3 July 2012—Chairman of Union Peace-making Central Committee President U Thein Sein addressed first meeting of the Central Committee at the meeting hall of the Presidential Palace here this morning.

Present at the meeting together with Committee Chairman President U Thein Sein were the Central Committee members Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham, Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann, Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Vice- Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Ko Ko, Union Minister for Defence Lt-Gen Hla Min, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Thein Htay and Attorney-General of the Union Dr Tun Shin.

President U Thein Sein said in his address that the government was formed with people’s representatives elected by the people. The people’s government must adhere to the desire of the people and must implement the will of the majority.

The desire of the people is to transform from the old system to the new one. The will of the majority of the people is internal peace and socio-economic development.

In transforming from the old system to the new one, the people desire practical change, rather than that on papers. In doing so, political and economic changes, foundation of the country, must be carried out. As all the reform processes are interrelated, these are all intended to place the country under the new system.

Rule of law should prevail in all political reforms. Unending racial rift or armed ethnic fights hinder economic development. Scattering armed ethnic groups undermine the rule of law. The foundation for building the nation is end of ethnic armed groups and conflicts.

Firm political reforms are required for the success of economic reforms. And the end of ethnic conflicts is also needed for firm political reforms. It is needed to ease ethnic conflicts and distribute political and economic opportunities equitably.

In implementing political and economic reforms, ease of ethnic conflicts needs to be considered. Only when such reforms are carried out, will national reconciliation be achieved and ethnic conflicts be ended.

All the national races have lived under the same flag in Myanmar’s territory along the course of the history. Even among family members born of the same parents, there are differences in colour, height, attitude and behaviour. Despite differences among the national races, what matters most is the Union spirit that is the love of the Union.

As every national race owns the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, equitable treatment and opportunities should be granted. The same pivotal wish of the national races is equitable treatment and opportunities in the Union.

Section 348 in Chapter (8) Citizen, Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Citizens of the 2008 constitution prescribes, “The Union shall not discriminate any citizen of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, based on race, birth, religion, official position, status, culture, sex and wealth.” And Section 347 also goes, “The Union shall guarantee any person to enjoy equal rights before the law and shall equally provide legal protection.”

Section 365 of the Constitution states that every citizen shall, in accord with the law, have the right to freely develop literature, culture, arts, customs and traditions they cherish. So, it is believed that it would fulfill the wishes of national races and result in ensuring national reconsolidation and ending national races conflicts if Hluttaw passes the laws that can not harm national solidarity, one national race or all and implemented it in line with the current conditions.

So, Local Peace- Making Central Committee will complete its duties as quickly as possible if Hluttaw review and prescribe equal rights and other national races rights, which is lifeblood for all national races. A 11- member Union Peace Making Central Committee was formed on 3 May, 2012. On the same day, a 52- member Union Peace Making Work Committee was also formed, led by the Vice-President. The members include the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, eight Union Ministers, 10 Region/ State chief ministers, 10 Commanders from the Armed Forces, 10 Pyithu Hluttaw national races representatives, nine Amyotha Hluttaw national races representatives, one deputy minister and the deputy Attorney-General. Union Peace-Making Process is classified into three levels—(1) Region/ State level, (2) Union level and (3) Union Hluttaw level.

As policy, five duties have been assigned for Region/State level and eight, for Union level. In conclusion, I would like to urge all to implement national reconsolidation which is a basic foundation to achieve political and economic reforms for development of the country and peace-making process with armed ethnics for ending national races conflicts with the sense of patience, tolerance, sympathy, mutual respects and equal relations.

After that, Chairman of the Union Peace-Making Work Committee Vice- President Dr Sai Mauk Kham discussed the matters related to the meeting.

Then, those present submitted the reports. The meeting came to an end at 10 am after Chairman of the Union Peace-Making Central Committee President U Thein Sein made a concluding remark.