MYANMAR’SNew OLDEST ENGLISH Light DAILY of Myanmar Volume XXII, Number 10 3rd Waxing of Kason 1376 ME Thursday, 1 May, 2014 lenges after recent vio- More effort needed to erase perceptions of aid bias in lence, but there remains a INSIDE determination to provide Rakhine State, UNICEF rep says assistance to needy chil- local authorities would livery have caused diffi- dren no matter the situa- By Ye Myint bring forth an environ- culties in the state in the tion. ment for a “better, strong- past, with some believing And, he stressed, YANGON, 30 April— er and more sustainable” international aid organisa- those children most in Be ready UNICEF Myanmar result for each child in the tions were paying more need will be provided for. briefed the media in Yan- state. attention to some commu- UNICEF has worked for disaster gon on Wednesday about Responding to ques- nities than others. in Rakhine State since ear- management the situation for children tions about aid work in In March, Medecins ly 2000 from an office es- in Rakhine State, stating Rakhine, Bainvel empha- Sans Frontieres (Holland) programmes, Bertrand Bainvel, tablished in Sittway under UNICEF is working on sized UNICEF’s work is was barred from work in the country programme vice-president various areas related to UNICEF Myanmar based on need, not on race Rakhine for alleged bias 2005-2010. urges PAGE-3 promotion and protection representative, and or religion, adding that in its operations there. It has expanded the of the rights of all children party briefing media on much more effort is need- Bainvel said organi- number of staff from five National in the state. situation of children in ed to “delete perceptions” zations in the state have to or six to more than 20 peo- In opening remarks at Rakhine State. of discrimination and bias. work under whatever pres- ple working on health and Parliament Micasa Hotel in Yangon, PHOTO: YE MYINT Questions of aid de- sure and accept the chal- nutrition, water and sani- Speaker attends Bertrand Bainvel, tation, HIV/AIDS, educa- UNICEF Myanmar repre- tion and child protection stake-driving sentative, quoted in cooperation with the ceremony Vice-President Dr Sai government and other for Yamethin Mauk Kham’s speech at a partners. meeting of the central At the briefing, Technological committee for implemen- UNICEF officials also University tation of peace and stabili- outlined the organiza- PAGE-3 ty in Rakhine State on tion’s new commitments Monday stating the Rakh- for improving the lives of Union ine issue is not only a con- all children in Rakhine Parliament cern for the people of Ra- State in 2014-2015 and Speaker on khine State but also for all said it will spend US$12 the people in Myanmar. million in its Multi-Sector tour of Gwa Bainvel expressed the State-Level Work Plan Township, belief that a long-term that will be implemented plan for children in Rakh- over those two years. Rakhine State PAGE-3 ine in cooperation with the NLM about 10 gallons of wa- Dala limits water fetching time as Thingyan ter at one time and about 10,000 gallons of water from the lake are collected Lake level falls by villagers every day,” a man incharge at the lake By Aye Min Soe said. Villagers, who face The local authority in long queues every day, Dala on the banks of the rely on the lake for their Yangon River has lim- drinking water. ited to a single hour the “Villagers in oth- time for villagers to col- er areas are also experi- lect drinking water from encing scarcity of water Thingyan Lake. for household use as the The move to limit wa- lakes they are relying on ter-fetching to between 4 are dried up, though they and 5 pm is to prevent the can buy bottled water for lake from drying up before drinking,” the man added. the rainy season beings. Generally, the rainy Thingyan Lake is one season around Yangon of 33 in the area, but many starts in early June and of the others are already ends in early October. dried up or have become U Tun Lwin, a prom- unfit for domestic use inent weather expert, has more than a month before forecast the monsoon the rainy season is expect- front is likely to enter the ed to begin. southern part of Myanmar Even with the limit on between 15 and 20 May water-fetching, the water this year, but it is not ex- level in Thingyan Lake pected to arrive in Yangon Villagers line up to collect water from Thingyan Lake in Dala. has fallen to just 3 feet. for at least several days PHOTO: AYE MIN SOE “A villager carries after that. HONOURING THE WORKERS’ DAY 2 Thursday, 1 May, 2014 New Light of Myanmar NATIONAL Success of the reforms we are currently undertaking depends on citizens respecting the rule of law, and cooperating with the government NAY PYI TAW, 1 May—The following is the full text of the speech delivered by President U Thein Sein through radio programmes to the entire people on 1 May. and the first draft of the My fellow citizens, ness towards people of oth- big, to cooperate with the nationwide literacy move- volunteered their time dur- agreement was finalized. As I have done previ- er cultures and beliefs. With government as we undertake ment. For these achieve- ing the hot summer vacation Getting to this stage is the ously, I would like to give the Thingyan water clean democratic reforms. ments, UNESCO awarded period to the nationwide lit- positive result of negotia- you the monthly update on sing away the impurities of An important task is the Myanmar with the Moham- eracy effort. tion and detailed work by the work of my govern- the previous year, I urge all reestablishment of nation- mad Reza Pahlavi Prize in With the public’s coop- both sides, and can be ment, and the develop- to strive in unity and with wide basic literacy projects. 1971, followed by the eration, the 2014 nationwide viewed as bringing peace ments that have taken renewed spirit of the new If we look back at the history Noma prize in 1983. census was successfully one step closer. Based on place in our country. year for one’s self, others, of literacy in our country, In 2013, volunteer completed with only a few these results, we will soon This year’s Thingyan and country. Myanmar was able to teachers and 1985 students problems. Data processing, be able to sign a nation- festival was celebrated Last month in Yangon, achieve an admirably high from ten universities pro- and the dissemination of the wide ceasefire agreement. peacefully and with much I met with leaders of six- level of literacy because of vided basic literacy courses results will be done in ac- And, as I have promised merriment. In my Thing- ty-three of the sixty-five po- the efforts of the Buddhist to 22407 persons in nine cordance with project guide- the ethnic groups, we will yan greetings, I wished all litical parties. This was the clergy during the reign of townships. During April of lines. The nationwide cen- then resolve armed con- citizens enjoyment of cele- third such meeting I have ancient kings. Sadly, during 2014, 403 volunteer teach- sus is essential for the flict by political means. I brations free from vio- met with these leaders. Dur- the colonial period, the liter- ers and 4664 students from building of an open and free would like to add that we lence and danger. Because ing the limited time availa- acy rate plummeted to thir- various universities formed society for which we are continue to make neces- of the vigilance of the My- ble at the meeting, the party ty-five percent. study groups, and taught striving. Only constructive sary preparations for polit- anmar Police Force, town leaders openly expressed Prior to and after inde- 46475 persons in 29 town- uses of the census data will ical dialogue. Peace build- elders, and parents, and the their opinions. In line with pendence, the literacy rate ships. According to the My- be permitted. Regarding the ing is difficult, and it is to discipline of the revelers, the new political culture gradually increased because anmar proverb, literacy peace building efforts, from be expected that efforts at this Thingyan festival that we are trying to estab- of the efforts of clergy and leads wisdom; as such, liter- April 5 to 8, representatives solving decades-old prob- passed with the fewest lish, we agree to work to- the public. Four Yangon acy is of fundamental im- of the Union Peace Making lems will encounter many number of injuries and gether in areas of consensus Teachers Training College portance. Only if one is lit- Work Committee and the problems. However, I will deaths. and to discuss and negotiate students started the universal erate can he or she recognize ethnic groups’ Nationwide continue to strive to A notable sight dur- in areas where there is disa- literacy movement in Meik- the distinction between Ceasefire Coordination achieve peace that our citi- ing this Thingyan was the greement. These discus- tila in 1964. right and wrong or good and Team negotiated, and agreed zens steadfastly desire. participation of diplomats, sions are highly beneficial Between 1965 and bad. Rumors can also be to draft a single text of the The success of the their families, and foreign to national reconciliation. 1966, volunteer teachers quashed. Therefore, I honor nationwide ceasefire agree- reforms we are currently tourists in the celebrations.