BBC: Senior leader Maung Aye stress

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British Broadcasting Corporation   
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 
August 25, 1999

Senior leader Maung Aye stresses self-sufficiency 

Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 GMT 22 Aug 99 


Speaking at a ceremony to commission the Wegyi Dam, Burma's senior leader
Maung Aye has said the main thing is "to ensure self-sufficiency in food,
clothes and shelter". He said dams were being built as part of an endeavour
to conserve water for agricultural use during the dry season, and that the
expansion of arable land would ensure food sufficiency for the future
population. 

Excerpts from report by Burmese radio on 22nd August 

A ceremony to commission the Wegyi Dam, constructed by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation, was held at 0845 [local time] this morning in
Paungde Township, Pegu Division... 

Speaking at the ceremony, Lt-Gen Tin Oo, secretary-2 of the State Peace and
Development Council [SPDC], explained the Wegyi Dam, which is part of the
western network of dams in Pegu Division, is capable of irrigating 45,000
acres of farmland... 

Lt-Gen Tin Oo said that since 1988, the Defence Services government has
constructed and commissioned 100 dams which have the combined capability of
irrigating 1.4m acres of farmland... 

He said Pegu Division, which plays a vital role in the production of paddy,
is also growing other crops such as beans, pulses, oil crops and sugar cane
on 1m acres of land. He said the Pegu Division hopes to increase the
acreage to 1.2m this year...  

Lt-Gen Tin Oo spoke on the need to have unity and explained that the
government, the people and the Defence Services are working together for
economic, social and infrastructural development of the country. He said
the dams, roads, bridges and railway lines had been built in the country
with its own internal resources, without any foreign assistance. These
accomplishments, he added, demonstrated to the world the ability of the
Myanmar [Burma] experts and the resourcefulness of the people of Myanmar.
They demonstrated the Myanmar people's ability to determine their own
destiny and to stand on their own feet. 

He said while united and determined endeavours are being made in the
interests of the farmers and the nation, the internal destructionist group,
which cannot bear to see the success being achieved in the public welfare
endeavours, is engaged in instigations aimed at undermining national unity,
the unity of the Defence Services, and national progress. He warned against
these divisive instigations being carried out under the pretext of human
rights and democracy. He said this destructionist group is foolishly and
mistakenly interpreting the patience and goodwill of the government as a
sign of weakness. This destructionist group, which enjoys the support and
encouragement from some Western powers, is towing the non-constructive path
of subversion and conflict. They live off the Myanmar land, but they have
become the lackeys and political prisoners of the West. Their path runs
against the interests of the national path. They are disintegrating by the
day and are being punished by the people. 

As for the SPDC, which upholds the correct national belief that the
internal strength of the country lies within the country, it will continue
to work for the national peace and stability and preservation of the Union,
in accordance with its correct national path with the participation of the
national people. He then called upon the local farmers to understand and to
be aware of the stratagem of the subversive elements and safeguard the
Union, while striving to improve their agricultural production. 

He said the new force in the country's agricultural sector - the national
entrepreneurs - are employing new technology and equipment in developing
thousands of virgin and fallow land into productive farmland. He said 21
private groups are currently engaged in the development of farmland in the
Pegu Division... He said the potential for future development of the nation
is very promising and that no matter who tries to deprive the country of a
good future, the country has a firm potential for development. He called on
the national people to further promote the nation's development through
their labour and productivity... 

Speaking at the ceremony, Gen Maung Aye, chairman of the Central Committee
for Development of Industries, deputy chairman of the SPDC, deputy
commander-in-chief of the Defence Services, and commander-in-chief of the
Army, said our country stood on its own feet and relied on agriculture
behind the closed-door policy for 26 years. He said the open-door policy is
being practised in the country, while endeavours are being made for
integrated development on all fronts. As long as we have sufficiency in
food, clothes and shelter, we do not have to care about anybody. The main
point, he said, is to ensure self-sufficiency in food, clothes and shelter.
He said the country's population would reach over 60 million by the year
2010 and 100 million by the year 2050. By that time, the government alone
will not be responsible for sufficiency food, clothes and shelter, but it
will be the responsibility of the people as well. Therefore, the people of
today are responsible for ensuring sufficiency in basic necessities of the
future generation. 

Gen Maung Aye explained efforts are being made to cultivate 14m acres of
monsoon paddy and 4m acres of summer paddy, out of the 45m acres of arable
land. He said the expansion of arable land will ensure food sufficiency for
the future population. He said when the arable land acreage has reached the
limit, measures should be taken to acquire improved farm technology,
multi-cropping and quality seeds. He said dams, such as this Wegyi Dam, are
being built as part of the endeavour to dam and conserve water from the
rivers, streams, creeks and lakes for the use in agriculture during the dry
season. He said the Wegyi Dam is the 100th dam to be built as part of these
measures. 

Gen Maung Aye said these are the works of the constructive force in the
country which comprised of the government, the Defence Services and the
people - the auxiliary force. He said construction of infrastructure
throughout the country has boosted the Union spirit and patriotism. He
attributed the achievements in the economic, social and administrative
affairs to the cooperation of the people. He said these are the works of
the constructive forces. He said internal and external destructive elements
are, meanwhile, scheming together through various means to undermine the
country's economy by discouraging foreign investment, tourism and economic
opportunities. The country would have achieved more economic progress had
they not hindered these efforts. Therefore, he urged the government, the
Defence Services, and the people to work together in
accordance with the desire of the people... 


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