President U Thein Sein sends message of felicitations to US President  

NAY PYI TAW, 4 July— President U Thein Sein, has sent a message of felicitations to President Barack Hussein Obama of the United States of America, on the occasion of its Independence Day, which falls today.
Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin, also felicitated to his counterpart the Secretary of State Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton, on the occasion.

First Day of Fourth Regular Session of First Pyidaungsu Hluttaw convenes

NAY PYI TAW, 4 July — The First day of the Fourth Regular Session of First Pyidaungsu Hluttaw was held, here, at 1 pm today, attended by Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and 626 Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives.
At the session, messages were put on record, proposal submitted to approve the announcement of a state of emergency, establishments of diplomatic relations explained, announcement on election of new Vice- President made and a new proposal submitted.
In his speech, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Aung Myint said that legislature was the main duty of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. Even though Hluttaw representatives who discharge the legislative duties themselves were not law experts and professionals they were to discharge their duties based on the experience of the citizens who elected them.
Hluttaw is the basic foundation of democracy system. So, it would be more convenient to say in short that Hluttaw representatives who started implementing multiparty democracy system had duties to protect human dignity of their citizens in all aspects. He urged all representatives to submit bills and proposals and raise questions that would serve the interests of people and for emergence of good governance and clean government and strong judicial system in line with Hluttaw laws and rules.
Afterwards, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw recorded messages sent by the President on President’s official goodwill visit to Japan from 21-4-2012 to 23-4-2012, President’s attending of the fourth Mekong- Japan Summit held in Tokyo of Japan form 20-4-2012 to 21-4-2012, the registration of illegally-imported motor cycles, and issuance of ten thousand kyat note.
At the approval seeking session of declaring a state of emergency, Union Minister for Border Affairs and for Myanma Industrial Development Lt-Gen Thein Htay submitted the approval of the Ordinance No.1/2012 of the state of emergency which is deemed as the law of the President. The matter will be discussed at a later announced date.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Myo Myint explained the establishment of diplomatic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Melawei, Bhutan, UAE, Luxemburg, the Republic of Latvia, Estonia Republic and Dominican Republic submitted by the President. Those wishing to discuss the matter will be at a later announced date.
At the announcement session of election of Vice-President, the Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw read out the message sent by the President on the vacancy of the Vice-President and gave guidance that for filling the vacant post of the Vice-President, the Defence Services Hluttaw representatives group are to elect one Vice-President in line with Election Rule 24 and 25 of the President and Vice-President not later than 10 July, and to submit the name list of the Vice-President along with CV that includes designated qualifications and relevant contents stated in the Section 59 of the Constitution to the Speaker.
At the proposal submitting session, U Tin Htut of Zalun Constituency submitted the proposal on exposing and making investigation into confiscation of farmlands and dealing with it in a just and fair manner to avoid grievances of farmers. The matter will be discussed at a later announced date.
The meeting came to an end at 1.50 pm. The date and time to be held for second day session will be announced.

Fourth Regular Session of First Pyithu Hluttaw convenes its first day

NAY PYI TAW, 4 July — The Fourth Regular Session of the First Pyithu Hlutttaw held its first day here today, attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and 417 MPs.
At the session, three new Hluttaw representatives out of 37 MPs elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw in 1st April election who have not taken oath yet under Article 8 of Pyithu Hluttaw Law and one Defence Services personnel Hluttaw representative who has been reshuffled took affirmation before the Hluttaw Speaker, three questions were answered, Hluttaw’s functions recorded, one proposal and one bill submitted.
In his greetings, the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker urged the MPs to focus on equality in serving interests of the nation, citizens and the Union without party attachment, dogmatism, regionalism, racism and sectarianism. He also urged them to take lessons instead of pointing the finger at one another what had happened in the past and boldly undertake the reforms for better future.
He urged them to strengthen the parliament to make sure its firm standing and as some matters could not be handled in accordance with democratic practices before the parliament came into existence, to build themselves competent and whiter than white for firmness of the parliament and to exercise democratic practices correctly and systematically.
He urged them to undertake the functions of parliament legally and recommendations and monitoring of the institutions concerned and the media.
He urged them to take the opinions and wishes of the people for urgent enactment of laws serving and protecting the interests of the people in accordance with the motto of the parliament—“People’s voice, Hluttaw’s voice; People’s wishes, Hluttaw’s wishes, People’s aspiration, Hluttaw’s determination”, to make sure its effectiveness in real world and to enforce the rule of law across the nation.
The success of the functions of the parliament relies much on the Hluttaw committees. There were four committees at first and later 19 more were established due to work requirements. In addition, Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission was founded to assist the parliament and its committees in their functions. The main objective of the commission is to act as think tank the parliament and its commission in amending and revoking the laws that cannot serve and protect the interests of the nation and its people and in formulating the new ones which contribute to interests of the nation and its people, assessing the existing laws. Its objective is to assess political, economic, social, cultural, science and technology and communication technology issues upon the request of the Hluttaw Speaker and present its assessment results to the parliament through the speaker, he said.
As far as it is learned, there is a great deal of laws in need of amending, revoking or rewriting. Furthermore, the onus is upon the parliament and MPs to make sure institutions concerned and the entire public adhere to the existing laws and smooth running of check and balance system, both of which call for genuine goodwill and competency of the MPs, he said.
The Speaker then expressed his belief that the dedicated cooperation of the new MPs would bolster the capacity of the parliament enhancing its dignity and image. In conclusion, he urged them to be aware of how important role they are playing in democratic reforms and democratization process, serving the interests of the nation and its people accomplishing own duties and obligations of the parliament.
U Aung Thein Lin of South Okkalapa Constituency asked when ward administrators will be reselected under law as ward administrators election law have been issued by the government. Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint replied that selection will be carried out after the ward or village-tract administration bylaws have been promulgated and the budget has been confirmed.
Dr Than Win of North Okkalapa Constituency asked whether there is plan to reconstitute or dissolve the civil services central institutes as they are no more in conformity with the current situation of the State. Chairman of Union Civil Services Board U Kyaw Thu replied that there is no plan to dissolve both the civil services institutes at a time when capacity building must be focused more to keep abreast of other countries. Instead, the institutes must be strengthened to meet international standard, turning out good public servants, he said.
U Tun Aung Khaing of Pauktaw Constituency asked whether the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has a plan to not auction the use of rivers and creeks for fishing purpose in Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State. Union Minister for Livestock and Fisheries U Ohn Myint replied that the decision to auction the fishing sites in Pauktaw Township for 2012-2013 fiscal year is up to Rakhine State government which has to manage in line with its fresh water fishery law.
U Aye Mauk of Mahlaing Constituency proposed the Union government to set standards for different sectors and fields and to legitimate those standards within a set period. The proposal will be discussed on 6 July.
Pyithu Hluttaw Education Promotion Committee Chairman Dr Chan Nyein submitted the University Education Bill 2012 and member of the Bill Committee U Thein Tun clarified the assessment report of the bill committee in connection to the bill. The date to discuss the bill will be announced.
The European visit of Myanmar parliamentary delegation led by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann to Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, England, Denmark, and Norway from 6-5-2012 to 23-5-2012 at the invitation of the heads of respective parliaments, the visit of Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Khin Maung Oo, Dr Win Myint and two Amyotha Hluttaw representatives to Singapore to attend parliamentary workshop from 15-5-2012 to 17-5-2012 and Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Thein Lwin’s study tour to Australia from 20-5-2012 to 26-5-2012, Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Maung Maung Swe and party’s visit to Turkey to attend The Fifth International Parliametarian’s Conference on the Implementation of ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI- 2012) from 24-5-2012 to 25-5- 2012, Pyihu Hluttaw representative Thura U Aung Ko and party’s visit to China from 29-5-2012 to 5-6-2012, Pyithu Hluttaw representative Daw Win Maw Tun and party’s study visit to Sweden from 6-6- 2012 to 14-6-2012 was put on record.
The first day meeting came to an end at 11.35 am and the second meeting continues tomorrow.

First Day of the Fourth Regular Session of First Amyotha Hluttaw held

NAY PYI TAW, 4 July — First Day of the Fourth Regular Session of First Amyotha Hluttaw took place here this morning. It was attended by Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint and 214 Amyotha Hluttaw representatives.
Speaker U Khin Aung Myint extended greetings. U Maung Aye Tun of Rakhine State Constituency No (9) asked “whether there is plan to open a basic education primary school equipped with teachers in Awrama village-tract in Buthidaung Township of Rakhine State” and U Kyaw Tun Aung of Rakhine State Constituency No (5), “whether there is plan to erect an extended school building in Myintga village in Pauktaw Township in Rakhine State” and “whether there is a plan to upgrade BEPS in Kyauktaung village in Pauktaw Township to BEMS”. Deputy Minister for Education U Aye Kyu answered that, affiliated Basic Education Primary School in Awrama village-tract in Saitin area of Buthidaung Township, it will be upgraded to BEPS (branch) if the proposal is made to Basic Education Department No (1) through relevant township and state education officers. There are 518 students and eight classrooms currently at Basic Education High School (branch) in Myintga village in Pauktaw Township. Plans have been made to to build extended one storey brick building. Kyauktaung village BEPS in Kyauktaung village-tract in Pauktaw Township have been upgraded to BEMS (branch) since 2011-2012 academic year, providing middle school education.
The deputy minister then explained plans to improve capacity and socio-economic status of basic education service personnel, and accessibility of basic education.
The Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker decided to return the Foreign Investment Bill which had been amended by the Amyotha Hluttaw and sent with amendments by the Pyithu Hluttaw to return the bill to the Pyithu Hluttaw.
Chairman of Financial and Legal Affairs Commission U Aung Tun of Magway Region Constituency No (11) submitted “Anti-bribery Bill” on behalf of Amyotha Hluttaw Financial and Legal Affairs Commission. As the Hluttaw agreed, it was decided to be discussed at the Hluttaw.
The first day Amyotha Hluttaw session concluded at 10.45 am and the second day session will be held at 10 am tomorrow.
At today’s session, three questions were raised and answered and one bill was submitted.

Relief and Resettlement Department, UNOCHA sign MoU

YANGON, 4 July — Relief and Resettlement Department under the Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Ministry and United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) signed MoU here on 30 June.
Director-General of the Relief and Resettlement Department U Soe Aung and Asia-Pacific regional head of UNOCHA signed the MoU and exchanged the documents. -- MNA
Compensation for loss of farmland given
PYAWBWE, 4 July —Compensation was presented to farmers at Kanphya Village of Pyawbwe Township on 20 June who lost their farmlands where Natka Dam was built in the township of Mandalay Region. The dam was constructed to irrigate 1,200 acres of farmland of the nearby area.
The authorities presented 200,000 kyat each per acre to 92 farmers, accounting for 2068.8 million kyat for over 103.44 acres of farmlands. On 16 May, the authorities had already handed over 17 million kyat for 85 acres farmlands to 47 farmers from Kyee Village of Pyawbwe Township and 37.688 million kyat for 188.44 acres to 139 farmers as compensation for construction of Natka Dam.