THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Tuesday, 27 January 1998)

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  1. Deputy Prime Minister receives MD of Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance
  2. Deputy Prime Minister receives former member of Parliament of Australia
  3. Public Works holds annual work coordination meeting
  4. MIC Chairman receives Chairman of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
  5. Minister for Health receives Ambassadors of Philippines and Sri Lanka
  6. Customs Department commemorates Customs Day
  7. Minister meets factory managers
  8. Cooperative Fair continues in Mandalay
  9. Farmers collectively sell paddy in Thayawady
  10. Myanmar contestants win first, second, six special awards in ASEAN Essay, Poster and Photo Contest
  11. Solar energy salt production inspected in Kyauktan
  12. Books presented for UFL, National Library
  13. 3,864 arrests, large haul of drugs seized in 1997
  14. Hospital equipment for 2 MH

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(1) Deputy Prime Minister receives MD of Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance

YANGON, 26 Jan - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Managing Director of Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance Co Ltd Mr Takazumi Kanai and party of Japan at his office this afternoon.

Present also were Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Secretary of MIC Brig-Gen Maung Maung and officials.

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(2) Deputy Prime Minister receives former member of Parliament of Australia

YANGON, 26 Jan - Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun received former member of Parliament of Australia Mr John Matthews, Cardiac Surgeon Dr Segal of USA and Executive Chairperson of Myanmar Business and Trade Consulting Inc Mrs Miriam Marshall Segal at his office this morning.

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(3) Public Works holds annual work coordination meeting

YANGON, 26 Jan - The annual work coordination meeting of Public Works was held at the Head Office this morning with an address by Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun.

Present also were Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Managing Director of Public Works U Tint Swe, Director-General of the Human Settlement and Housing Development Department U Arnt Kyaw, Chief Inspector of Public Works U Soe Tint, chief engineers, head of office of the ministry, directors, superintending engineers, project engineers, senior engineers and officials.

The minister said the Ministry of Construction is to undertake partly the task of bringing about smooth and secure transport laid down by the State, and added it has to build roads and bridges with a view to enabling the public to get easy access to various regions.

It is very important to complete implementation of the projects as targeted, he remarked and added if implementation of the project is not completed in time, other construction work to be undertaken will be affected and delayed.

He spoke of the importance of management skill and dissemination of construction knowledge.

The superintending engineers of states and divisions reported on construction work being undertaken in the respective states and divisions and the project superintending engineers on bridges being built by Public Works, Mandalay International Airport, Yangon International Airport and Yangon-Sittway Highway.

Secretary of Public Works Lt-Col Than Htut, U Soe Tint, Chief Engineer U Shwe Win and Managing Director U Tint Swe explained construction work, management and allocation of budget.

The deputy minister assessed their reports and gave instructions.

The meeting ended with the remarks by the minister.

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(4) MIC Chairman receives Chairman of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

YANGON, 26 Jan - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Chairman of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Mr John C J Matthews and party at his office this afternoon.

Present also were Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Secretary of MIC Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein and officials.

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(5) Minister for Health receives Ambassadors of Philippines and Sri Lanka

YANGON, 26 Jan - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein received Ambassador of the Philippines Mrs Sonia Cataumber Brady at his office this morning.

Mrs Brady presented 126 cartons of medicine donated for rural clinics to Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein who presented certificate of honour to her.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka Mr K B Fernando called on Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein at his office this afternoon.

Present also were Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo and officials.

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(6) Customs Department commemorates Customs Day

YANGON, 26 Jan - The Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue commemorated the Customs Day at the department s training school this evening.

Present were Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Than Tun, heads of departments under the Ministry, Director-General of the Customs Department U Tun Chun, the Deputy Director-General, directors, staff and their families.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister U Khin Maung Thein said Myanmar commemorated the Customs Day as it is a member of the World Customs Organization. He said the department in 1996-97 had collected nearly K 8,000 million thereby exceeding the target and setting a record. He said yearly increase in earnings would contribute towards building of a modern and developed new nation. He called on the staff to introduce customs procedures in conformity with the changing political and economic conditions and international trade.

Next, U Tun Chun presented awards to employees, a division, 63 athletes of the department and children of the staff who gained distinctions in the Basic Education High School Examination.

Entertainment and festivities then followed.

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(7) Minister meets factory managers

YANGON, 26 Jan - Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung met managers of personal goods factories and foodstuff industries in Yangon Division, and addressed a coordination meeting on development of factories and operating factories at full capacity at the ministry this morning.

Present also were Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thein Tun and Col Than Zin, directors-general, managing directors, directors and officials.

The minister said the State Peace and Development Council was constituted and is working for the national development day and night.

Peace and tranquillity has been restored in the country, and all-out efforts are being made for economic development of the nation, he stated.

Just as the agriculture sector, the energy sector and power supply are crucial in the country, so the industrial sector also plays an important role in striving for development of the nation, he noted and added the Ministry of Industry-l is producing and distributing personal goods and foodstuff, and it is incumbent upon the ministry to fulfil the requirements of the State and the people.

He called for timely repair and maintenance of machinery to run the factories at full capacity, and urged all to discharge duties unitedly and work for staff welfare in the framework of rules and regulations.

He called on all to combine human, mechanical and administrative power and take innovative measures in raising momentum of work and to put forward good suggestions.

He assessed reports of the factory managers and attended to their requirements.

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(8) Cooperative Fair continues in Mandalay

YANGON, 26 Jan - The Cooperative Fair (Mandalay) continued for the second day at new Thiri Mandala Market in Aungmyethazan Township yesterday.

Regional products, foodstuff, personal goods, clothes, machines, sculpture, artifacts, handicrafts, agricultural equipment, blankets, table cloth, bags, leather-ware, indigenous medicine, cosmetics and ornaments were sold at the shops of State and Division Cooperative Societies, privates and companies. Over 100,000 persons visited the fair and a total of K 19,120,000 has been realized through contract and K 2,840,950 from sales.

Fashion show, solo show and other entertainment programmes were presented to the audience.

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(9) Farmers collectively sell paddy in Thayawady

YANGON, 26 Jan - Farmers in Thayawady Township have collectively sold over 800,000 baskets of paddy at purchase centres up to 24 January.

This morning, Chairman of Thayawady District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Myint Than, Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council U Khin Soe and members, executives of Union Solidarity and Development Association and Township Manager of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading U Kyaw Tun visited Alegon, Bedingon and Thanbyu purchase centres.

They looked into the requirements of farmers who were collectively selling paddy.

Farmers who are satisfied to the arrangements at the centres have agreed to sell more paddy.

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(10) Myanmar contestants win first, second, six special awards in ASEAN Essay, Poster and Photo Contest

YANGON, 26 Jan - Maung Aung Gyi, Final Part I student of Yangon Institute of Medicine 1, won the first prize in the 30th ASEAN Founding Anniversary Commemorative Essay Contest.

Tenth standard pupil Maung Aye Maung Maung of Kyauktan Basic Education High School 1 also won the second prize in the Poster Contest, and seventh standard pupil Maung Nyein Chan Aung of Kyauktan BEHS 1, eighth standard pupil Maung Shu Maung of Tamway BEHS 3, Maung Zaw Min Thein of Dagon BEHS 1 and ninth standard pupil Maung Chit Ko Ko of Thingangyun BEHS 1 won special awards.

NyaungU Than Htay won special award in the Photo Contest.

Myanmar sent 28 essays, 38 posters and 41 photos to the 30th ASEAN Founding Anniversary Commemorative Essay, Poster and Photo Contest.

The first prize winner in Essay Contest will receive $ 5,000, the second prize winner in Poster Contest $1,500, five special prize winners in project Contest $ 250 each and the special prize winner in Photo Contest $ 500.

The first and second prize winners will receive the awards at the ASEAN Director-General's office in Jakarta on 27 February 1998.

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(11) Solar energy salt production inspected in Kyauktan

YANGON, 26 Jan - Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and Managing Director of Myanma Salt and Marine Chemical Enterprise U Saw Win inspected solar-energy salt production in Kyauktan Township yesterday.

He spoke of exceeding target for 1997-98, increase of production and working for success in meeting with service personnel.

USDA CEC member met departmental officials and EC members at Township USDA office.

He discussed political, economic and social development in the country, objectives and future tasks of the association.

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(12) Books presented for UFL, National Library

YANGON, 26 Jan - Japan Foundation donated 53 volumes of books on Japan to University of Foreign Languages of the Ministry of Education and National Library of Ministry of Culture at Ministry of foreign Affairs this afternoon

Ambassador of Japan Mr Yoichi Yamaguchi handed over the books to Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department and Director-General of International Law and Treaties and Research Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Aye Lwin who thanked the officials.

Present also were officials of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Embassy.

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(13) 3,864 arrests, large haul of drugs seized in 1997

YANGON, 26 Jan - The Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police Force and Customs Department made 3,864 arrests and seized 7,883.9749 kilos of opium in 507 cases, 1,401.0787 kilos of heroin in 1,551 cases, 288.0345 kilos of marijuana in 361 cases, 896.1355 litres of Phensedyl in 82 cases, 194.3775 kilos of low grade opium in 117 cases, 51 9208 kilos of opium oil in 39 cases 975 7638 kilos of liquid opium in one case, 556.8 kilos of chemical powder, 45.7284 kilos of morphine in five cases, 2,420.0233 kilos of Ephedrine in six cases, 2,449 gallons of acetic anhydride in five cases, 5,028,600 amphetamine tablets in 59 cases, 96.94 litres of cough syrup in ten cases, 200 bottles of morphine injection in one case, 1,250 kilos of ammonium chloride in one case, 39.0358 kilos of opium powder in eight cases, 17,231.368 gallons of other chemicals in six cases, and took action against 1.014 cases of failure to register for treatment and 91 other drug-related cases from 1 January to 31 December 1997.

Tatmadawmen of battalions and units during the period seized 4,561.8486 kilos of opium, 570.7475 kilos of heroin, 7.3577 kilos of marijuana, 154.025 litres of Phensedyl, 60.295 kilos of low grade opium, 810.81 kilos of liquid opium, 15.26 kilos of morphine, 476.2 kilos of Ephedrine 1,550 gallons of acetic anhydride, 403,226 amphetamine tablets, 6.96 litres of cough syrup and 8,790 198 gallons of other precursor chemicals.

Myanmar Police Force seized 3,259.9117 kilos of opium in 496 cases, 744.9389 kilos heroin in 1,532 cases, 280.6758 kilos of marijuana in 360 cases, 742.1105 litres of Phensedyl in 82 cases, 134.0773 kilos of low grade opium in 115 cases, 43.0912 kilos of opium oil in 37 cases, 164.9538 kilos of liquid opium in one case, 556.8 kilos of chemical powder, 30.4684 kilos of morphine in five cases, 1,843.8233 kilos of Ephedrine in five cases, 899 gallons of acetic anhydride in five cases, 4,439,574 amphetamine tablets in 56 cases, 89.53 litres of cough syrup in ten cases, 200 bottles of morphine injection in one case, 1,250 kilos of ammonium chloride in one case, 39.0358 kilos of opium powder in eight cases, 8,441.1703 gallons of other precursor chemicals in six cases, 1,014 cases for failure to register for treatment and 90 other drug-related cases during the period.

The Customs Department in cooperation with the MPF also seized 62.2146 kilos of opium in 11 cases. 85.3923 kilos of heroin in 19 cases, 0.001 kilo of marijuana in one case, 0.0052 kilo of low grade in two cases, 8.8296 kilos of opium oil in two cases, 100 kilos of Ephedrine in one case, 185,800 amphetamine tablets in three cases and one drug-related case.

The MPF together with the Tatmadaw seized 608.3902 kilos of heroin in 116 cases, 1,3985.2766 kilos of opium in 111 cases, 172.6555 litres of Phensedyl in 20 cases, 27.1717 kilos of marijuana in six cases, 2,735,093 amphetamine tablets in 12 cases, 1,304 gallons of acid, 452 gallons of spirit in one case, 90 gallons of acetic anhydride and 275. 58 gallons of Lysol in one case, 66 gallons of hydrochloric acid, 240 gallons of ether and 145 gallons of sulphuric acid.

The MPF took action against 5,361 persons 4,446 men and 915 women in connection with 3,864 drug-related cases.

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(14) Hospital equipment for 2 MH

YANGON, 26 Jan - Well-wisher Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, wife Daw Khin Hla Hla and family presented machine used for anaesthetic and hospital equipment to No 2 Military Hospital this afternoon.

Commandant Col Min Naing accepted the gifts and presented certificate of honour to the donor.

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