Collected and Presented by Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation (EMReF) State and Region Parliaments Vol.3 | Issue (90) Thursday, 7th November 2019 Kachin State-based Media Meets Three Pillars of Democracy October 24, 2019 hold a press conference after Hluttaw situation. Regarding the request to sessions were made by the media team. hold a press conference after every With the aim of promoting faster When replying to the media by Hluttaw session, he stated that dissemination of information across Deputy Speaker U Dain Khan Phone organizing the MPs would not be Kachin State, the Kachin State-based @ U Khan Lin in response to these easy as most of them have to come media, organized by Myanmar Press questions and requests, he stated attend the session from remote Council, met with the three pillars of that both the Speaker and him areas. Thus, the timing (to hold a Kachin State on 30th September. have agreed to allow media to have press conference) would be best Difficulties and challenges faced access to information outside of when meeting with the three pillars. by the media of the State in getting Hluttaw and that he would try to He also added that he has told the information from the three pillars find out the reason why the Hluttaw MPs to answer the questions and and for the media to facilitate for an staffs would deny the media request that he would appoint a spokesperson easier dissemination of information on such information. He claimed on behalf of the Military MPs to from the three were discussed. that the he has concerns in releasing answer the questions. A question on the Hluttaw website information when it comes to issues After the meeting was adjourned, not being up to date and requests on that they have not yet found the it was reported that the Kachin appointing a Hluttaw communication solutions and that Hluttaw would State reporters will establish Kachin officer, a spokesperson for the Military not release any information that Journalist Network and that the MPs for the Hluttaw question session, has yet to be approved. He also Myanmar Press Council would support to release report data in regards to agreed that the contact numbers of any requirements in doing so. Q&A session of the Hluttaw and to MPs being out of date is a possible Reference: Myitkyina News Journal +95 9 261654045 [email protected] www.emref.org | www.mypilar.org www.facebook.com/emrefmyanmar State and Region Parliaments News Bulletin Issue Vol (3), Issue - 90 Regional Hluttaw Representative Points out the Companies That Won the Tender But Avoiding To Operate October 27, 2019 A Bago Region Hluttaw representative stated that in Bago Region, there are companies that have received tender for the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year but have completely avoided to operate and have fled away. The MP claimed that this includes the companies that have to build a school in Kyauktan Village Tract and Kun Paung village of Bago Township. In addition, the constructions of Kalayiteyoe and Shwe Gu Lay Bridges have been suspended. Similar situations are happening in Waw and other townships as well. “We will take actions in accordance Responsible persons at a field inspection of buildings built with the Union funds. with the Tender Rules and Regulations. (Photo- Bago Region Hluttaw) We have gathered precise information of both the region-based companies made in December. Although oper- wrap up. As it is a rainy season, and companies from Bago Region ations commence in January, some they cannot continue their work but ever since they applied for tenders companies are sluggish. So, when have to sit and wait instead. Thus, in case of issues like these,” said the operation coincides with the some companies had to face financial one of the responsible persons of rainy season, some projects tend to losses and had to suspend their the Bago Region Government. be put on hold for three months projects,” said one of the responsible “The tender invitation started in when they are supposed to take persons of the Bago Region Government. October and the final choices are only two weeks to one month to Reference – Daily Myanmar Times Questions Related to Land Confiscations by Tatmadaw Restricted in State Hluttaw October 25, 2019 granted at the State/Region Hluttaw Level as there is a law for it, the confiscated lands would be returned to By using security concerns as a reason, the questions the owners only when the Tatmadaw releases the lands regarding land confiscation by Tatmadaw are not regardless of whom the government in power is. “Every allowed to be asked in the Hluttaw, stated U Thae Reh, land would be returned only if the military decides to MP from Hpruso Township Constituency 1. He also said release them. There is no chance of having them back that this type of question is allowed only in Pyidaungsu unless they release them. It doesn’t matter who the Hluttaw. He said, “For example, if the issue has something government is,” stated U Aung Naing Oo. to do with the Tatmadaw, it is related to security issues. U Thae Reh said he would find a chance to question As the law restricts that the security issues shall be on whether or not the Tatmadaw has plans to release discussed only at the Union level, there is a restriction.” all the confiscated lands if the public requests them to Some of the farmers from Demawso and Loikaw are do so in the upcoming Htuttaw session. facing charges relating to land confiscation by Tatmadaw. Up till 6th August, 2019, during the 2nd Hluttaw term, They are charged with Section 447 of the Penal Code there is a total of 122 complaint letters from the public. (Encroaching) and Public Property Protection Act Section Among them, 94 complaint letters accounts for those 6/1 respectively. that shall be resolved by the Speaker, 6 accounts for U Thae Reh commented that the response by the the “Work-in-process” letters and complaint letters that concerned minister is rather not on point regarding the relates to land confiscation of Tatmadaw, reported the question on the actions taken by the State Government Complaint and Appeal Survey Team. for the lands that are already registered through Form According to the report by the Complaint and Appeal – 7 among the lands confiscated by the Tatmadaw. “The Survey Team which examined the nature of complaints answer to the question on the plans they have in mind received by the Complaint and Appeal Committee and for the case in which the lands that are registered with the actions taken by the committee in response to Form -7 are also included in the lands confiscated by these complaints during these three years, there is a the Tatmadaw is side-tracked. Hence, this is not the land confiscation case concerning to Tatmadaw - Land answer that we want,” he said. Case of Dawsoshay village and Amata 360 Battalion- U Aung Naing Oo, MP, analysed that as the permission being noted to put on hold. to question on land confiscations by Tatmadaw is not Reference – Kantarawaddy Times 2 State and Region Parliaments News Bulletin Issue Vol (3), Issue - 90 Discussion and Recommendation Event by Nyein Foundation and Sandhi Governance Institute (Photo- MNA) Mon Hlutaw Survey States That Mon State Development Committee Is Weak in Taking Actions against Encampments October 24, 2019 without discipline and constructing U Tet Htut Naing from Nyein buildings inside the municipal Foundation stated that although One public survey carried out by boundary without approval suggest the Mon State Development Law was the Mon State Hluttaw indicates going against the rules. As there enacted in 2017, the implementation that the Mon State Development haven’t been actions taken for such process has not yet completed in whole. Committee is weak in taking actions activities, people have become to The survey contains 37 questions. against encampments that are repeatedly commit the offence. Among the findings, 86% of the around the perimeters of roads and There includes a finding in the respondents said that the development parks. survey report that the development of their town/ward has a progress The survey was led by Mon Hluttaw committee lacks in taking actions compared to the last five years but with the technical support of Nyein against such offences,” said Daw 35% answered that the drainage Foundation and Sandhi Governance Khaing Khaing Leh, MP of Mon system has become worse compared Institute and was asked to 300 State Hluttaw. She added that the to last year’s. respondents. 68% of the respondents invaders shall be removed from the The Director of the Mon State stated that they have not seen the municipal boundary by the development Development Committee said, “When development committee taking legal committee and some areas require I had to hear about our weaknesses, actions against the encampments. negotiations with the General I had a feeling that we have to find “For example, somebody throws Administration Department (GAD), out the areas we need to improve. a litter. As you cannot identify that Road Department and the traffic We will draw up implementation plans, “somebody”, it is difficult to charge police. She also commented on the projects and budget estimates to a fine. We can accept this. But activities weakness in networking among the tackle our weaknesses.” such as constructing buildings government departments. Reference – Mon News Agency Allocation of US 25 million dollars Aid Money from India Asked in Rakhine Hluttaw September 25, 2019 In response to this question, Minister U Kyaw Aye Thein from the Ministry of Finance and Planning replied One of the MPs of Rakhine State Hluttaw questions that, “An estimate of 4 million dollars was spent for building on how the aid money of US $25 millions from India has 250 houses for Hindu people.