked into progress of Dokhtawady River crossing RC Bridge and Pontoon Bridge being built by Asia World Co Ltd near Hsipaw.

In Mongyai and Tangyan, the Prime Minister met departmental officials, members of social organizations and townselders at the hall of the local battalion.

Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo explained that as the government has brought about development of the region, the local people are to utilize the sound foundation in improving their socio-economic status, and the Auditor- General also stressed the need for cementing friendly relations among the national people and maintenance of security, peace and stability of the region, the importance of national unity and concerted efforts to be made for development of the Union with genuine nationalistic spirit.

The Prime Minister presented clothes and medicines to the local people in Mongyai and Tangyan.

In the evening, they arrived back in Nay Pyi Taw via Lashio.

In meeting with departmental personnel, members of social organizations and local people in the townships of Shan State (North), the Prime Minister said that although Shan State (North) lacked peace and stability in the past, the region has now restored security, peace and stability.

He spoke of the need to make sustained efforts to ensure prevalence of law and order, to carry out development tasks based on peace and stability of the regions and explained endeavours of the government on construction of infrastructures including transport, education and health sectors for equitable development of all regions, requirements of intelligentsia and intellectual human resources for exploring natural resources to serve the interest of the State, the all-out efforts of the government in implementing the national education plans to enhance basic and higher education sectors for turning out skilled human resources, the opportunity for the local youths to learn higher education in their own regions with cost efficiency thanks to establishment of one technological university each in 24 development regions, opening of hospitals and clinics and assignment of specialists for uplifting health care standard for emergence of healthy and fit human resources.

He pointed out that as all the national races are residing in the Union, they all are to cultivate the Union Spirit and uphold Our Three Main National Causes-Non-disintegration of the Union, Nondisintegration of national solidarity and Perpetuation of sovereignty. He added that as the State’s seven-step Road Map is being realized step by step for building a peaceful,
modern and developed democratic nation which is the national goal, necessary laws are enacted to hold free and fair elections as the fifth step.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister urged those present to work hard for improvement of livelihoods by effectively utilizing the sound foundations built by the State for development, to harmoniously participate in the development tasks by maintaining the existing foundations of development, to contribute to accom-plishment of the elections as the national duty and join hands with the government, the people and the Tatmadaw in striving for security, peace and stability and development of the State.