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(1) Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt receives Ambassador of Thailand
YANGON, 7 Feb - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Ambassador of Thailand Mr Poksak Nilubol who has completed his tour of duty at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence this afternoon.
Present also were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Director General There U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.
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(2) 51st Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities open
YANGON, 7 Feb - Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt Gen Kin Nyunt formally opened the 51st Anniversary Union Day Exhibition and Festivities at Hline Sports Ground in Hline Township this morning.
Present were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Yangon City Development Council Mayor U Ko Lay, Vice Mayor Col Maung Pa, officials of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council, departmental officials, members of the 51st Anniversary Union Day Observance Management Committee and members of Union Day Exhibition and Festivities Sub-committee.
Chairman of Central Committee for Observance of the 5Ist Anniversary Union Day Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt formally opened the exhibition and festivities.
The Secretary-1, the ministers and guests inspected booths, shops of the ministries, salesrooms of cooperatives societies and shops. They also attended volleyball match.
The Union Day exhibition and festivities will be held from 7 to 13 February.
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YANGON, 7 Feb - A cornerstone laying ceremony of two-storey building for Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee was held at Maha Pasana Cave, Kaba Aye, this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Present also were Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister or Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Ministers at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, officials of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council, departmental officials, service personnel and wut associations.
At the auspicious time, the Secretary-1 laid the casket and stone inscription.
Next, the Secretary-1, the ministers and the mayor laid the foundation and sprinkled scented water.
The Secretary-l and party then showered confetti.
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(4) Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo inspects brick making processes with firewood substitute fuel
YANGON, 7 Feb - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Tactical Operations Commander of Yangon Command Col Tin Soe and officials, inspected brick making with firewood substitute fuel at Lippok Village in Hmawby Township this afternoon.
The Secretary-2 and party heard report on brick-making process by entrepreneur U Tin Win. The Secretary-2 then gave instructions.
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(5) Car donated to Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw of Maha Theindawgyi Pariyatti Sarthintaik
YANGON, 7 Feb - A car donation for Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw of Maha Theindawgyi Pariyatti Sarthintaik was held at the Theindawgyi in Pabedan Township this morning.
Present were Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Deputy Minister for Labour U Kyaw Aye, Officer on Special Duty at the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Than Tint, Joint Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee U Kyi Win, officials, well-wishers and guests.
Sayadaw Agga Maha Gandhavasaka Pandita Bhaddanta Kumara administered the Five Precepts.
Well-wisher Ko Kyaw Kyaw (Asia Point Bowling Club), Ma Myat Myat Oo (May Shine Beauty Parlor) and family presented documents related to a Nissan Venette Largo to the Secretary-2.
The Sayadaw delivered a sermon and merits gained were shared.
Next, the Secretary-2 handed key of the car to the Sayadaw. He gave instructions on construction of soon-sar-hsaung of Maha Theindawgyi Pariyatti Sarthintaik.
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(6) Central level, special extempore talks contest held in honour of Armed Forces Day
YANGON, 7 Feb - The 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day commemorative Extempore Talks Central Level Contest 1998, organized by the Work Committee for Holding the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Literary and Photo Contests, was held in the Pyidaungsu Hall of the Central Public Relations Unit in Hmawby this morning.
Present were member of the Central Panel of Patrons Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, ministers, secretary- general of USDA Minister for Education U Than Aung and CEC members, panel of judges led by Professor U Kyaw Win of History Department of Yangon University, guests, trainees of Special Refresher Course No 1, Computer Diploma Course No 1 and the Management Course No 13 for USDA Executives totaling 700.
Staff Officers Daw Than Than Win and Daw San San Yin of Myanma Radio and Television emceed the ceremony.
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(7) Inland Water Transport launches 100-ton landing craft "Yebawe-5"
YANGON, 7 Feb - As a gesture hailing the 51st Anniversary Union Day, a ceremony to launch 100-ton landing craft "Yebawe-5" built for Inland Water Transport by Myanma Shipyards was held there this morning.
Minister for Transport Lt Gen Tin Ngwe and Minister for Labor Vice-Admiral Tin Aye formally launched the landing craft.
Present also were Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Deputy Minister for Transport Brig Gen Yaw Mint, advisers, directors-general and managing directors of the Ministry of Transport, guests and officials.
Then, they inspected Computerized Numerical Control Cutting Machine, which is in use at Myna Shipyards.
At a ceremony to mark the launch of "Yebawe-5" held in the meeting hall of Myanma Shipyards, Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe said Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe gave guidance to Myanma Shipyards under the Ministry of Transport to build ships, and added ;Myanma Shipyards is building them for Inland Water Transport to ensure secure and smooth transport and speedy and smooth flow of commodities with a view to fulfilling the requirements of the country.
He said this is the tenth craft built by Myanma Shipyards and will be used as Nyaungdon-Sekkot Ferry which will ply in Ayeyawady Division. The craft with a drought of I metre, 34.60 metre long, 7.32 metre width and 1.80 metre depth, was built at a cost of K 6.309 million. The body of the craft was built by Myanma Shipyards, and an old engine and control equipment from Inland Water Transport were repaired and installed at the craft. Myanma Shipyards could build three passenger ships, ten landing craft and nine barges for Inland Water Transport beginning 1988-89 fiscal year and could repair three passenger and cargo ships and five barges. Myanma Shipyards is building six 500-ton barges and one 500-ton cargo vessel for private entrepreneurs this year. In the time of the State Peace and Development Council, Myanma Shipyards is building craft in compliance with internationally-accepted conditions not only for Inland Water Transport but also for such foreign countries as Singapore and Indonesia. At present, Myanma Shipyards is building two offshore supply vessels for Java Marine lines Pte Ltd of Singapore.
He expressed his pleasure for the fact that Myanma Shipyards could build 127 vessels, powered or otherwise, for inland and overseas water transport from 1988-89 fiscal year to date.
Then, Managing Director of Myanma Shipyards U Percy Maung Maung and Managing Director of Inland Water Transport U Tun Aung Myint signed documents.
Next, U Percy Maung Maung handed the documents to U Tun Aung Myint.
The craft, built beginning 28 June 1997, can cruise at 7 nautical miles and is installed with Main Diesel Engine 220 Hp/1800 hpr.
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(8) MID Chairman tours Myaungmya Industrial Zone
YANGON, 7 Feb - Chairman of Myanmar Industrial Development Committee Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, accompanied by Deputy Director-General of Myanma Science and Technological Research Department Dr Chan Nyein and officials, toured Myaungmya Industrial Zone yesterday.
They were welcomed there by Chairman of Myaungmya Industrial Zone Work Supervisory Committee Chairman of District Peace and Development Council Lt Col Win Htein and officials.
Later, the minister held discussions with industrialists of the district and five townships.
Lt-Col Win Htein explained socio-economic conditions in the district, industrial establishments, work programmes, expansion of the zone and power supply.
The minister discussed MlDC's aims and future plans.
A general round of discussions followed.
The minister and party later inspected industries and the plot designated for establishment of the industrial zone.
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(9) Departments Opium seized in Aungban
YANGON, 7 Feb - A combined team of members of Defence Services Intelligence, Taunggyi special anti-drug squad and members of Aungban Police Station waiting at Pinlaung junction searched vehicles on Aungban-Kalaw Road on 31 January.
They seized 15 packets of opium weighing 26.589 kilos on light truck No 2 Ka/3797 of Shanmyelat transport service from Taunggyi to Meiktila.
Legal action is being taken against driver U Khin Maung, son of U Sami of Taunggyi, U Nyunt Hsaung of Taunggyi and head of Aungban-Meiktila transport line U Hla Maung of Aungban.
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(10) Dagon Myothit (South) Economic Development Zone opens
YANGON, 7 Feb - The Economic Development Zone of Revenue Department of Yangon City Development Committee opened in Dagon Myothit (South) Township this morning.
YCDC Chairman Mayor of Yangon U Ko Lay formally unveiled the signboard of the Economic Development Zone.
Present on the occasion were YCDC Secretary Col Myint Aung, Joint Secretary U Kyi Win, township authorities, departmental officials, members of USDA, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Bridge and guests.
Deputy Head of Administration Department of YCDC U Hla Myint Swe explained about the zone.
YCDC member Col Thaung Wai, Head of Revenue Department U Tin Maung Myint and industrialist U Aung Thein formally opened the Zone.
Dagon Myothit (South) Economic Development Zone was established to remove and resettle businesses, which were not in accordance with the characteristics of a city, including ironware dealers' shops from Pazundaung Township and similar businesses from five other townships.
On 18 April 1996, the Work Committee for Establishing Dagon Myothit (South) Economic Development Zone was formed with Mayor U Ko Lay and Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than as patrons, Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung as Chairman and heads of Human Settlement and Housing Development Department, Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise, Myanma Posts and Telecommunications and General Administration Department and officials of Yangon East District Law and Order Restoration Council and Yangon East District Police Force as members.
The Work Supervisory Committee for the project was formed with YCDC Member Col Thaung Wai as Chairman and Deputy Head of Revenue Department of YCDC Maj San Lwin as Secretary on 8 June 1996. The project commenced 1 July 1996.
The implementation of the project has been completed after one and half years. Over K 729 million were spent on the project.
After opening the Dagon Myothit South Economic Development Zone, entrepreneurs in Dagon Myothit (South) Industrial Zone can easily trade ironware and others at one place.
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(11) Western balloonists happy with warm reception on landing in Myanmar
YANGON, 7 Feb - Three balloonists who set out from Chateau d'Oex in Switzerland in the hope of making a two-month globe-girdling trip aboard the Breitling Orbiter-2 landed in a field in Myanmar yesterday cutting short their adventure.
"We are very happy with the warm welcome we received. We met hundreds of smiling Myanmar people when we landed. They were all smiling," said one of them at the news conference at the Ramada Hotel close to Yangon International Airport where they arrived by Myanma Air Force helicopter around noon.
The three unshaven young men - Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard, Belgian pilot Wim Verstraeten and English pilot Andy Elson started off in their hot-air balloon from Switzerland and traveled through Italy, Cyprus, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and India.
Their landing was given the green-light after a request through the Myanmar diplomatic mission in Geneva and was prepared by Mr Philip Dunnington of the back-up party and Project Manager Mrs Monika Anna Pieren who flew in a support plane to coordinate with officials of the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
The balloon entered Myanmar air space Friday night and they were guided to a safe landing. They touched down at 9.16 am local time Saturday near the Yangon-Pyay Highway five miles south of Minhla, Thayawady District, Bago Division.
Hundreds of villagers were on hand, spontaneously smiling and waving, welcoming the trio when they alighted, guide ropes handled by Tatmadawmen, police, executives and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the Red Cross and locals who had arrived in advance to help.
After a short chopper ride they arrived at Yangon International Airport from where they went to the nearly Ramada Hotel and met the Press.
All three expressed delight at the warmth and hospitality accorded them and thanked all concerned for the help.
The balloon, manufactured by Cameron Company of the United Kingdom, is 100 feet across, 200 feet high and is fitted with, a special cabin designed to withstand high altitude. It will be packed and sent back to the UK. Mission only partly accomplished, they will leave for home early Sunday.
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(12) Basic Education Department holds third four monthly coord meeting
YANGON, 7 Feb - The Basic Education Department held its third four-monthly work coordination meeting at the head office of the department, No 123, Natmauk Road, Bahan Township, at 8 am today.
Present were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Director-General U Bo Win of the Basic Education Department, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and State and Division education officers.
Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung gave instructions on administration, teaching and examination to be carried out.
The State and Division education officers reported on work carried out and requirements in their respective regions.
The directors and director-general explained about future tasks.
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