Translation of President U Thein Sein's Radio Speech

My fellow citizens,
I would first like to wish you all good health in my monthly radio program to communicate with the citizens on some of the important issues.

First, I would like to touch on the issue of access to affordable mobile telephone SIM cards, which I know many of you are patiently waiting for. As I have promised you before and starting this April, the Ministry of Information and Technology will start selling mobile telephone SIM cards at an affordable price to the general public in accordance with the necessary rules and regulations.

In selling these mobile telephone SIM cards, they will be distributed equitably among the Regions and States after carefully considering such details as the demand and the preexisting infrastructural capacity to support additional phone lines. In addition, the infrastructural capacity will be increased and new mobile telephone towers built through partnership with local and international companies so as to enable the sale of a recurring supply of SIM cards every month. In this way, access to communication is reached all the way to the grassroots. At the same time, we will work to improve the existing auto telephone lines.

Second, I would like to touch on the issue of salary and benefits for civil servants. Regarding this issue, I have already communicated my intention to increase the salary and benefits for civil servants from time to time depending on national economy, revenue, and budget. In the proposal for the upcoming 2013-2014 annual budget, I have submitted a request of 385 billion Kyats to the Legislature for the increase of salary and pension for civil servants. Acknowledging to the hardships faced by the civil servants, the Legislature has approved this also. As a result, prior increase of 30,000 kyats in stipend will remain as before and monthly salary will increase by additional 20,000 kyats starting this April.

Third, I would call on all citizens to participate and provide support in the economic development of the country. Economic development goes hand in hand with improvements in the socio-economic conditions of citizens. Our country currently needs investment, technology, and human resources to promote job creation and industrial development. Since we cannot do it on our own yet, we have to invite foreign investment.

To invite the right kind of investment, we have already developed policies that will protect national interest and social welfare. To help attract foreign investment, a new Foreign Direct Investment Law that meets international standards has recently been enacted. There have also been successes in the relaxation of economic sanctions. We were also able to secure 6 billion dollars of debt relief. We will also be able to secure low-interest long term loans from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Japan's Official Development Assistance in the near future.

Economic development is intricately linked to Peace. However, if we are unable to promote peace, we will squander the opportunities and avenues available to advance economic development. Because of this, I would call on all citizens to participate and provide support in promoting peace and stability.

Fourth, we must raise the living standard of workers and farmers, the two fundamental societal groups. A large majority of the country's population lives in rural areas and is working as menial laborers in the agricultural sector. As the agricultural sector improves, the people will have full access to the basic needs, especially food, clothing and shelter.

Therefore, I would like to urge farmers to strive towards improving crop yield, increasing the value of the land by making necessary improvements to the land, employing scientific farming methods and introducing mechanized farming. We understand that another fundamental need for farmers is capital. We have tried to help farmers to have access to loans they need by establishing credit unions, credit associations, and cooperative banks. Furthermore, we will also obtain foreign aid and loans in order to accomplish the aforementioned tasks effectively.

Fifth, we will have to work hard to safeguard peace and stability and promote rule of law in the country. Our people wish to have peace and stability and rule of law in the country. The country has experienced economic backwardness due to the absence of peace and stability.

My administration has made it possible for the general public to participate in the process of achieving political stability in the country. We have granted amnesty to many prisoners in stages. In addition, we have established the review committee for prisoners in order to grant more amnesty if they are wrongly detained. Our effort to end the six-decade long ethnic armed conflicts has yielded significant positive results.

However, some of our citizens, instead of solving the problems they encountered lawfully, resorted to violent and unlawful means that involve terrorist acts, murder and arson. Such actions have denigrated the image of the country in the eyes of the international community. Whenever such problems occur, we might not be able to solve them internally anymore; they could become regional or international problems. This could seriously hurt the country’s reputation and cost many development opportunities.

In some cases, some citizens, instead of solving the problems peacefully, instigated others to worsen them. If our young democracy experienced such violent political storms frequently, its democratic development would be seriously hampered. Therefore, I would like to request all citizens, both Sangha and Laity, to assist the government in promoting peace and stability, the rule of law and democracy. I am firmly committed to use the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws to protect and defend life, liberty, and property of all citizens.

Sixth, March 27th of this year marks the 68th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day. The Tatmadaw, which was established by General Aung San and the thirty comrades, is an institution with great historical tradition that was triumphant in the independence movement with the support of the people. Likewise, it is an institution that was able to preserve independence and protect the nation against foreign and domestic threats. During this time of democratic transition, the Tatmadaw is also playing an important role by cooperating with the people. The Tatmadaw will use its good institutional traditions and attributes gained from its experience as strengths in this transition process.

Lastly, I would like to wish my fellow citizens all the enjoyment in the Thingyan festival that falls on the second week of April. I also wish you all happy new year.

May all citizens be safe, healthy and prosperous.