RANGOON — The National League for Democracy (NLD) has ordered its newly elected representatives and members to start picking up trash in their respective constituencies from Sunday as part of a nationwide campaign to keep neighborhoods clean and improve public health.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NLD called on its newly elected lawmakers, members and the general public to take part in the so-called “Environmental Beautification Campaign” on December 13.
The party’s chairwoman, Aung San Suu Kyi, will herself lead the garbage collection drive on Sunday in Rangoon Division’s Kawhmu Township where she was re-elected to the Lower House in the country’s Nov. 8 general election.
“To create real change, let’s start from the basics,” is the motto for the campaign, according to an announcement in the NLD’s journal, D-Wave.
The campaign’s goals are to demonstrate that effective results can be swiftly realized with the public’s collaboration; to improve public health by keeping the environment clean; and to help present a more attractive country in light of rising tourist arrivals, according to the statement.
During a meeting with newly elected NLD lawmakers in Rangoon late last month following the party’s thumping election victory, Suu Kyi asked MP-elects to lead by example and improve sanitation by personally cleaning up their constituencies.
Heeding the NLD leader’s advice, some successful party candidates, youth leaders and others have already begun cleaning activities in public places on weekends.
Aung Myat Kyaw, an NLD MP-elect for a local parliament seat in Rangoon Division’s Bahan constituency, said there were plans to clean up the local area on weekends with the assistance of lawmakers, party members and constituents.
“I hope we can systematically raise public awareness about not littering through this campaign,” he said.
