Three newly elected Mon State Hluttaw (parliament) members met civil society organisation (CSOs) representatives on 21 January to improve collaboration between the Mon State government and CSOs.
Min Win Bo of the Local Resource Center (LRC) said: “This meeting gave us more than just hope. CSOs are not influenced by issues of religion, nationality or politics. They are independent. So, the Hluttaw representatives and the government have become aware that the CSOs are working for the public. We’ve gained more trust from them.”
At the meeting, civil society members introduced topics of concern including public safety in the streets and hospital conditions. The Mon State Hluttaw members reportedly discussed issues related to their work and responsibilities.
Dr. Aung Naing Oo, a re-elected State Hluttaw representative said: “As I did during my last five-year term [in parliament], I will stand for the public regarding their desire for justice in the [state] administration. I will also work to halt projects in Mon State when requested by the public if the projects cause negative impacts.”
The meeting drew about 100 residents and representatives from local businesses, CSOs, and the Wholesale Center. Only three out of 45 new state Hluttaw members attended.
[New] Hluttaw members who joined were U Min Aung Mon of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Dr. Aung Naing Oo of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP), and U Zaw Zaw of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
The meeting was held at the Wholesale Center Hall in Moulmein, the Mon State capital. It was the second gathering of new Hluttaw members and CSOs and followed an earlier meeting at the LRC in Myaintharyar Ward, Moulmein, earlier this month.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
