Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Rangoon chief minister warns journalists ‘be careful’ reporting news

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Wednesday, 09 November 2011 12:38 Min Thet

(Mizzima) – Rangoon Region Chief Minister Myint Swe has warned journalists who cover Rangoon Region assembly news to be careful in reporting on events.

“Be careful what you write,” he said. “We are a government. [Because of a news report], people thought that the mayor rejected a motion to distribute more drinking water to the city. If people think that, the government will get a bad reputation.”

He made his remarks on Tuesday regarding a motion submitted by MP U Kyaw of Thingangyun Township constituency on November 2. The motion by the New National Democracy Party MP said, “The drinking water distributed by the Rangoon City Development Committee to the outskirts of Rangoon including Thingangyun Township was insufficient and the City Development Committee should distribute more water.”

It was discussed by three MPs on November 3 and rejected by 98 to 24 votes, with USDP and military-appointed MPs voting against.

Minister Myint Swe said, “The motion to distribute more water was put to the vote in the assembly on that day. U Kyaw’s motion was rejected. Journals reported that USDP MPs and military representatives rejected the motion to distribute more water to the city. That’s not true.

“If U Kyaw’s motion won, only his Thingangyun Township would have received more water. South Dagon, North Dagon, North Okkalapa and Dagon Seikkan townships have not got [enough] water. We are trying to equally distribute water [to all townships]. Presently, the mayor is trying to distribute more water. He will do what he should do according to the budget. Please understand. If U Kyaw’s motion was accepted, all the budget would be dedicated to only Thingangyun Township.”

However, a journalist covering the assembly disputed Myint Swe’s statement as not accurate, saying U Kyaw’s motion was to distribute more water to not only Thingangyun Township but also to all Rangoon areas with an insufficient water supply.
     
A journalist covering parliamentary news told Mizzima that they expected the motion to be supported by all MPs.

“The motion was just to distribute more water. It’ not an issue that should be objected to. But, the outcome was different from our expectations,” said the journalist.

In response, Rangoon Mayor Hla Myint said the Rangoon City Development Committee distributes water from Gyophyu Reservoir, Hlawgar Reservoir, Phoogyi Reservoir and Ngamoeyeik Reservoir to 33 townships in the city and distributes underground water to the Rangoon townships through pump-wells.

The mayor said that Rangoon distributed 160 million gallons of water daily and there were plans to distribute more water.

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