Friday, September 23, 2011

Burmese government should encourage NLD charity work: Tin Oo

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Friday, 23 September 2011 19:02 Mizzima News

Rangoon (Mizzima) – National League for Democracy (NLD) Vice Chairman Tin Oo says it’s sad that Burma’s new government doesn't cooperate with the NLD in its charity work, but often hinders its efforts.

Tin Oo made his remarks in a speech at the opening of the Aung San Panglong Library Reading Room in Thingangyun Township in Rangoon on Friday.

This file photo shows NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo who, along with General-Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi, made remarks at the opening of the Aung San Panglong Library Reading Room in Thingangyun Township in Rangoon on Friday. Photo: Mizzima

“It’s a crying shame that the government officials are preventing us,” Tin Oosaid. “They should support and help us. We don’t want them to forbid us from doing charity work. We want them to encourage us, because the charity work can help the country.”

In her remarks at the opening, NLD General-Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi y said that only if more people in Burma were educated would they be able to join the modern countries of the world. 

“So young people must become educated,” she said. “Not only young people, but also elderly people. Knowledge offers important capabilities. Whatever we do, we cannot do it without educated people who cooperate with us.”

The Aung San Panglong Library Reading Room opening marked the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the NLD. It was named the Aung San Panglong Library Reading Room in honour of the late national hero General Aung San. In his speech, Tin Oo said that the name reflected national unity, because the Panlong Agreement provided equal rights to ethnic minorities.

Since Suu Kyi was released from her house arrest last year, the NLD has stepped up its charity work in the areas of education and health. NLD-supported charity schools include the Bayda School in Sanchaung Township in Rangoon Region; Mom’s Home in Hlaingthaya Township in Rangoon; Myat Mi Khin in Sittwe in Arakan State and Mom’s Home in Taungoo in Pegu Region. Frequently, the schools have experienced difficulty finding locations to house the schools because the authorities have pressured landlords not to rent to the schools.

“Despite various difficulties, we are successfully operating Mom’s Home reading room and schools,” Tin Oo said. “Last month, we opened the Aung San Jarmon libraries in Thanatpin and Pegu.”

The Bayda Institute offers courses in social relationships, world affairs, South East Asian studies and basic English. Mom’s Home schools also offer primary school students and high school students basic English.

On August 14, Sue Kyi preside at the Aung San Jarmon libraries in Pegu and Thanatpin in Pegu Region.

Thingangyun Township NLD chairman Tin Mya said that the goal of the Aung San Panglong Library Reading Room is to encourage young people to read, and it plans to hold talks on literature and other subjects.

During the opening ceremony, 10 people donated a minimum of 80,000 kyat (about US$ 100).

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