Youth organizers are annoyed with the Rakhine (Arakan) State chief minister after he said the state’s support for the Arakan Youth Conference is contingent upon the Union government approval.
The Rakhine State chief minister should have the authority to make up his own mind about such local issues, said Ko Min Thein Zin, a member of the Committee for Preparing the Arakan Youth Conference.
“We are a little frustrated with the Rakhine State government including the chief minister because he told us that the government will only assist us in line with the decision of the Union government and the policy of the country,” said Ko Min Thein Zin.
The Committee for Preparing the Arakan Youth Conference met with state ministers from and Chief Minister U Nyi Pu on May 15.
The chief minister described the conversation differently, however.
“We always invite youth to talk. We are ready to work together with them. We are ready to give them the necessary assistance,” he said.
The ministers urged members of the committee to submit plans for the conference, including detailed proposals of what kind of assistance they are seeking from the state government.
“We will discuss within our cabinet when the plans have been drafted and submitted,” said U Kyaw Aye Thein, the Rakhine State Minister of Planning, Finance, Tax and Economy.
The Arakan Youth Conference is tentatively scheduled to be held in Taunggok township in December.
Translated by Thida Linn
Laignee Barron
