PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

20 February 2005

From The New Light of Myanmar  21 February 2005



NC delegates take relaxation, visit shops

YANGON, 20 Feb — National Convention delegates at Nyaunghnapin Camp, Yangon Division, took relaxation peacefully and joyfully today, their day-off.

The delegates watched TV in their hostels and visited shops of Myanma Foodstuff Industries, Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries, Myanma Paper and Chemical Industries and the Myanma General and Maintenance Industries and GEC Shop under the Ministry of Industry-1 and purchased goods.

Furthermore, they take physical exercises and played billiards and golf.

http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/05nlm/n050221.htm#NC%20delegates%20take%20relaxation,%20visit%20shops



Only when institutes, degree colleges, universities throughout the country adopt same curricula, syllabus, teaching methods will all-round development of education take shape

YANGON, 20 Feb — On behalf of the Panel of Chairmen, member of the Panel of the Alternate Chairmen U Myo Thant (Maung Hsu Shin) of the member of National Convention Convening Work Committee presented the panel of chairmen’s collection of excerpts from the suggested proposals submitted by delegates to the National Convention on the social sector at the Pyidaungsu Hall of the Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby Township, Yangon Division,on 18 February.

The following is a translation of presentation made by U Myo Thant (Maung Hsu Shin).

In connection with the basic principles to be laid down for the social sector on grounds of 11 legislative matters relevant to power-sharing in the legislative sector that shall be included in writing the State constitution, I will continue to present the panel of chairmen’s collection of excerpts from the suggested proposals submitted by some delegate groups to the National Convention and from those by certain delegates to the National Convention. At the Plenary Meeting of the National Convention held on 20 May 2004, the Chairman of the National Convention Convening Work Committee clarified that "What I am going to present here is about the finds of the Work Committee on the sharing of legislative power among the Pyidaungsu legislative body and the region or state legislative bodies concerning the social sector. Of the legislative power in connection with the social sector, I will clarify which of the issues will be vested in the Pyidaungsu legislative body, and which of them in the region or state legislative bodies." "Mainly, the educational functions, health activities, social tasks, labour affairs etc. are included in the social sector."

"The basic principles laid down by the National Convention concerning health and education are:

1. The State shall earnestly strive to improve education and health of the people.

2. The State shall enact necessary laws to enable the national people to participate in matters of education and health of the people.

3. The State shall implement free compulsory primary education system.

4. The State shall implement a modern education system that will promote all-round correct thoughts and good morals and contribute towards building of the nation."

Concerning mothers, children and the old and the infirm, a basic principle laid down by the National Convention states as follows:

The State shall care for mothers and children, orphans, fallen Tatmadaw service men’s children, the old and the infirm, and the disabled:

In connection with the youths, another principle states as follows:

The State shall strive to imbue youths with strong and dynamic patriotic spirit, correct way of thinking and the five noble strengths:"

"The National Convention has already laid down a basic principle, saying, "The State shall enact necessary laws to protect the rights of workers."

"Concerning national culture, the National Convention has laid down the basic principle —The State shall help for development, consolidation and preservation of national culture."

"I will now explain the matters relating to the social sector that should be included in the Union Legislative list as follows:

1. Curricula, syllabus, teaching methods, research, and projects and programmes

2. Courses of universities, degree colleges and institutes and other higher education organizations

3. Examinations designated by the Union

4. Private schools and courses

5. National sports

6. National health

7. Development of traditional medical science and medicines

8. Free hospitals and dispensaries and private hospitals and dispensaries

9. Maternal and child welfare

10. Red Cross society

11. Counterfeiting of food, medicines, medical equipment and cosmetics and mixing them with other ingredients

12. Caring children, youths, women, the disabled, the aged and homeless

13. Relief and resettlement

14. Fire Brigade

15. Working hours, break time and holidays

16. Labour disputes

17. Social security

18. Labour organizations

19. The matters managed by the Pyidaungsu concerning

(a) Ancient cultural or historical regions, edifices, monuments, records, stone inscriptions, inanimate objects and archaeological undertakings

(b) Museums and libraries

20. Literature, theatrical art, music, traditional arts and crafts, movies and videos."

"What I have dealt with so far is the matters that should be put in the social sector in order to include them in the Legislative list of the region or the state. They are:

1. traditional medicines that are not contrary to traditional medicine policies set by the Pyidaungsu

2. birth and death registration,

3. social welfare tasks in regions or states,

4. fire prevention,

5. freight handling,

6. matters for which the region or the state has the right to supervise:

(a) preservation of cultural heritage

(b) museums and libraries

7. opera house, cinema hall and video house, and

8. photo, painting and sculpture exhibitions."

As regards the clarifications of the Work Committee Chairman, the National Unity Party, which is a member of the delegate group of political parties, discussed that the activities of education, health, social affairs and labour are what matters most in the social sector. The education activities involve curricula, syllabus, teaching methods, research, planning and drawing of projects and fixing of norms and standards; matters relating to examinations designated by the Union; the issue of the courses of universities, degree colleges and institutes and other organizations of the higher education sector; the sector of the government basic education schools; the issue of vocational schools; and the matter of private schools and training courses. The party also agreed to include these matters into the Union Legislative List.

It continued that it is proper to include the national sports sector in the Union Legislative List as the State is giving encouragement to the drive for the promotion of national sports activities in line with the motto "Myanma Sports, the World to Conquer". As regards the national health, the party said that it is proper to include in the Union Legislative List the development of traditional medical science and traditional medicines, free hospitals, dispensaries, private hospitals and clinics, maternal and child welfare, and Red Cross Society.

The fraudulent production of foodstuff, medicines, medical products and cosmetics is harmful to public health, the party pointed out, and therefore it is proper to include this matter in the Union Legislative List. As regards other social activities such as the caring of children, youths, women, the disabled, the aged and the homeless; the matters of relief and rehabilitation, and the fire brigade, the party agreed that these issues should be included in the Union Legislative List. The party also agreed that the Union Legislative List covers such matters as working hours, breaks, holidays, freight, social welfare, labour disputes, and labour organization.

In connection with national culture, the party said, all the national races residing in the country have their own cultural heritage and custom. The Union Legislative List also covers ancient cultural or historical regions, edifices, monuments, records, stone inscriptions, handicraft, inanimate objects, archaeological works, museums, and libraries, all of which are managed by the Union. Besides, the Region or State Legislative Lists contain following things under the management of the region or state. They are:

(a) preservation of cultural heritage, and

(b) museums and libraries.

Literature, theatrical art, music, traditional arts and crafts, movies, and videos are included in the Union Legislative List. However, it is proper that legislative power is distributed to the regions or states in connection with the opera house, the cinema hall, the video house, and the photo, painting and sculpture exhibitions.

The Union PaO National Organization discussed that the National Convention has laid down basic principles in connection with education and health. In developed countries, arts and science are advancing. For Myanmar to keep pace with them, all the citizens should be well educated. Only when the institutes, degree colleges, and universities throughout the country adopt the same curriculum, syllabus, and teaching methods will all-round development of education take shape. For private schools across the country, they need to resort to the same disciplinary pattern so as to avoid unnecessary consequences. Techniques and regular training are required for all-round achievements in sports. Competitions are to be held at different levels such as township, district, region and state. To ensure the health and fitness of the entire national people, campaigns for prevention of disease, treatment, health education and research should be launched on a national scale.

The Union PaO National Organization stressed the need to make concerted efforts to deter the fraudulent production of foodstuff, medicines and medical products, and cosmetics; to develop the traditional medicines; to care for the mother and children; to carry out social welfare tasks; to form red cross societies and fire brigades for disaster preparedness and rehabilitation tasks; to help create human resources needed for national development; to excavate and preserve ancient cultural heritage, and historical zones and edifices; to uplift the literature, theatrical art, music, traditional arts and crafts, films and videos; and to maintain national culture and character. The Union PaO National Organization approved of the 20 points of the social sector clarified by the Work Committee Chairman, and suggested that these points be adopted as detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List.

The Mro (a) Khami National Solidarity Organization discussed that in connection with the social sector, it found what the Work Committee Chairman had clarified complete, and therefore it is appropriate to include them as detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List. It also agreed to the adoption of what should be included in the Region or State Legislative list as detailed basic principles.

In a separate suggestion, it said that Myanmar is a country where a diversity of national races have resided through thick and thin. Every national race has its own culture, custom and tradition. The National Convention has laid down basic principles relevant to cultural heritage of national races. Therefore, it would be wise to encourage and revitalize the literature of national races apart from their culture.

The Lahu National Development Party discussed that it is appropriate to adopt as detailed basic principles the 20 points that should be included in the Union Legislative List and the eight points that should be included in the Region or State Legislative List.

The Union Kayin League discussed that they agreed to what the Work Committee Chairman’s clarifications in connection with the social sector.

The Kokang Democracy and Unity Party agreed to the points mentioned in the social sector. However, it suggested that the level of education partially reflects the level of a people. In a sense, giving encouragement to the culture, tradition and literature of the ethnic groups enriches the essence of the Union. The party proposed whether it is appropriate to include the matter of the literature of ethnic groups in the Union Legislative List.

The Wa National Development Party discussed that the social sector is so wide and the social activities are so numerous. It agreed to the adoption of the 20 points that should be included as detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List so as to enact laws when necessary.

It also suggested that the eight points be adopted as detailed basic principles in the Region or State Legislative Lists so as to enact laws when necessary.

Of the five proposed papers submitted by the delegate group of representatives-elect, which is one of eight delegate groups to the National Convention, the National Unity Party and the Mro (a) Khami National Solidarity Organization presented their proposals.

In like manner, Dr Hmu Htan, the independent representative-elect from the constituency of Thantlan Township in Chin State, and U Aung Thein, the independent representative-elect from the constituency of Ywangan Township in Shan State, discussed that the clarifications made by the Work Committee Chairman are not only complete but also consistent with the basic principles which have been already laid down. Therefore, they should be adopted as detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List. The two independent representatives-elect also agreed to what the Work Committee Chairman’s clarifications that shall be adopted as detailed basic principles in the Region or State Legislative Lists.

In a separate suggestion, they said that as the National Convention has laid down a basic principle that reads "The State will assist to reduce the rate of unemployment". They pointed out that it is necessary for the State to create job opportunities for those who are working in the other country, getting low-paid. The development of human resources will contribute much to gross productivity in the country. They suggested that the matter of the creation of jobs therefore be included in the Union Legislative List.

They also said in the Union of Myanmar, about 75 per cent of the population are farmers and peasants. As regards the farmers and peasants, the National Convention has adopted two basic principles:

1. the State shall enact necessary law to protect the rights of the peasantry; and

2. the State shall help the peasantry get equitable value for their agricultural produce.

Agriculture is the engine of the country’s economy, they suggested, and therefore it will be necessary to form peasant organizations like labour organizations in order to facilitate management of the peasant affairs, raise the living standard of the peasants, and boost the productivity in agriculture.

U Tin Win, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Kyaiklat township, U Thein Kyi, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Taungdwingyi township, U Hla Soe, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Minbu township, U Mya Hlaing, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Twantay township, U Kyi Win, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-1 of Mingaladon township, and U Tin Tun Maung, the independent representative-elect from the constituency-2 of Mingaladon township discussed that in connection with the industrial sector, the transport sector, and the social sector, they agreed to the way legislative power is distributed to the Union Hluttaw, the Region or State Hluttaws, and the Self-administered Zone.

U Tun Kyaw, the independent representative-elect from Namhsan township in Shan State (North), discussed that a diversity of national races have lived in amity and unity with their own culture, tradition and custom. This cultural heritage is priceless for the country. The National Convention has adopted a basic principle that reads "The State shall help for development, consolidation and preservation of national culture".

He proposed that permission should be granted to learn the dialect of the national race concerned in the region or the state, or the self-administered division or the self-administered zone.

He also agreed that the matters to be included in the Union Legislative List and those to be included in the Region or State Legislative List should be adopted as detailed basic principles in the framing of the State constitution.

The delegate group of national races agreed to the adoption of the 20 points that should be included as detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List.

In a separate suggestion, it said that the places where herbal plants grow vary. The same thing can be said of the kinds of plants, growing methods, and production capacity. The group continued that the people found it difficult to use some medicinal plants such as perennial ones which are prohibited under forest law. And they suggested that this difficulty should be considered when forest law is enacted.

The group also said that the country might be faced with natural disasters such as fire, flood, strong wind and earthquake and epidemic. Under such circumstances, preventive measures are to be taken collectively region-wise. This being the case, the group suggested, the point "fire prevention" should be replaced with the term "fire prevention and natural disaster preparedness".

The group continued that the national races living in Myanmar love their own literature, language, fine art and culture. The study of the 104 fundamental principles shows that a basic principle has been laid down in connection with this. It reads "The State shall help develop language, literature, fine arts and culture of national races". The group suggested that any government that will come into power continue helping such issues in line with the future State constitution.

The delegate group of peasants discussed that it is appropriate to adopt detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List so as to enact law when necessary in connection with the matters related to the social sector.

The group also agreed to the adoption of detailed basic principles in the Region or State Legislative Lists so as to enact law when necessary in connection with the matters related to the social sector.

In a separate suggestion, it said that the cultural heritage of national races residing in the country should comprise their literature. Similarly, it added, customs and traditions of national races should be revived and preserved in addition to documentation of cultural structures. The group continued that the State has pledged that it would look after the mothers and children, the orphaned, the children of fallen soldiers, the aged, and the disabled. The poor children should also be cared. Otherwise, they would go astray and become burdensome for the country. Therefore, they should be provided with vocational training. Only then will their quality of life improve and the country can benefit from them. Therefore, more encouragement and support should be given to the youths for their brighter future.

The group continued that the measures are being taken as a national concern to ensure the economy, social affairs, security, life insurance for womenfolk.

It then suggested that the matter related to the formation of peasant organizations be included in the Union Legislative List.

The delegate group of workers discussed that the 20 points to be included in the Union Legislative List and the eight points to be included in the Region or State Legislative Lists should be adopted as detailed basic principles as clarified by the Chairman of the Work Committee in connection with the social sector.

The delegate group of intellectuals and intelligentsia discussed that the 20 points to be included in the Union Legislative List and the eight points to be included in the Region or State Legislative Lists should be adopted as detailed basic principles as clarified by the Chairman of the Work Committee in connection with the social sector.

In addition, the group suggested that the Union Legislative List include a law that treatment plants should be constructed by technicians to treat the wastes of the factories for safety of the public. It also proposed another five points to be included in the Union Legislative List. They are:

1. protection of clean environment,

2. health insurance,

3. birth and death registration,

4. Occupational health and safety, and

5. prevention of natural and man-made disasters.

The group also suggested in connection with the social sector that the birth and death registration should be included in the Union Legislative List rather than in the Region or State Legislative Lists.

The matter related to the birth and death registration is the thing that the State has to carry out internationally. Therefore, this matter should be in the Union Legislative List. When the occasion arises, the country may have to contact ASEAN countries or other countries to run private universities. The matter of private university is a very important and wide education sector. Therefore, it will be necessary to take measures in advance so as to lay down detailed basic principles.

The group also spoke of media including periodicals. Apart from periodicals, telecasting and broadcasting media plays a vital role in the establishment of a discipline-flourishing democracy. By that time, there will emerge NGO- and private-owned media sooner or later. Permission will be granted to the media that keep their dignity. And action will have to be taken against those that breach the rules. Therefore, it is necessary, the group suggested, to enact necessary laws in connection with media.

The delegate group of State service personnel discussed that the 20 points to be included in the Union Legislative List and the eight points to be included in the Region or State Legislative Lists should be adopted as detailed basic principles as clarified by the Chairman of the Work Committee in connection with the social sector.

The role of machine operators is very important in industry. Therefore, Occupational Safety Act and Occupational Hazard Act came into force to protect the workers. These matters should be included in the Union Legislative List so that law can be enacted when necessary. The group agreed to the adoption of detailed basic principles in the Union Legislative List for the preservation of ancient cultural or historical regions, edifices, monuments, records, stone inscriptions, inanimate objects, archaeological undertakings, museums and libraries.

The group also suggested that the list of ancient artifacts include ink inscription on stucco, palm leaves, and handwritings. An assessment of the proposals made by the delegate group of State service personnel in connection with the matters of the social sector that should be included in the Union Legislative List, it is found that the group substituted the Point 15 "working hours, breaks, and holidays" with the term "working hours, breaks, holidays, and occupational safety". The group also changed the Point 19 "the matters managed by the Pyidaungsu concerning ancient cultural or historical regions, edifices, monuments, records, stone inscriptions, inanimate objects and archaeological undertakings" to the term "the matters managed by the Pyidaungsu concerning ancient cultural or historical regions, edifices, monuments, records, stone inscriptions, ink inscription on stucco, palm leaves, handwritings, inanimate objects and archaeological undertakings". The delegate group of other invited persons discussed that they agreed the 20 points to be included in the Union Legislative List and the eight points to be included in the Region or State Legislative Lists should be adopted as detailed basic principles as clarified by the Chairman of the Work Committee in connection with the social sector.

The group substituted the Point 4 "fire preventive measure" with the term "fire brigade, fire outbreak, and disaster preparedness"; and the Point 6 (A) "preservation of cultural heritage" with the term "preservation of literature, fine arts, and cultural heritage". The group also suggested that in the areas with a majority of national races, opportunities be created to carry out researches on the language and literature of their own.

Source: http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/05nlm/n050221.htm#Only%20when%20institutes,%20degree%20colleges,%20universities%20throughout%20the%20country%20adopt%20same%20curricula,%20syllabus,%20teaching%20methods%20will%20all-round%20development%20of%20education%20take%20shape