THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Tuesday, 10 February 1998)

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  1. The State Peace and Development Council Law No 1/98
  2. The State Peace and Development Council General Maung Aye inspects Taungdwingyi Magway Railroad Project
  3. Colonialists conquered Myanmar waters and Myanmar land but not patriotism of Myanmar nationals races
  4. London Myanmar Open heads for Bagan
  5. US $ 90,000 for Jivitadana Sangha Hospital
  6. Paddy collectively sold in Thongwa Township
  7. Minister inspects Institute of Primary Health
  8. Four ailing writers get K 10,000 each
  9. Cash donation for Tongtah invitational Hockey Tournament

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(1) The State Peace and Development Council Law No 1/98

The State Peace and Development Council
The Law Amending the Canal Act
(The State Peace and Development Council Law No 1/98)
The 13th Waxing Day of Tabodwe, 1359 ME
(9th February, 1998)

The State Peace and Development Council hereby enacts the following Law:

1. This Law shall be called the Law Amending the Canal Act. 2. In section 7s of the Canal Act, the expression ''not exceeding five hundred kyats, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both" shall be substituted by the expression "not exceeding twenty thousand kyats, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both."


(Sd) Than Shwe
Senior General
Chairman
The State Peace and Development Council

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(2) The State Peace and Development Council General Maung Aye inspects Taungdwingyi Magway Railroad Project

YANGON, 9 Feb - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye inspected Taungdwingyi-Magway Railroad Project in Magway Township this morning.

Accompanied by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, senior officials of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and ministers, he helicoptered to Magway Township from Popa Mountain Resort in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Division, at 9.30 am.

On arrival at Magway, the General and party were welcomed by Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, Commander of No 88 LID Brig-Gen Aye Kyway and officials.

They cordially conversed with Tatmadawmen of No 88 LID who were laying rocks at the project and inspected progress of work.

The General presented gifts to Tatmadawmen of the project.

Managing Director of Myanma Railways U Kyaw Hsan briefed them on progress of work and Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Minister U Pan Aung, Commander Brig-Gen Aye Kyway and officials on finding of the axis for Taungdwingyi-Magway Rail road, beginning of the project and large and small bridges to be built on it.

General Maung Aye looked into their requirements.

Later, they supervised work at Thayet Laybin camp in Magway.

The LID commander briefed them on progress of work.

They then observed building of the road with heavy equipment.

The General cordially greeted Tatmadawmen of the project and presented gifts to them and personnel of MR.

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo met Secretaries of Mandalay Division, Sagaing Division and Magway Division Peace and Development Councils and departmental personnel at Popa Mountain Resort at 4 pm yesterday.

He explained means for agricultural development, successful cultivation of the four main crops and greening of nine arid districts.

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(3) Colonialists conquered Myanmar waters and Myanmar land but not patriotism of Myanmar nationals races

YANGON, 9 Feb - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt welcomed the Union Day delegates currently here to attend the 1998 51st Anniversary Union Day Ceremony at the National Indoor Stadium-1 in Thuwunna Township at 8.30 am today.

Also present were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Information Maj- Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, senior military officers, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, members of the 51st Anniversary Union Day Observance Management Committee, those of the sub-committees and Union Day delegates.

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(4) London Myanmar Open heads for Bagan

YANGON, 9 Feb - Press Conference on London Myanmar Open 1998 was held at Inya Lake Hotel today.

The 225,000-dollar professional golf tourney will be jointly held by Myanmar Golf Federation and Asian Professional Golfers Association in Bagan, Mandalay Division, from 5 to 8 March.

Previous year's prize money was $ 200,000.

President of MGF Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, Chairman of Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar Lt-Col Aung Myint, Tournament Director (Asian PGA) Mr Antonio Ocampo and U Chan Han of Myanmar Professional Golfers Association spoke.

Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, U Chan Han and Mr Antonio Ocampo replied to queries raised by foreign and local media-men.

General-Secretary of MGF U Aung Kyi and executives were also present.

Asia's leading professional golf tour tees off for the 1998 season next month when the region's finest players descend on the ancient Myanmar capital of Bagan for the 1998 London Myanmar Open.

Attracting professionals from over 15 different countries, the US$ 225,000 London Myanmar Open at Bagan Golf Club from March 5-8 represents the first leg of the 1998 Omega Tour and the third time the Asian PGA has staged an event in Myanmar.

"We are truly delighted to be returning to Myanmar for the third time and very excited about staging an event in such a wonderful location as Bagan" said Ramlan Dato Harun, Executive Director Asian PGA.

"Myanmar is able to boast a number of very established golfers, plus some very talented up-and-coming players, and it gives the Asian PGA great satisfaction and pride to be able to work alongside the Myanmar Golf Federation and PGA to help the development of the game in Myanmar.

"We are also indebted to our sponsors Rothmans of Pall Mall, Myanmar, for providing the financial support needed to run such a prestigious event."

Leading the domestic challenge will be Myanmar's most famous golfing son Kyi Hla Han. The winner of numerous titles across Asia and a regular on the 1988 PGA European Tour, Han will be hoping to make amends for missing last year's cut with a strong performance over the 7,147-yard Bagan Golf Club Resort.

Likely to be leading the overseas challenge will be the reigning champion and two-time winner Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand. Boonchu defeated Australia's John Senden in a playoff for last year's title, and in so doing set two Asian PGA firsts: he became the first player to successfully defend an Omega Tour title, as well as the first to win four events on the Asian PGA circuit.

Also in action over the Bagan fairways will be Boonchu's compatriot and the 'Players Player of the Year' for 1 997, Prayad Marksaeng. The 32-year old Marksaeng, a two-time winner on the 1997 Omega Tour, gave further evidence of his vast potential last month when he outscored a number of the world's leading golfers to finish tied for eighth place in the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand.

Joining the Thai duo will be two of the Asian PGA's heroes from last year's British Open, Gaurav Ghei of India and Singapore's Mardan Mamat. Ghei and Mamat became the first players from their respective countries to compete in the Open when they successfully pre-qualified for the 126th Open Championship in Scotland last summer.

China's number one Zhang Lian-wei will also be looking for his first stroke-play victory on the Omega Tour when he tees off in Bagan. The winner of the 1996 Volvo Asian Match-play Championships, Zhang competed with distinction in Europe last year, the highlight of his season coming in the Canon European Masters in Switzerland where he finished tied for sixth place.

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(5) US $ 90,000 for Jivitadana Sangha Hospital

YANGON, 9 Feb - The Government of Japan presented US $ 90,000 to Myanmar for Jivitadana Sangha Hospital as a Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass Roots Project at Japanese Embassy on Natmauk Road in Bahan Township this evening.

Present were Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar Mr Yoichi Yamaguchi, Minister Counsellor Mr Y Fukuda, Chairman of Jivitadana Sangha Hospital Administrative Committee U Maung Maung-7, members U Hla Myaing, U Hla Thein and Dr Hla Shwe.

Ambassador Mr Yamaguchi and U Maung Maung signed an agreement on promotion of treatment at Jivitadana Sangha Hospital.

Then, U Maung Maung presented certificate of honour to the Ambassador and thanked him.

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(6) Paddy collectively sold in Thongwa Township

YANGON, 9 Feb - Under the sponsorship of Thongwa Township Rice Millers' Association, 17,000 baskets of paddy were collectively sold at Myoma, Pyidawtha, Luhtumyitta and Dohbama Purchase Centres in Thongwa Township, Yangon South District, today.

Chairman of Myanmar Rice Millers' Association U Win Myint, Vice-Chairman U Tin Win, General Secretary U Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council U Phone Myint, Township Manager of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading U Nyein Aung and Chairman of Township Rice Millers' Association U Htwe, Secretary U Myint Swe and members were present.

A total of 448,811 baskets of paddy were already purchased to date, it is learnt.

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(7) Minister inspects Institute of Primary Health

YANGON, 9 Feb - Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Director-General of the Health Department Dr Hla Myint and Acting Director-General of Medical Science Department Dr Myo Myint, inspected Institute of Primary health in Aung San, Insein Township this afternoon.

Rector of the Institute Dr Thein Swe briefed the minister on number of staff and trainee and construction work.

The minister looked into the requirements and inspected the institute.

The minister and party proceeded to Central Workshop of Central Medical Stores Depot where Deputy Director (Central Medicine) Dr Myint Thaung and Assistant Director (Engineer) U Tin San briefed the minister on repair of hospital equipment and storage of equipment.

Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein gave suggestions.

Then, the minister and party went to Tuberculosis Hospital in Aung San and inspected it.

Medical Superintendent Dr Myint Thein Tun and specialist Dr Daw Than Lwin conducted them around the hospital.

The minister inspected the site where new extension building is to be built and transport situation.

Next, the minister and party inspected the Health Department in Aung San.

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(8) Four ailing writers get K 10,000 each

YANGON, 9 Feb - The Literary Fund Supervisory Committee of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association recently gave K 10,000 each to four ailing writers in need of help. The money was given through the respective township WJAs to U Kyaw Min (Einme Yin Aye) of Mingala Taungnyunt on 30-1-98 and U Aung Sein of Kamayut Township on 6-2-98. The remaining two writers U Thet Lwin (Twantay Thet Oo) of Dagon Myothit (South) and U Thaung Shwe (Kawhmu Thaung Shwe) of Thanlyin Township received the assistance at the MWJA Office.

MWJA has already provided monetary assistance to 58 writers and journalists.

Well-wishers are invited to donate cash towards the fund.

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(9) Cash donation for Tongtah invitational Hockey Tournament

YANGON, 9 Feb - Chairman of Tongtah Co Mr Peter Loh and regional representative U Khin Maung Lat presented K 500,000 for Tongtah Invitational Hockey Tournament to be held from 15 to 30 March at Theinbyu Hockey Pitch this evening.

President of Myanmar Hockey Federation Commander of No 4 Military Region Col Myo Myint and Vice-President Director of Bureau of Special Investigation U Aung Myint and officials accepted the donation.

Altogether 12 senior teams, eight junior teams and five women teams will take part in the tournament.

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