Stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, and prevalence of law and order necessary for national development
Government is taking measures in accordance with rules and regulations in tackling any matters,
Every government is dutybound to protect the nation and the people from dangers posed by terrorists and destructive groups

Yangon, 2 Nov —The following is a translation of the address delivered by Chairman of the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan at the press conference (7/2006) of the Information Committee.

Correspondents of foreign news agencies and those in charge of local magazines and journals,

You have listened to the clarification of the director-general of the Myanmar Police Force, so it will be clear to you that member of the ABSDF Thet Win Aung is the one who was serving prison term under Unlawful Associations Act, Emergency Act, Publishers and Distributors Act and Immigration Act in violation of existing laws.

He was in bed at a separate building of Mandalay Prison due to the disease he had been suffering. Despite medical treatments, he succumbed to Congestive Cardiomyopathy. So, it was just a natural death.

However, internal and external destructive elements exploited the death of Thet Win Aung to cause outrage to incite disorder, mass protests and terrorist acts. Indeed, these methods are similar to those applied in the 1988 disturbances.

Some who got involved in the 1988 unrest took some dead bodies out of the tombs at Kyandaw Cemetery to get political gains. Again, they are attempting to get political gains from the death of Thet Win Aung.

Local and foreign journalists,

The Tatmadaw had to take up State responsibilities on 18 September 1988 because at the time the nation was on the verge of collapse. Since then, it has given priority to prevalence of law and order and community peace to arrest the general deterioration of the nation.

Then, it laid down the four political objectives and gave the top priority to stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, and prevalence of law and order.

In fact, stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, and prevalence of law and order are necessary for national development, security of the lives and property of the people, enabling the people to lead a peaceful life in their work, and perpetuation of sovereignty.

That is why the government is taking necessary measures such as preventing, questioning, holding custody and taking action against those who are harming stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, and prevalence of law and order and inciting mass demonstrations and anarchic acts. Like other nations, Myanmar has to take such measures for the security of the people.

Local and foreign journalists,

As explained by the MPF director-general, anti-government elements are making slanderous accusations against the government. As a matter of fact, prison officials secured due rights to the prisoners and systematically supervised the tasks in accordance with the orders and directives and prison manual.

Moreover, they are nurturing and rehabilitating prisoners so that they will be able to serve the interests of the State and the people with new vigour. As you know, the government is repeatedly releasing some prisoners in accordance with the law, and due rights.

It is witnessed that in carrying out the nation-building tasks, the Tatmadaw has placed trust in and joining hands with the armed groups, whom it faced in the past in the battles for national defence and security, as blood brothers and colleagues after they have returned to the legal fold after realizing the benevolent attitude of the government.

Hardly, there have been tortures or others due to the practice of religious teachings in Myanmar. So, in Myanmar, there have been no tortures except action taken against those who committed crimes and supervision of the tasks in the prisons in accordance with the prison laws. As you know, although some have been sentenced to death under the laws, no one of them has ever been executed. And the government is rehabilitating and providing assistance to those serving jail terms so that they will become reliable resources of the nation.

Moreover, local NGOs are constantly donating foodstuff, personal goods and medicines to the prisoners under the instructions of the State.

Local and foreign journalists,

The government is taking measures in accordance with the rules and regulations in tackling any matters, whereas internal and external destructive elements are in collusion disregarding the laws and committing terrorist acts, detonating bombs, putting pressure, and inciting protests.

Their ultimate aim is to topple the Tatmadaw Government that is taking steps for smooth transition to democracy, to seize power, and to establish a government complying with the instructions of the colonialists. The internal and external destructive elements are applying strategies and tactics in order to achieve their goal.

Their strategy is designed to overthrow the government through mass campaign and to seize power through realization of the 1990 election results, demans for convening a Hluttaw session, and tripartite dialogue.

Local and foreign journalists,

They are resorting to various tactics under that strategy. The US and its associates are attempting to make the nation get into crisis and undermine the stability of the State through economic and diplomatic sanctions. Making use of their follower media, they are misleading the people and international community into misunderstanding the government.

In accordance with the methods of Gene Sharp who came and conducted a course, they are resorting to various means of political defiance and attempting to put the people on the path of defiance of the orders of the government. In complicity with the remnant Burma Community Party, they are arousing the public outrage through the methods stated in the “demo-2006”.

They are writing and giving talks to break up the unity of the Tatmadaw. They are organizing members of the Sangha and students.

Recently, the US has misused the UN to put Myanmar affairs on the agenda of the Security Council. The NLD and its associates “88” generation students are launching Signature Campaign, White Expression Campaign and Prayer Campaign.

The International Labour Organization is putting pressure on the nation through the groundless accusation that forced labour does exist in Myanmar till now. And the special envoy of the UN Human Rights is making slanderous accusations that the conditions on human rights in Myanmar is still deteriorating. A media group is making a mountain out of a molehill that Myanmar is one of the countries that are deprived of freedom of press.

That is the tactics to which the internal and external destructive elements are resorting, to undermine the unity among the government, the people and the Tatmadaw and to seize power.

Local and foreign journalists,

The mass campaign being implemented with the targeted year of 2006 by the NCUB includes aboveground attack, underground attack, and expatriation attack. We have constantly got news stories that the mass campaign committee for aboveground campaign is made up of so-called “88” generation students, some so-called veteran politicians, some CRPP members, ex-members who were removed from the NLD in disguise, and some NLD members. According to the news, when the mass campaign comes into shape without causing legal problems, the NLD will be pushed forward and supported.

Every government is under a duty to protect the nation and the people from the dangers posed by terrorists and destructive groups. Since the seizure of the letter and cash sent by member Zaw Zaw Aung (Ba Ka Tha) of “88” generation in the neighbouring country to member Ko Ko Gyi, we have kept these members under constant surveillance.

Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi became popular in the 1988 unrest whose students affair was associated with political affairs. But, few people knew the activities behind them. Since around 1988, they have had links with U Ye Tun and received cash assistance from embassies of certain Western embassies to Myanmar. Min Zeya in person drew the cash assistance from those embassies. They also joined hands with Moe Thi Zun who is kept by the BCP. Htay Kywe aroused the public outrage by broadcasting an invented story in collusion with BBC correspondent Christopher Gunnes and Ma Aye Nyein Thu that authorities raped the female students in the prison during the 1988 unrest.

They formed such illegal organizations as the All Burmese Students Union (ABSU) and the All Myanmar Students Union (AMSU) and caused public outrage to spread the 1988 unrest.

Local and foreign journalists,

On 18 September 1988, the Tatmadaw managed to restore peace and stability and assume the State responsibilities. In order to continue to oppose the government, the All Burmese Students Union led by Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Moe Thi Zun laid down and launched three strategies: to continue the ongoing underground campaign, to legally form a political party, and to rise against the government through armed struggle line.

The Democratic Party for New Society led by Moe Thi Zun was formed under that strategy. Since then, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Aung Din have carried out the ongoing underground campaign to incite more protests.

From 16 to 21 March 1989, the group of Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Aung Din, Sit Ko Naing and Soe Thein successively conduced talks against government and Tatmadaw at the offices of some township branches of the NLD in Yangon to incite mass demonstrations and terrorist acts. Their acts posed grave dangers to the security of the people, so the authorities concerned have had to arrest Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Aung Din since 1989.

The DPNS led by Moe Thi Zun stood as a legal political party. But, in accordance with their strategy, they had links with insurgent groups and formed alliance with BCP UGs. In consequence, their party was dissdred on 6 December 1991.

To continue to rise against the government, members of the DPNS went underground and formed an insurgent group under the name of DPNS on 25 May 1994.

Aung Din was released from the prison on 7 June 1993. He then he appealed the government to allow him to pursue education. The authorities satisfied his appeal, and he got B.E degree in 1994. Then, he again appealed for visa to work in Singapore. The authorities granted visa to him.

But, Aung Din went to the US via Singapore to oppose the motherland by putting reliance on foreign countries. Now, Aung Din is serving as director of the US Campaign for Burma and keeping on rising against the State.

Aung Din demanded the US government for imposing sanctions against Myanmar. He asked for cash assistance and is transferring the assistance to terrorist insurgent groups and anti-government groups. And he is collecting fabricated news stories from the nation and distributing them to mislead international community into misunderstanding the government.

Similarly, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi in collusion with Bo Kyi who was one of their colleagues in the All Burmese Students Union in 1988-89 formed an organization namely AAPP in the neighbouring country. Whenever UGs who incited mass demonstrations, and insurgents who entered the nation and committed destructive acts were taken action under the law, the AAPP gave protection to them under the heading of politicians. That is to mislead the international community.

The ABSDF previously ABFSU has committed various destructive acts including the bomb blast at the Maha Pasana Cave where Buddha's Tooth Relic was temporarily kept for public obeisance, and the bomb blasts in three busy places in Yangon. In complicity with NCUB and DAB, they have drawn and are implementing the mass campaign. Up to now, they have been sending terrorists to the nation.

So, it can be deduced from the points I have presented to you, that ex-BCP members who incited and spread mass protests in the 1988 unrest are now committing destructive acts in collusion with insurgents, anti-government expatriates and partly-UG hard-cores inside and outside the nation to harm the State and the people.

Local and foreign journalists,

Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi were released from the prison in 2005. They reunited Htay Kywe, Pyone Cho and Min Zeya who were also released. They called themselves as ‘88' generation students.

But, their ages range from more than 40 to 50, so, they are no longer students. Nor is the ABSDF led by Than Khe and it is just an insurgent group.

Almost everyone has ever lead a student life. In fact, why they call themselves as students is to exploit students. Such an intention can harm the education sector, and that shows that they are merely self-centered ones.

Min Ko Naing and party committed such destructive acts to draw internal and international attention and gain links with old partners. They also committed such acts as making relations with foreign broadcasting stations, frequenting embassies of certain Western countries, making links with underground groups and attempting to form an ABSU-like organization.

In addition, they participated in the commemorative ceremonies held by the NLD and old politicians. They attended welfare, funeral and social occasions of related persons to get political gains. According to the latest developments, the group of Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi is organizing the people to create mass demonstrations, part of the mass campaign of the NCUB.

On 12 February 2006, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi A Annan through the US embassy so that the UN Secretary General or the Security Council would directly handle the case of Myanmar affairs.

Bo Kyi of AAPP collected cash assistance from ex-Myanmar students in exile and NGOs, and sent 25 million kyats to the 88 generation group led by Min Ko Naing through the British embassy in the second week of this April. Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Zaw Min and Pyone Cho bought four mobile phones with the use of that cash assistance, and made phone contacts with the elements abroad. It is learnt that the AAPP will collect cash assistance again and send more cash assistance to the group so that all the members can use a mobile phone each plus a car for the group.

It is also learnt that Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe are collecting cash donations to provide so-called political inmates from various prisons; and an NGO in the US presented 30,000 US dollars to Htay Kywe through the US embassy on 14 August 2006.

And ex-members of the AMSU in the US and NDD member Khin Ohn Mar sent 2.5 million kyats to Min Zeya.

So, it is clear that Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi and party are receiving cash assistance from the embassies of certain Western countries, and they have links with expatriate ex-ABSU members and ex-AMSU members, and are active in the nation with the assistance of those expatriate groups in exile.

Local and foreign journalists,

According to the news we have got constantly, the ABSDF is taking steps to commit destructive acts in the nation.

And, NCGUB, NCUB, ABSDF and BVSW would detonate bombs in September to create some changes in Myanmar; they would target buildings of members of the Sangha, the Tatmadaw and students; and they have planned to blow up bombs around universities and basic education schools.

On the evening of 15 October, vice-chairman of NCUB Khaing Soe Naing Aung arrived at Maesok and met with editor Ziwa Soe of Mogyo newspaper, Aung Kyaw Soe of ABSDF, and in charge of intelligence Min Lwin; under the instructions of the NCUB and chairman Than Khe of ABSDF, they would send Maung Maung Myint, Aung Moe Shwe and Than Ngwe Soe to the nation on 19 October.

In meeting with Min Lwin, San Ngwe, Kywe Gyi (a) Nyo Win and Than Than Win in Maesok on 17 October, Khaing Soe Naing Aung informed them that the attempt of Nilar Win they had sent to detonate bombs in two places in Kyauktada in October was successful.

The ABSDF issued and sent a letter to mark the birthday of Min Ko Naing. The letter said that it was sent to Min Ko Naing, fellow brothers and various organizations, and the ABSDF was in harmony with Min Ko Naing.

Local and foreign journalists,

The objectives and acts of members of the ABSDF, NCGUB and FTUB and the persons who have relations with them are posing grave dangers to prevalence of law and order, and stability of the State. So, under Section (16) of Unlawful Associations Act, on 28 August 2005, the government declared those groups and related organizations unlawful associations in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph (15) of the Act.

Moreover, the government also declared the ABSDF, NCGUB, FTUB, DPNS and NLD/NA and their members as terrorists.

Therefore, it is vivid why the government called in Min Ko Naing and four accomplices for questioning.

Local and foreign journalists,

For the their release, members of the 88 generation group launched the Signature Campaign to deceive the people who have known the background history of the group and activities being done under its strategy.

As usual, internal and external destructive elements organized the people through exaggerated news stories regarding the Signature Campaign. Certain foreign broadcasting stations entertained the exaggerations, saying that writers, artistes, physicians, lawyers and members of the Sangha signed the Signature Campaign; and a total of more than 500,000 people signed.

Indeed, that number was just an exaggerated one. It was because members of the Sangha from Htilin Monastery at Western Thiri Khema Ward in Chanaye Thazan Township, Mandalay, said that they did not sign; that except some monks who are getting involved in politics, any members of the Sangha will not do so; and they are using members of the Sangha as a stepping stone by signing fake names of members of the Sangha, and stating fake monasteries and signatures in order to increase the number of those who signed.

The monks of Maha Wizikayama monastery said that they had not heard nor seen any member of the Sangha of the monastery signing in the paper; that it is a trick to cause illusion among the religious people; as the monks are the ones striving for promotion, propagation and perpetuation of the Sasana, they will never sign in the document; that not any of the monks will be the tool of any individual or organization; that the false signature campaign to make political gains is unacceptable as it makes peace-loving people lose faith in the monks.

On 11 October, Khamauk Shwe Maung of Htundon ward, Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay, visited his close friend‘s house in Myayinanda ward. He asked the couple of the house to sign on the white sheet of paper without showing the words written on it, saying that giving their signatures will cause not any problem. Hence, the couple reluctantly signed on the paper.

As Khamouk Shwe Maung asked the couple to organize their closed friends to give their signatures, they persuaded two of their neighbours to sign on the paper. But when they became to know the next day that Khamouk Shwe Maung was an NLD member of Mandalay South-East Township, who was collecting signatures for the release of the members of the so-called ‘88' generation students, they spoke angrily to him and told him not to trick them into signing such letters and visiting their homes again.

The organizing group of the National League for Democracy of Mandalay Division held its meeting at the house of U Maung Maung Than, joint secretary of the group, at Khemazala ward, Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay Division, on 20 October.

At the meeting, vice-chairman U Thein Naing of Mandalay Division NLD organizing group said that the NLD central fixed the last date to collect public signatures on the 22nd of October; that the so-called petitions should be sent within the fixed time. The persons who are collecting public signatures gave priority only to numbers or quantity instead of correctness in the names and signatures.

Concerning the signature campaign, some members of the Kyauktada Township NLD in Yangon Division criticized the NLD on 22 October, saying that they were participating in the campaign only because of the duty assigned to them by the party; that some of them were using false names and false signatures to compile the doctored collections; and that the NLD failed to realize the goal in launching such campaign in the past.

U Khin Soe, an ex-NLD member of Latha Township, Yangon, while on the way from his home to an optical shop on 24 October afternoon ran across Ko Hla Aung, a political agent, on Shwebontha Street in Pabedan Township. Ko Hla Aung tried to press U Khin Soe into signing the paper. But U Khin Soe refused to give his signature, telling him that the signature campaign was unreasonable as it gave priority only to the personal interest; and that the campaign did not serve the interest of the nation and the people at all.

Johnny (a) Kyagyi of Myinpat ward, Pyawbwe, under order of Pyawbwe Township NLD Secretary U Aung Than went to a house in Shwepyi Yanaung ward on 25 October and asked the couple there to sign the paper. But the couple refused to give their signatures. So he visited a nearby house and deceived the housewife into signing the paper, without explaining the matter.

The above-mentioned paras stand witness to the fact that the signature campaign is just a fake petition in which signatures were collected through tricks or that is filled with phoney names and signatures. Only a handful of persons signed the so-called petition, and they are the same as the persons of the past signature campaigns of the NLD, who upheld personal and factional prejudices. The fact also signifies the public opinion on the so-called signature campaign.

Local and foreign journalists,

Members of the group continued to launch the so-called White Expression, forcing people to get involved in their political mess. All know that it is a tradition of the Myanmar people to wear white clothes as a symbol of sincerity, purity and uprightness.

The white collar-less shirt and the jacket are the traditional dress of Myanmar people. The dress has been usually worn by departmental personnel and company staff. School teachers and students also wear white and green uniform. Although the colour of the longyis of nurses is vary depending on rank, they all wear the white ingyi. Aged persons, saints who practise vipassana, members of the pagoda board of trustees and voluntary monastery attendants wear white shirt.

Journalists have already heard that the people are hesitant to wear the white dress because of the misdeeds of the politicians who are totally under the influence of their own ego.

Dutiful journalists have been criticizing the campaigns of the ‘88' generation students, saying that their acts are disturbing the daily lives of the people.

Another step of the ‘88' generation students group is the holding of peace prayers. The time fixed for the campaign is one week. It is an insult against all the citizens of Myanmar where all religions co-exist peacefully.

Myanmar Buddhists keep Sabbath on religiously significant days; Muslims always say Friday prayers; and Christians attend church services every Sunday. The ‘88' generation students group tries to exploit the religious traditions of the Myanmar citizens as if the people are performing religious prayers and services in support of its campaign.

At present, Myanmars are holding the Tazaungdine festival and Kathina robes donation festivals. Departments, companies and religious associations are holding collective Kathina robes offering ceremonies, and individual families are also offering robes to the monks.

The group's attempts to cause public instigation through religious prayers is to muddle religion with politics to use both as a tool. The group is applying the political defiance method of the persons called Gene Sharp.

Local and foreign journalists,

I will now explain the different aims of the negative attitude and the positive attitude, words and practical deeds, and slanderous propaganda and goodwill efforts.

The so-called ‘88' generation students and their cohorts said that the aim of the peace prayers is to peacefully solve the unsolved problems of the nation.

Hence, we need to make a comparison between the government's endeavours to restore peace and national consolidation and the destructive acts of the saboteurs.

The words of those saboteurs are for peace, but their practical deeds are for the eruption of an unrest to destroy the prevailing peace and stability of the nation.

Since its assumption of the State duties, the Tatmadaw government has been thinking about the reasons the nation lagged behind in development. Its study shows that the reasons were the over-40-year-long internal strife that destroyed human resources of both sides; the failure to launch the development drive seriously due to lack of peace and stability. The government has decided to restore the national peace first.

With sincere efforts, the government has been cementing national unity to restore peace. Hence, the nation has achieved peace the successive governments of the past failed to restore. Seventeen major national races armed groups and many other small armed groups returned to the legal fold. Some groups unconditionally exchanged arms for peace.

Many of the border areas that were the scene of poverty resulting from over 40 years of armed insurgency are now enjoying the fruits of peace and stability. The government has been running the border areas development drive together with the efforts to restore peace. Thanks to the ardent participation of the former armed groups and the local people, border areas are enjoying the same degree of progress with the major cities.

Some remaining armed groups are holding peace talks with the government as they emulate the results of peace. However, peace cannot be restored in the entire nation because of the perpetration of the outside elements who do not wish to see peace prevailing in the entire nation, to use insurgents a fuse to blow up every hope for peace.

The total area of the regions that are free from insurgency and enjoying peace and progress is 83,415 square miles covering 68 townships where 5.3 million national race people live. As long as we can rejoice the rapid development of the social lives of those national races, we will be able to notice the goodwill endeavours of the government to strengthen national peace.

Local and foreign journalists,

The second so-called aim of the prayer campaign is to free all the people from hardships and poverty. But it is the ‘88' generation students group that is demanding the imposition of investment, trade, export and tourism sanctions against Myanmar to drag the people into poverty.

Because of their demands betraying the nation, America has imposed sanctions on Myanmar. The result is that about 160 garment factories in Myanmar had to close down and 40 others had to cut down their working forces. Over one-hundred-thousand workers lost their jobs and their families are facing economic hardships.

Mini businesses depending on those unemployed workers and families came to a halt. Over 80,000 women are included in the workers who lost their jobs. As they are earning their living through any means possible some of them even fell victim to human traffickers.

It is clear that the persons who are singing out to free people from poverty in reality are the ones dragging the people into poverty.

Local and foreign journalists,

The Head of State has been giving guidance to build the nation with goodwill and united strength to hand over the nation that is developed, peaceful and tranquil in all aspects, but not a deteriorating nation, to the future generations.

As all are working with sincerity in accord with the guidance, the nation has been achieving peace, stability and progress.

The private sector is playing a greater role in developing socio-economy. Both the national economy and the private sector are developing. The Nation's GDP reached K 12,162 billion in 2005-2006, up from K 76 billion in 1988-89. Per capita income increased to over K 220,000 in 2005-2006 from only K 1,940 in 1988-89.

At present, the private sector's contribution to the GDP has reached 90 per cent, up from 71 per cent in 1988-89.

The government has abolished all restrictions in trading crops including rice, cotton, sugarcane. It is increasing rubber, maize, sesame and onion exports. It has made arrangements to facilitate the export business, trying to effectively run the one stop service. In addition to Yangon, the main seaport, a number of border entry points have become major regular trade routes.

The government has been providing protection for every one running export business in accord with the procedures. Export facilitation annually increases nation's foreign trade volume. Since 2002-2003, the nation has been enjoying surplus trade.

In the past it was not easy for the nation to enjoy a US $ 1,000 million trade surplus as it was facing annual trade deficits. At present, annual trade surplus has reached US $ 5,000 million. Prospects are high for the trade surplus to reach U$ SD 7,000 million in 2006-2007.

In this new age all need to nurture new thoughts and visions. With innovative efforts, entrepreneurs should run businesses that ensure long-term benefits. They should be straightforward and should serve their personal interest and the national interest fair and square. They should develop their enterprises to have enough global competitive power.

The nation is making efforts to produce 1,500 million baskets of paddy per year. It produced over 1,300 million baskets of paddy in 2005-2006. Local consumption is at over 780 million baskets, annual wastage is at 94 million baskets and surplus is at over 400 million baskets.

The nation's power consumption in 1988-89 was 1,522 million kilowatt hours. Now the nation's electricity output is at 5,325 million kilowatt hours.

All I have mentioned in the above paras are the sound foundations and prospects for the future generations.

Local and foreign journalists,

The ‘88' generation students who are cooperating with internal and external destructive elements said that the third aim is to say prayers to free the flood victims from all social hardships. But they have never rendered any assistance to the victims.

The storm occurred in South China Sea brought heavy rains to many places in Shan State and Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions. Floods in rivers and streams causes inundation in low-lying areas. Thanks to the storm warning announced in advance, local authorities, Tatmadawmen, departments and social organizations in cooperation with the local people, were able to relocate victims to safe places in time.

Social organizations and wellwishers provided K 43.2 million and 367 baskets of rice to the victims. Although there were heavy rains there were no dam breaks in the affected regions. The dams were able to hold water that was going to flow down to the low-lying areas. Hence, hydel power plants are generating more electricity and reservoirs are holding greater volume of water for irrigation.

Damaged roads and bridges are under repair at present. Alternative transport means have been introduced to maintain normal trade and transport. The respective bodies are making arrangements to grow crops in the damaged fields in ccooperation with international organizations. All I have explained is the government's assistance for natural disaster victims.

But there are persons trying to make political and economic gains out of the victims. Not long ago, a Myanmar democracy activists held a prayer ceremony in Maryland, the US. They are going to ask money from the respective NGOs, with the ceremony as a show. It is nothing more than the act of expatriate terrorists and insurgents who are misusing the funds provided for refugee camps.

The students group in collusion with a certain radio station under foreign influence announced a slanderous news report concerning the prayer campaign.

The DVB on 29 October aired that over 100,000 Christians attended the prayer campaign held at St. Mary Cathedral, the main church of the Roman Catholics, on Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Yangon.

The authorities concerned after investigating the matter confirmed that about 1000 Christians attended the normal Sunday services in which five fathers were re-ordained and the birthday of the Arch Bishop was celebrated; and that not a single member of the ‘88' generation students group had attended it.

On 29 October, members of the group and cohorts held a prayer ceremony on Shwedagon Pagoda hill without the consent of the Pagoda Board of Trustees. Law suit can be filed against them in accord with the rules of the Board of Trustees.

According to the subpara 10 of the para 77 (nagyi) of the rules, those who wish to hold a ceremony on the pagoda platform must ask the permission of the Board of Trustees and should present the agenda and aim of the ceremony and the names of supervisors and speakers to the Board of Trustees in advance; that the Board of Trustees will take against anyone who breaks the rules.

Local and foreign journalists,

As a means to shape the future administrative machinery, administrative reforms are under way to maintain the acceleration in running the task of ensuring State stability, community peace and the rule of law and building the nation.

The administrative reforms are meant to create sound foundations and prospects to implement the multipary democracy system and market economy in accord with the public wish. The reforms are in conformity with the democracy transition.

The National Convention has been adopting the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles. The administrative system has been reformed so as it will be in accord with the future State structure.

Persons who win public respect have been elected to head wards and villages in changing the form and essence of the administrative machinery. Local elders elect two graduates for every ward or village. Of the two, one will serve as the chairman of ward or village-tract administrative body and the other as the member.

In townships, head of the township General Administration Department will act as chairman, the head of Township Planning Department as the secretary and the commander of Township Myanmar Police Force as the members.

The district administrator will be the chairman of the district administrative body, district police commander as the member and head of district Planning Department as the secretary.

In State/Division level, the commander of the military command concerned will be the chairman, head of State/Division GAD the secretary, and heads of State/Division police force and State/Division PD the members. Necessary courses have been conducted for the local authorities to become persons trusted by the people.

All those reforms are for the emergence of a good governance that wins public trust and respect.

In other words, the reforms are made to prevent the local authorities from oppressing and bullying the public, abusing power and collecting money at will.

Local and foreign journalists,

The government has been laying sound foundations to ensure peace and stability, develop socio-economy, produce qualified human resources, and facilitate democracy transition, even there are internal and external disturbances. Myanmar people have reached a better stage where justice prevails.

On the other hand, internal and external destructive elements are using the political words to the liking of some persons to implement their destructive tactics and strategies. They in reality are power hungry people.

Throughout history, the Tatmadaw even risked the lives of its members in playing the leading part in the national politics. It knows about the minions of the neo-colonists very well that those minions will stab in the back of the people, while pretending to be good in front of the people.

Hence, the government will take timely action against all those who are trying to extend their perpetration to harm the peace and stability and the rule of law through various means.

The people who are participating in strengthening the sound foundations of peace and stability and progress should aware of and ward off the saboteurs.

The government in cooperation with the people and the Tatmadaw will continue to head towards the goal of democratic state, while safeguarding all the people and the members of the Sangha. It will continue to carry out the endeavours with Union Spirit, patriotism and unyielding spirit.