The government is elected by the people, and it has to respect people’s will. It has the responsibility to address public concerns in all seriousness. There are some parties and elements forcing government into tight corner and undermining peace and stability.

NAY PYI TAW, 30 Sept-President of the Republic of Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein has sent a message to second regular sessions of the first Pyithu Hluttaw and the first Amyotha Hluttaw being convened today with addresses to speakers of respective Hluttaws. The translation of the message is as follows

Speaker
Pyithu Hluttaw/Amyotha Hluttaw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar

1. I wish the Speakers of Pyithu Hluttaw/Amyotha Hluttaw and all representatives who are putting all their energies into serving the people’s interests at the second regular sessions of the first Pyithu Hluttaw/Amyotha Hluttaw physical and mental well-being.

2. The Union government, and region and state governments also are harmoniously placing emphasis on emergence of good governance, clean government, burgeoning of democratic practices, prevalence of law and order, economic reforms and environmental conservation.

3. The common goal of all the national people is to ensure peace and stability of the State and modernization of the nation. As the Union government offered an olive branch to national race armed groups staying outside the legal fold in accord with the wish of the national people for ensuring eternal peace, state level agreements have been reached with Special Region (2) “Wa” Group and Special Region (4) Group. At present, the Union level dialogues are in progress. Moreover, some groups have made contact with state governments concerned for peace negotiations.

4. At the same time, as Myanmar citizens who were abroad due to various reasons are scrutinized with offer of return to their mother country and native places, some have arrived back. The release of prisoners will be conducted within the framework of powers entrusted in accord with the constitution. While the Union government is accelerating its service for the national interest, it is so regrettable to witness attempts of some parties and elements forcing the government into the tight corner and undermining peace and stability.

5. Utmost efforts are being made with the aim of industrializing the nation while raising momentum in improvement of agriculture sector in building a modern and developed nation. Electricity is a sine qua non for becoming industrialized nation. Among the ways and means to generate electricity, nuclear energy, according to global incidents, is very risky; and moreover, such process is impossible for the nation due to financial constraints and political censure. In addition, all the representatives know that coal is not sufficient for electric power generation for the whole nation.

6. Although natural gas can be produced from Myanmar territorial waters, the business is run with foreign investment and thus the country get only its share of gas from the production. As the country has made some investments in the business with loans from foreign nations, she will enjoy fruits in future, but currently, has to pay the interest in installments. The nation is exploring and producing onshore gas, but cannot produce enough even to fulfil domestic demand.

7. As the country has natural rivers and creeks to produce renewable energy, the Tatmadaw government made efforts to generate hydropower inviting foreign investments. Thanks to the efforts, the country has 23 more power stations with generating capacity of 2831 megawatts up from two hydropower plants and seven natural gas-fired power plants with total generating capacity of 529 megawatts.

8. In accord with 30-year strategic plan for electricity, there has been greater potential to generate more electricity from 64 hydropower projects and three coal-fired power plants with total generating power of more than 40000 megawatts. Those projects include eight projects at the upper reaches of Maykha and Malikha and Ayeyawady confluence in Kachin State.

9. While first phase of Ayeyawady Myitsone hydropower project was implemented with the investment from the People’s Republic of China, we noted that there arise the following public concerns about the Myitsone project.

(a) natural beauties of Myitsone the gift of nature and a landmark not only for Kachin State but also for Myanmar may disappear;

(b) possible loss of livelihood of national races villages due to inundation at the upstream of the river;

(c) commercially-grown rubber and teak plantations which are heavily invested by private entrepreneurs may be destroyed;

(d) melting ice from snow-capped mountains at the far north triggered by climate change, torrential rains or severe earthquakes may destroy Myitsone dam, claiming lives and property of the people in towns and villages at the downstream of the dam; and

(e) there may be a devastating effect on the Ayeyawady River.

10. As our government is elected by the people, it is to respect the people’s will. We have the responsibility to address public concerns in all seriousness. So construction of Myitsone Dam will be suspended in the time of our government. Other hydropower projects that pose no threat will be implemented through thorough survey for availability of electricity needed for the nation. I would like to inform the Hluttaws that coordination will be made with the neighbouring friendly nation, the People’s Republic of China, to accept the agreements regarding the project without undermining cordial relations.