News & Articles on Burma-Thursday, 31 March, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Thursday, 31 March, 2011
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Clinton Urged to Make Sanctions More Effective
MYANMAR: Earthquake homeless need urgent shelter
President to chair defence council
Strongman Than Shwe steps down
Merkel calls on Myanmar to free political prisoners
US senators urge tougher Myanmar sanctions
World Leaders Wary of New Burmese Government
President U Thein Sein speaks to members of Union Government
President U Thein Sein gives address to heads of Union level organizations
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Clinton Urged to Make Sanctions More Effective
By LALIT K JHA Friday, April 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — Coming out in support of the position paper on sanctions by the National League of Democracy (NLD), four top US senators have urged US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to make sanctions against the Burmese military junta more effective, and to immediately nominate a Special Policy Coordinator on Burma.

“We are writing to express our support for the official position paper on sanctions on Burma released by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD),” wrote senators Dianne Feinstein, Mitch McConnell, Barbara Boxer and Mark Kirk in a letter to Clinton.

In their later dated March 29, which was released to the press on March 31, the senators said they agreed with the NLD’s position that sanctions should be maintained until the regime undertakes serious reforms. The NLD had concluded that the economic sanctions affect the military junta and its associates, and are not to blame for the country’s economic problems.

“With the regime’s recent moves and persistent human rights abuses, conditions do not currently exit to meet the necessary criteria to consider an easing of sanctions. Instead we urge the department at senior levels to take this opportunity to accept the NLD’s invitation to work with them to ensure that sanctions are more effective and better utilized,” the senators wrote.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. “One way to enhance this co-ordination would be the nomination of a Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma as mandated by Section 7 of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts Act (JADE Act),” they wrote.

The senators urged the administration to act swiftly to nominate an individual with the depth of expertise and the breadth of skills necessary to succeed in this important decision.

Noting that the NLD asserts that financial sanctions can be effective and targeted to only members of the military junta and their associates, the senators urged Clinton to exercise the authority for additional banking sanctions against Burma’s leaders explicitly provided by the US Congress under the JADE Act.

“We believe that exercising such authority represents one of the most powerful instruments at our disposal for pressuring Burma’s rulers to change course,” the senators wrote. http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21057
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MYANMAR: Earthquake homeless need urgent shelter
Photo: Lynn Maung/IRIN

A quake survivor sits with pictures of her lost ones who perished
MA AN HKAN, 1 April 2011 (IRIN) - The main concern for thousands of survivors of last week's devastating earthquake in Myanmar is lack of shelter.

"We've lost everything. How are we supposed to rebuild?" asked Nan Yone, 75, squatting on the floor of her makeshift tent near the remains of her home in the village of Ma An Hkan in Tarlay Sub-Township, the worst affected area, about an hour's drive from the Burmese border town of Tachileik.

According to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), 3,152 people were left homeless by the 6.8 magnitude quake that struck Myanmar's eastern Shan state on 24 March, affecting at least 18,000 people and killing 74.

More than 700 homes were damaged or destroyed, local authorities in Tarlay reported.

A rapid assessment by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and MRCS, with Noble Compassionate Volunteer (NCV) and World Vision Myanmar, found 90 villages moderately or severely affected.

On 30 March, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that in 50 of those affected, more than half of all buildings were damaged or destroyed, while in the remaining 40, the figure was more than 30 percent.

"Many houses were destroyed because they were poorly constructed," Denis de Poerck, acting country director of Save the Children/Myanmar told IRIN from Yangon.

And with aftershocks continuing, many quake-traumatized residents - despite early rains beginning - are not taking any chances, erecting makeshift tents outside.

"They construct a temporary tent on the ground just in front of their old house and stay there," said De Poerck.

Traditionally the rainy season begins in mid-May and ends in mid-September, reaching its peak in July and August.

"Many people will catch cold, especially children under-five," an NCV health worker said. "These people urgently need proper shelter before the rainy season officially starts," she stressed.

Despite significant relief efforts to date, more is needed, with many residents picking away at the remnants of their devastated homes in the hopes of salvaging material that might be usable.

According to OCHA, they still need additional material support, particularly non-food items, such as tarpaulins, blankets and household utensils.

Swe Swe Lin, a pregnant mother-of-two, rebuilt her bamboo house with the help of villagers, but does not dare sleep inside it.

"No, not with the aftershocks. It's just safer to stay in the tent now," the 29-year-old said. "I'm not sure whether I would survive the next time and I'm worried about my unborn baby."

lm/ds/mw

Theme (s): Natural Disasters,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=92336
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President to chair defence council
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 1 April 2011

Burma’s new president, Thein Sein, will head an 11-member National Defence and Security Council, it was announced Thursday, while the former junta strongman and commander-in-chief, Than Shwe, is conspicuously absent.

Than Shwe’s replacement, Min Aung Hlaing, is also on the Council, as is speaker of the lower house, Shwe Mann. But what of the ageing dictator who recently appointed Thein Sein to the country’s top post?

“Officially Than Shwe is not on [the Council], and that is what leaves us guessing,” said Burma analyst Larry Jagan, adding that he believed it would be a “coordinating body” and not a “decision-making authority”.

He said however that the presence of Thein Sein and Shwe Mann meant it would have “tremendous influence – it will be hard for any of the key players not to heed their advice.”

Also present is Burma’s new foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, and the two vice presidents, Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mauk Kham, the latter one of the few high-ranking ethnic appointees.

What may be of significance, says Jagan, is the ascendance of a new generation in regional military positions, such as the commanders of the Bureaus of Special Operations (BSO), of which there are six responsible for different geographic areas of the country.

“They retired all the old ones. You now have younger people basically in all positions – some of the old regional commanders have been made chief ministers and this will be an interesting relationship between the old chief ministers and the new regional commanders.”

He continued that the regional commanders “are not going to be inclined to take orders from civilians”, regardless of their former military positions. “The patronage link is broken as soon as they leave the military.”

The dynamics of future relations between the new generation, whom Jagan terms “Young Turks” and the older generation who have been assimilated into the fold of Naypyidaw politics, may not emerge immediately.

Specific details of the Council, such as the number of times it is required to sit each year, remain unclear.

Meanwhile, a new chief has been chosen to head Burma’s police force. Like his predecessor, Khin Yi, Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Tun is a former military man who took over as deputy commander of Rangoon in 2006, meaning that he likely played an instrumental role in the deadly suppression of the monk-led protests in September 2007.
http://www.dvb.no/news/president-to-chair-defence-council/15113
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BANGKOK POST
Strongman Than Shwe steps down

Published: 31/03/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Burma's top military man Than Shwe has finally stepped down as senior general and virtual dictator. From now on he is to be known as U Than Shwe - denoting his civilian status. Yesterday the ruling State Peace and Development Council which has run Burma since the army seized power in a bloody coup more than 22 years ago, formally handed over control of the country to new President Thein Sein (a former general himself) and the recently elected government. The president and the new ministers have been sworn in and take charge of running the country on Friday - the start of the new financial year.

Senior General Than Shwe as quit the military and will from now on be known as U Than Shwe.

Hints that Gen Than Shwe had stood down came on Sunday during Armed Forces Day, when there was no formal military parade - for the first time in 66 years - no speech by the commander-in-chief and an annual reception at which there was no named host. This signalled the change that had been expected for some time, after the sham elections last November in which the military rulers intervened to make sure their party - the Union Solidarity and Development Party - won a landslide victory.

And as usual the people of Burma were left guessing. Reading the signs in Burma is like Kremlinology (in the old Soviet times), meaning events have to be interpreted.

It was widely known for some time that the Armed Forces Day celebrations would be low key. There would be no military parade, according to Asian defence attaches in Rangoon who knew they would not be attending the usual celebrations in Naypyidaw. This was extremely significant - as it was the first time in 66 years that it had not happened.

In the absence of a speech by the commander-in-chief - either Than Shwe or his successor - the state-run newspapers all republished Gen Than Shwe's speech from last year, as a reminder that although the senior general may have taken off his uniform, he is still a force to be reckoned with. While there was no official host for the annual armed forces day reception, six senior generals from the SPDC were all seated at the top table with Gen Than Shwe.

From now on the general is to be known as U Than Shwe, according to senior businessmen and government officials in Rangoon and Naypyidaw who met him on the weekend. The much-anticipated moment came on Saturday - the day before the Armed Forces Day - when he told an important gathering of businessmen, politicians and retired soldiers that he had handed over power to the president-elect at the time, Thein Sein.

His right-hand man Thien Sien is now the president of Burma.

The old man told the current ministers - who were only replaced when the cabinet was sworn in yesterday - that he was no longer a military man. However, he also told them that he would be happy to meet any of them, whenever they wished, but in a private capacity.

So the transfer of power to President Thein Sein and the new cabinet is now official. Most of the new ministers, as expected, are former military men. Of course, these ministers have their work cut out for them. All the ministry coffers are dry, with the possible exception of the Defence Ministry. The outgoing ministers were encouraged to spend everything last year, especially on election campaigning.

So, one of the new government's first actions is likely to be to introduce a system of taxation. But the swearing-in of the new government and Parliament at least ends the state of limbo that has crippled the country for the past two months. The uncertainty is over. A new civilian government of sorts has been installed. But have the old guard really retired, or simply retreated to the backroom to control things from there?

While it now seems clear that Than Shwe is relinquishing day-to-day control of government and taking a back seat, he will not be completely handing over power - he will certainly still try to manage things from behind the scenes. That much was also clear when he invited the ministers to come and see him.

"Than Shwe has no plan to switch state power to the president or Parliament," said Aung Lynn Htut, a former Burmese military intelligence officer and diplomat who defected a few years ago after he was posted to Washington. "He will continue to control things from behind the curtain," he said.

In recent weeks there has been widespread speculation that U Than Shwe intended to set up a State Supreme Council - which according to some military sources in Naypyidaw is intended to be the top body in government - with allegedly the role of advising the new civilian government. The eight-member council reportedly includes U Than Shwe, Gen Maung Aye - until last week vice senior general and officially number two in the regime - speaker of the lower house [Pyithu Hluttaw] Thura Shwe Mann, President Thein Sein, the speaker of the upper house former Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, former Lt Gen Tin Aye and two other senior military generals.

There is no doubt that this would be an influential body at the top of the government structure, although it would in fact be unconstitutional. So far there is no evidence to suggest that U Than Shwe has opted for this formula. Many analysts believe he is going to rely on personal loyalties and connections.

"Than Shwe is not able to set up the State Supreme Council officially," said Aung Lynn Htut. "But he will control the president and commander-in-chief. He may transfer the commander-in-chief position but he cannot take off his senior general rank and army uniform for at least a year," he added.

It is critical to understand that U Than Shwe has a fail-safe plan, according to the independent Burmese analyst, Win Min, currently based in the United States. "The military auxiliary law, promulgated a few days before the elections last year and recently passed by Parliament is his back-up strategy if things go wrong," he said. Under the law, senior officers keep their rank as reservists and can return to the army within the next five years in their current position. "This is clearly meant to allow Than Shwe to return to lead the army and country if he feels he needs too," Win Min said.

But U Than Shwe has also engineered a political system that will cascade down from his position at the top of the political pyramid. A triumvirate controls the ruling USDP party and the three patrons - Than Shwe, Maung Aye and Thura Shwe Mann - will exercise control of the party. Interestingly, the new USDP office has been built near Than Shwe's house in Naypyidaw.

In the meantime the top generals including Than Shwe and Maung Aye for all intents and purposes have retired. Both have moved to their luxurious mansions inside Naypyidaw. Curiously Maung Aye has had solar panels built into his roof to provide an extra energy source, according to someone close to his builders.

The pressure of the transfer of power has taken its toll on the top two, especially Maung Aye who is reportedly drinking heavily again.

The next step, according to government sources, will be a mass release of prisoners (mainly minor criminals) and is likely to include some political prisoners. It is unclear whether the activist and comedian Zarganar and the Shan leader Khun Htun Oo will be among them. Both are reportedly in bad health and should be released on compassionate grounds. Foreigners, including Nigerian footballers jailed on currency charges, are expected to be among those released. It is still not clear whether there will be any of former prime minister Khin Nyunt's military intelligence officers among those freed. But it is possible that someone like Sonny Swe - the former owner of Myanmar Times - will be freed.

Several foreigners being held are almost certain to be allowed to walk free in the next few days.

Larry Jagan is a Bangkok-based Burma specialist. He was formerly the BBC's Burma correspondent and Asia news editor at the World Service. http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/229576/strongman-than-shwe-steps-down
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Friday, April 1, 2011
International
Merkel calls on Myanmar to free political prisoners
Afp, Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday urged the new civilian government in Myanmar to release political prisoners as she spoke by phone with pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, Berlin said.

Suu Kyi told Merkel she wanted to engage in dialogue with the new government, while Merkel spoke of her support for the 65-year-old leading opposition figure, who was released last year from house arrest, and for "the democratisation process" in Myanmar.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said the new govt must answer "the longstanding aspirations of the Myanmar people.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=180008
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STRAITS TIMES_ 01, April 2011, Fri
US senators urge tougher Myanmar sanctions

WASHINGTON - THE United States should reject calls to ease sanctions on Myanmar junta members and instead name a special envoy to give the measures more bite, four US senators said in a letter released on Thursday.

'With the regime's recent moves and persistent human rights abuses, conditions do not currently exist to meet the necessary criteria to consider an easing of sanctions,' they wrote to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer and Republican Senator Mark Kirk signed the letter.

The lawmakers pointed to recent comments by Myanmar's opposition leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on the issue and said 'we agree that sanctions should be maintained until the regime undertakes serious reforms'. The group urged Mrs Clinton to name a 'Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma' to work with Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) 'to ensure that sanctions are more effective and better utilised'.

'We therefore urge the administration to act swiftly to nominate an individual with the depth of expertise and the breadth of skills necessary to succeed in this important position,' they wrote.

The lawmakers also urged Mrs Clinton 'to exercise the authority for additional banking sanctions against Burma's leaders explicitly provided by Congress' in a law meant to pry Myanmar open to democratic and free-market reforms. -- AFP http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_651814.html
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World Leaders Wary of New Burmese Government
By HTET AUNG Thursday, March 31, 2011

The United Nations has urged that the new government in Burma should be “more than a change in name, and a genuine move away from military rule,” according to a statement from the UN secretary-general's office on Wednesday.

“The Myanmar [Burmese] authorities now have an opportunity and, indeed, an obligation to their people, to demonstrate that this change is one of substance and that it is the start of a genuine move away from almost 50 years of direct military rule,” said the statement issued by the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Burma's military junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council, officially ceased to exist as of Wednesday after the transfer of power to a civilian government in Naypyidaw led by President Thein Sein, the first president elected in accordance with the 2008 constitution. He had previously been prime minister since 2007.

Despite the transfer of power, the UN reaffirmed its stand on “an inclusive dialogue” between the new government and the democratic opposition.

“The Secretary-General believes the authorities must engage in an inclusive dialogue with all relevant parties on broad reforms necessary for the development of a credible system of government that can effectively address the political and socioeconomic challenges facing Myanmar,” said the spokesperson.

The United States expressed its deep concerns on the continuous “oppressive environment” in Burma.

“The fact that they [the Burmese generals] have taken off their uniforms and donned civilian clothes is immaterial,” said Mark Toner, the acting deputy spokesperson of the US State Department. “We remain deeply concerned about Burma’s oppressive political environment.”

Toner, however, said that the US's two-track approach—engaging with Naypyidaw while maintaining sanctions—will remain in place.

On Wednesday, Burma's state-run New Light of Myanmar published a list of the 23 nations and organizations, including the UN chief, that sent messages of felicitations and congratulations to the president and two vice-presidents of the new government.

Chinese President Hu Jintao was the first on the list. All the leaders of Burma's fellow member states at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the exception of the Philippines, sent messages of congratulations to the leaders of the new Burmese government which has effectively taken office after ministers were sworn in on March 30.
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21050
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Members of Union and Region/State governments will not enjoy salaries in full in consideration of objective and financial conditions of the nation and in public interests
President U Thein Sein speaks to members of Union Government, heads of Union level organizations

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March-President U Thein Sein delivered a speech at a ceremony to take heed of presidential address and make affirmation today.

The following is the translation of speech delivered by President U Thein Sein.

I extend my warmest greetings to members of the Union Government and heads of Union level organizations here and wish you good health and happiness, being able to serve the better interests of the nation and the people.

The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session, which commenced on 31 January 2011, concluded yesterday. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has chosen the organizations and persons who will take charge of Union level executive, judicial and legislative sectors. Likewise, respective State and Region Hluttaws have elected the persons to take charge of those sectors in their own regions.

So, we will have to build a modern, developed democratic nation, the final step of the seven-step Road Map, with the strength of State leaders elected by the Hluttaw and the government and authorities formed by the Hluttaw.

Now I would like to clarify the stances we should have and the policies we must follow in implementing the final step of the Road Map. We are all responsible for executive, judicial and legislative affairs so as to shape a modern, developed democratic nation as well as for accomplishing the final step of the Road Map.

This is why I want to say that the points and work programmes to be explained today are very important for the future of the nation.

Heads of Union level organizations, ministers and deputy ministers from the Union Government The most important task of the new administration is to work together to create good governance and clean government. To do so, the work programmes of the Union Government and State and Region governments must be transparent, accountable and consistent with the constitution and the existing laws. It is necessary to respect the people’s wishes and to ensure allinclusiveness.

The tasks of government must be expeditious and effective.

The second task of the government is to do democratic practices. Today, our country has a consti-tution that is a foundation to shape a modern, developed democratic nation. The legislative, executive and judicial pillars that emerged from the constitution have come to life. The people have enjoyed the right to elect Hluttaw representatives as they wish as well as the right to be elected. All these are sound foundations for emergence of a discipline-flourishing democracy.

In order to practise democracy effectively and correctly through those foundations, it is needed to promote democratic practices in the government, in the departmental organizations and among the people. In this regard, the people on their part must do such democratic practices as freedom and rights in accord with the law, culture, traditions and customs of Myanmar.

For administrative bodies in carrying out administrative tasks or dealing with the laws and procedures, they must be careful not to obstruct the fundamental rights of a citizen.

They must lead the citizens to enjoy their fundamental rights in a correct way without harming the interests of the Union and the human society.

Moreover, in carrying out such tasks it is necessary to consider the stances and responses of the people. If the people and administrative bodies alike can distinguish between freedom and sense of duty and between freedom and discipline, Myanmar will surely be a society with flourishing democratic practices.

Heads of Union level organizations, ministers and deputy ministers from the Union Government, Another important task is to ensure the rule of law, which is essential for building up a modern and developed democratic nation.

It is the duty of not only judicial bodies but also legislative bodies to ensure the rule of law.

It is required of judicial bodies to carry out judicial tasks in accord with the provisions of the constitution such as openly handling of judicial affairs and the right to pass judgment in the presence of the public except legislative constraints and the rights to defence and appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases.

According to the constitution, the Supreme Court of the Union has been entrusted with power to issue writs, and the first ever constitutional tribunal of the Union in the history of Myanmar has been formed. These organizations are not only to maintain and safeguard the judicial pillar, one of the nation’s main pillars, but also to define constitutional provisions and scrutinize the functions of legislative and administrative bodies whether or not they are in conformity with the constitution.

For administrative bodies, they need to perform their administrative duties without prejudice and they themselves must be ideals of respecting the laws and rules. With the correct judicial pillar alongside legislative bodies acting in accord with the law, our nation will be able to practise a discipline-flourishing democratic system with the rule of law.

Another important task like the rule of law is to ensure speediness and effectiveness in governmental transactions. The government has yet to materialize the objectives of the five-year project.

The SPDC has laid sound foundations for national development. So, we have to make good use of the foundations for development in the economic, education, health, transport, communication and construction sectors.

In this regard, we must keep off ignoring the procedures and rules and regulations and disregarding extravagance and unnecessary waste.

We are under a duty to satisfy the wishes and requirements of the people because the government has to be responsible to the public through Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

We also have to respect the role of the media, the fourth estate.

We are required to inform the people about what they should know and appreciate positive suggestions of the media.

Another task to make the government’s functions more effective is cooperation among ministries. According to the constitution, the nation sees not only the Union government but also Region and State governments.

Therefore, cooperation between the governments is of great importance.

Nation-build-ing tasks are so demanding that an individual or ministry alone cannot realize them, and nor can the Union, a region or a state alone. So, cooperation between members of the government is a must to expedite administrative mechanism.

Heads of Union level organizations, members of Union government, ministers and deputy ministers, Now, neighbouring countries and the international community are watching with great interest the government formed in accordance with the constitution, how it will discharge its duties, and relations and cooperation between the Union government and Region/State
governments.

Similarly, the people are watching the formation, the way the government carries out its duties, in the hope of their better future. Myanmar’s democratic practice is in its infancy, so it has to take a long time to be mature.

Governing bodies at all levels play a crucial role in the nation’s administrative mechanism.

If the administrative mechanism guarantees the people’s life security and civil servants treat the people fairly, and the people lead a peaceful life under the protection of the law, the constitution that shapes the administrative mechanism will be reliable. And the people put reliance and trust in the legislative and executive bodies.

Therefore, the first fiveyear term is the most important in building a modern, developed democratic nation. If we take giant steps, the nation will have a prosperous future.

To achieve this goal, the government must be a clean one with good governance.

In addition, the government must have good management and administrative skills and show benevolent attitude towards the people. And it must safeguard and serve the public interests.

To be a clean government, we must abstain from corruption and bribery, which tarnishes the image of the nation and the people.

Therefore, we have to not only refrain from it but also ensure that the organizations stay away from it.

What is very important is that we must not abuse the mandate in the interest of our friends and relatives.

Only then, can our government be recognized as a clean government.

As you know, our country has not been a rich one yet. The nation has developed a lot in the time of the Tatmadaw government, but there are still many people, whose life is a battle against poverty, whose life is a hand-tomouth existence, and many unemployed people.

Therefore, the governing organs at all levels should not seize all the rights and privileges.

According to Ordinances 2, 3, 4 and 5 issued on 10 January 2011 under Article 443 of the constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by the SPDC, officials at the Union and Region/State levels, Self-Administered Zone or Division chairmen and executives, and the chairman and members of Nay Pyi Taw Council will not enjoy salaries in full, and we will continue to enjoy the same rates, as that we were paid while we were serving at the SPDC central level bodies in consideration of the objective and financial conditions of the nation and the public interests.

In conclusion, in response to the proposals by some hluttaw representatives, the rates of service personnel’s salaries and pensions will be increased in proportion to revolving funds of the government, inflation rate, consumer price indexes and GDP when it is opportune. http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/index.html
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New Light of Myanmar
President U Thein Sein gives address to heads of Union level organizations, members of Union Government
UCSB Chairman, Union Deputy Ministers, MPF Chief, Deputy Attorney-General, Deputy Auditor-General, UCSB members, Nay Pyi Taw Council members make affirmation before the President

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March-A ceremony to take heed of presidential address and make affirmation took place at the President Office here this morning.

Present on the occasion were President U Thein Sein, Vice-Presidents Thiha Thura U Tin Aung Myint Oo and Dr Sai Mauk Kham, the Commander-in- Chief, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, the Union Chief Justice, the Chairperson of Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, the Chairman of Union Election Commission, Union Ministers, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, judges of Supreme Court of the Union, members of Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, UEC members, as well as those who have been agreed to be appointed to the posts of Chairman of Union Civil Services Board, Union deputy ministers, Chief of Myanmar Police Force, Deputy Attorney-General, Deputy Auditor-General, and members of Union Civil Services Board and Nay Pyi Taw Council.

Director-General U Min Zaw of the President Office acted as master of ceremonies with the assistance of Director-General U Tin Myo Kyi of Union Government Office.

First, those who have been selected to be appointed to the posts of Chairman of Union Civil Services Board, Union Deputy Ministers, Chief of Myanmar Police Force, Deputy Attorney-General, Deputy Auditor-General, and members of Union Civil Services Board and Nay Pyi Taw Council took position before the President to make affirmation.

Minister of President Office U Thein Nyunt led the recitation of the oath, which was followed by the appointees, saying, “I...do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I shall be loyal to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the citizens and hold always in esteem nondisintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.

I shall uphold and abide by the Constitution and the laws. I shall carry out the responsibilities uprightly to the best of my ability.”

President U Thein Sein delivered an address.

(His address was reported separately.) He agreed the master of ceremony’s request to record his speech and the master of ceremony announced the President’s speech was recorded.

The master of ceremony then announced that the oath-taking ceremony successfully completed and the ceremony came to an end.

After the ceremony, the President posed for documentary photos together with those present.

Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann and Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint also joined the photo shoot.

Next, the attendees had the luncheon hosted by President U Thein Sein, enjoying songs of artists from Ministry of Culture.

After the luncheon, President U Thein Sein cordially greeted the attendees. http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/index.html