THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

(Thursday, 12 February 1998)

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  1. Vice-Chairman of State Peace and Development Council pays obeisance to pagodas and Sayadaws in Bagan-NyaungU
  2. Shwe Htidaw of ancient Pagoda No 392 hoisted
  3. No 3 Bo Aung Kyaw Wharf boosts container handling capacity of Yangon Port
  4. City Central Highway helps ease traffic congestion on Insein and Bayintnaung roads
  5. Tenaga Nasional officials call on Deputy Premier
  6. Commander of Yangon Station, officers host dinner for Union Day delegates
  7. Tax payers' money should be properly used in programmes which directly benefit them
  8. Union Day delegates go sightseeing Yangon

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(1) Vice-Chairman of State Peace and Development Council pays obeisance to pagodas and Sayadaws in Bagan-NyaungU

YANGON, 11 Feb - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, accompanied by Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint, the ministers and senior military officers, paid obeisance to the Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Magway Sayadaw and member Sayadaws and members of Central Working Committee of the Sangha at Gukyaung and Aungmye Bodhi Dhamapala Yeiktha in NyaungU on 10 February.

General Maung Aye and party presented offertories to the Sayadaws.

The General, Daw Mya Mya San and party also paid obeisance to ancient Buddha images in Gukyaung which were revered by Shin Anurudha and Alodawpyeh Pagoda and donated cash.

The General and party arrived back here in the evening after attending the consecration ceremony of ancient Pagoda No 392 in Bagan and Shwe Htidaw Hoisting ceremony.

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(2) Shwe Htidaw of ancient Pagoda No 392 hoisted

YANGON, 11 Feb - Consecration and Shwe Htidaw hoisting ceremony of ancient Pagoda No 392 in Bagan renovated by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San and daughter Ma Nanda Aye was held at Mingala Mandat in the precincts of the pagoda this morning.

Present were Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Magway Sayadaw and member Sayadaws, members of the Sangha, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of the Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife Daw Khin Cho Oo, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla, Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Director of Military Engineers Brig-Gen Win Aung Tint, Commander of No 88 LID Brig-Gen Aye Kywe, Commander of No 101 LID Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, Brig-Gen Kyi Win of Kyaukpadaung Station, Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Thein Zaw, departmental heads, officials, teachers, students, service personnel, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, guests and local people.

At the auspicious time, members of the Sangha led by Magway Sayadaw consecrated the pagoda No 392.

Next, presiding Nayaka Sayadaw of Aungmye Bodhi Dhamma Yeiktha in NyaungU, Maha Gandhavacaka Pandita Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Bagan and border regions missionary Sayadaw Alodawpyeh Sayadaw Bhaddanta Ariyavamsa administered the Five Precepts.

General Maung Aye, wife Daw Mya Mya San and daughter Ma Nanda Aye and officials presented offertories to Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara and members of the Sangha.

Members of the Sangha then recited the parittas and Magway Sayadaw delivered a sermon and merits gained were shared.

The General, wife Daw Mya Mya San and daughter Ma Nanda Aye conveyed Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Seinpankhaing round the pagoda.

Next, the Secretary-3, Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Minister Lt-Gen Tin Hla and Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Ministers U Win Sein, U Aung San and U Thaung conveyed other religious objects.

Ministers Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Brig-Gen Lun Thi and families also conveyed Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Shwe Htidaw of small pagoda.

Meanwhile, Mingala drum troupe and saingwaing sang and played dhamma songs melodiously.

The General and party hoisted Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Seinpankhaing on the top of the pagoda on decorated carriage.

Next, the Secretary-3, Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Lt-Gen Tin Hla hoisted Shwe Htidaw and Seinbudaw of three small pagodas.

The General and Alodawpyeh Sayadaw hoisted the Seinbudaw atop the pagoda at 10.45 am.

General Maung Aye, Daw Mya Mya San and party showered confetti to mark the completion of the pagoda. They went to Aungmye Bodhi Dhamma Yeiktha and offered soon to members of the Sangha.

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(3) No 3 Bo Aung Kyaw Wharf boosts container handling capacity of Yangon Port

YANGON, 11 Feb - No 3 Bo Aung Kyaw Wharf of Myanma Port Authority was launched this morning at the facility hailing the 51st Anniversary Union Day.

Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended and unveiled the plaque.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe said although No 1 and No 2 Bo Aung Kyaw Wharfs were upgraded from conventional bridges to container bridges in 1990, containers are being handled with cranes on board the ships as these two facilities cannot withstand the installation of modern container carriers.

The No 3 Bo Aung Kyaw Wharf, a modern container bridge, was built under the agreement reached between MPA and Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (YMEC) of People's Republic of China on 21 May 1996, he said.

A modern crane of the No 3 wharf can handle 18 containers per hour and another crane has the capacity to move eight containers per hour, he said, adding conventional wharfs can handle at the rate of only six units per hour.

Opening of this wharf plus four gantry cranes under operation will speed up freight handling work at Yangon Port, he noted.

The wharf with 40-ton capacity cranes can be moored by ships up to 15,000 tons and 30-foot draught, he said.

Foreign technology and investment have been invited in upgrading Yangon Port and building Thilawa Port, he stated.

He thanked the main contractor YMEC, designer The Ninth Design and Research Institute, wharf builder China Harbor Engineering Co (CHEC) and machinery supplier Shanghai Port Machinery Plant (SPMP) and MPA for their efforts.

President of YMEC Mr Lin Zai Yau also spoke.

Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe and Mr Lin formally opened the wharf.

Ministers at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel and Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin, Minister for Labour Vice-Admiral Tin Aye, Minister at Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Deputy Minister for Transport Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint, Ambassador of PRC Mr Liang Dong, officials of State Peace and Development Council, heads of departments under the Ministry of Transport, other officials and guests were also present.

The Secretary-l and party inspected the wharf.

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(4) City Central Highway helps ease traffic congestion on Insein and Bayintnaung roads

YANGON, 11 Feb - Section 1 of City Central Highway linking Insein Railway Station Road and Parami Road was commissioned into service this morning with an address by Chairman of Central Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Smooth and Secure Transport Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

The four-lane highway, 11,065 feet, was built by Engineering Department (Road/Bridge) of Yangon City Development Committee, which is the contractor of the project, he said.

The entire 9-mile City Central Highway linking Insein Railway Station Road in the north and Bogyoke Aung San Street in Lanmadaw Township in the south will pass through Lanmadaw, Ahlon, Sangyoung, Kamayut, Hline, Mayangon, and Insein townships when completed, he said.

It will become a main city highway like Pyay, Kaba Aye, Insein and Bayintnaung roads, he added.

The central highway which will be in parallel with Insein and Bayintnaung roads will help ease traffic congestion along the latter two roads and ensure smooth and secure transport between northern and southern Yangon, he said.

The project began on 12 August 1997 under the guidance of the Head of State, he noted.

The highway will also help develop social life of the residents between Insein Road and the railroad, he said.

Bus bays, bus shelters, concrete drains and modern traffic lights and warning signs were erected along the highway with night-reflectors.

The ceremony at the junction of the City Central Highway and Insein Railway Station in Insein Township was also attended by 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 for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister U Than Shwe, Chairman of YCDC Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, Secretary Col Myint Aung and members, heads of departments and engineers of YCDC, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence, local authorities, YCDC personnel, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigade, teachers, students, music and dance troupes and the public.

Engineers of the project, U Soe Thein Aung, U Oo Than, U Khin Maung, U Kyi Win and U Myo Thant formally opened the highway.

The Secretary-2 and party inspected the completed section.

They also attended opening of West Gyogon Market of YCDC Market Department in Insein Township.

Head of Engineering Department (Building) U San Tun formally opened it.

They inspected the market and cordially conversed with shopkeepers.

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(5) Tenaga Nasional officials call on Deputy Premier

YANGON, 11 Feb - Dato' Lau Yin Pin and party of Tenaga Nasional Berhad of Malaysia paid a courtesy call on Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin at his office this morning.

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

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(6) Commander of Yangon Station, officers host dinner for Union Day delegates

YANGON, 11 Feb - Commander of Yangon Station Commander of No 4 Military Region Commandant of Defence Services Records Office Col Myo Myint and wife, Commander of Mingaladon Station Col Ba Su and family, Commandant of No 1 Transit Centre (Bayintnaung) Lt-Col Tin Kyaing and wife and military officers of Yangon and Mingaladon Stations hosted dinner in their honour of the Union Day delegates at the respective homes today.

They presented souvenirs to the delegates.

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(7) Tax payers' money should be properly used in programmes which directly benefit them

YANGON, 11 Feb - The Development Committees of the Development Affairs Department, Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs held a work coordination meeting at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street here at 9 am today, addressed by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

The meeting was also attended by member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for PBANRDA Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Minister for Labour Vice-Admiral Tin Aye, Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Acting Auditor-General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the directors-general, State/Division Development Affairs Department directors, guests and Executive Officers and engineers-in-charge of 284 development committees.

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(8) Union Day delegates go sightseeing Yangon

YANGON, 11 Feb - Union Day delegates, accompanied by Secretary of the 51st Anniversary Union Day Observance Accommodation Subcommittee Commandant of No 1 Transit Centre (Bayintnaung) Lt-Col Tin Kyaing, visited Yangon Zoological Gardens this morning.

They enjoyed modern rides at the zoo.

The delegates visited Defence Service Museum where Director of Defence Services Museum and Historical Research Institute Col Ye Htut extended greetings.

They also visited National Museum.

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